Over to You

Are you interested in one week's work placement in The Irish Times? Transition Year students can learn first-hand about the workings of this newspaper if their submission is published in Media Scope's weekly Over to You column. Just send us a 200-word piece on a media-related topic.

Margaret Leonard

Why is it that for the past year every time I pick up a newspaper, turn on our radio or sit down to watch television I am hounded by people and companies using the millennium as a self-promotion? Take, for example, the American artist Will Smith, with his new album Willennium and his latest single Will 2K - not to mention the Backstreet Boys, with their latest album Millennium.

I ask myself: what on earth have either of these artists got to do with the millennium other than the fact that, along with most of the present population, they will be alive for it?

The millennium is to me just another minute, in just another day, in just another year. So why would I need a new washing machine, refrigerator or even car for it? But apparently the ESB is setting up for a major strain on our power when the clocks hit 00:01 on the night in question.

Why is that, I wonder? Perhaps it will be the rush of millions of people to make the first cup of tea of the millennium, or better still those of us dying to put on the first white wash of the millennium. I appeal to you not to become trapped in the millennium hype and always remember: a car is for life, not just the millennium!

Edel Quinn, Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon, Co Clare

When Sandy Shaw won the Eurovision with Puppet on a String, it somehow became a catchphrase in society. Since then it is the common perception that the public are manipulated by media puppeteers, but nowadays I wonder who is being dangled.

The Taoiseach's girlfriend Celia Larkin is a name that springs to mind: why should she get so much publicity for her new business when advertising for others is such a costly item?

Again, the media must be criticised for their treatment of Liam Gallagher's Houdini act. One must admit his timing was impeccable: was it a mere coincidence that his concert dates were announced simultaneously? Who was really responsible for his forgotten face being launched back into the public eye?

Or Geri Halliwell's sensational "engagement" prior to her biography release: I won't even comment on why that was sprawled over the tabloids' front pages.

However, it is never too late to make a change. Pinocchio took on a life of his own - but are the media's noses growing instead of poking?

Write to media scope by posting your comments to Newspaper in the Classroom, The Irish Times, 11-16 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2, or faxing them to (01) 679 2789. Be sure to include your name, address and school, plus phone numbers for home and school. Or you can use the Internet and e-mail us at mediapage@irishtimes.ie

media scope is a weekly media studies page for use in schools. Group rates and a special worksheet service (see `fax-back', right) are available: freephone 1800-798884.

media scope is edited by Harry Browne.