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 - if it's published, the placement is yours.

Catherine Farrell Coolmine Community School, Dublin

Throughout the brutal attack on New York two weeks ago, the world was kept informed. Within minutes of the planes crashing into the towers, the scene was being played on television sets in Ireland, thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The whole world was watch ing live, in disbelief, as the towers came crashing down, forever changing New York city's famous skyline.

In modern times, however, we can receive world news in an instant. The reason lies in the media - the day following the attack saw every newspaper in the world plastered front to back with articles and images about the horrific events of Tuesday, September 11th. All other news was given second priority in light of these events and all the newspapers rose to the expectations of the public and printed what the people wanted to read. Many scheduled programmes on the television were cancelled and scenes of lower Manhattan engulfed in smoke were all that could be seen. Those wishing to escape from the tragic news found it utterly impossible; two weeks later it is still front page of every newspaper and headlining every television channel.

This month has proven to us how much the public value information, and though the news is not always good, they wish to learn of today's news today. Whatever issues the world may face as a result of this attack or any other, the people will not be left ignorant.

Jennifer Dwyer, Loreto College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin

"New York has been attacked by terrorists." A fellow student said it to me. I stood there in disbelief, not wanting to believe what I had just heard yet knowing it was true - no one could lie about such an atrocity.

I rushed home only to see horrific pictures on every television channel. Who could commit such a crime? Could such hatred for mankind exist that someone could even think of carrying out such an act? The stories I heard just kept getting worse. One of the most horrifying was that of the Cork woman and her four-year-old daughter dying on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Centre and her brother working in the same tower - but luckily he escaped with his life and helped rescue one of his fellow workers.

What frightened me the most were President George Bush's words on television. He kept repeating that the American people would get revenge. Will they commit a crime of a similar manner on another country and lead to another world war?

Before last Tuesday, there was always the possibility that some mad person could carry out such a crime; but now we know that people who have no problem carrying out such deeds share the world with us and may try to repeat their actions.

In the words of my piano teacher: "The innocence of this generation's children was lost on that Tuesday."

Media Scope is a weekly media studies page for use in schools. 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) 6792789. 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@irish-times.ie.

Faxback: Worksheets and other materials are available to teachers who place group orders through their schools. The worksheets are sent to all subscribing schools via the automatic faxback system. This system will re-try an engaged line up to four times. If you do not receive material by Wednesday morning, and you have a touchtone fax machine, please use it to dial (01) 6709709. Follow the recorded instructions and material will be faxed to your machine. If you have a pulse-dialling machine, refer to your fax manual for details on how to set it for touchtone dialling. If you have problems, telephone (01) 6792022, ext 8568 or 8580.

For group orders, FREEPHONE 1-800-798884.

Media Scope is edited by Harry Browne.