Transition Year students can win a week's work placement in The Irish Times. Send us your thoughts (200 words maximum) on a media-related topic - if your submission is published, the placement is yours.
Adela Meally, St Fergal's College, Rathdowney, Co Laois
From our observations in the `over to you' section of media scope, we noticed that the majority of students selected come from colleges such as Gonzaga College, Oatlands College and Belvedere College, Dublin. This is extremely worrying, degrading and, most of all, insulting to those of us who don't come from such places with high-ranking privilege. What is even more worrying is the fact that these students are not exactly literary geniuses, and we see no reason why someone outside this tight-knit group could not write to the same standard or above it.
We are aware that you do include the occasional writer from around the country, possibly from guilt or to cover up your obvious preference for those who come from upper-class areas of Dublin. We recognise that in today's society prejudice is a problem we have to fight, but it disgusts us to think that a well-respected paper would fuel this prejudice, especially in the section for young readers - who are, after all, the foundation stones of today's society, creating new views and better changes.
Note: The `winners' in `over to you' closely reflect the geographic spread of the entries we have received.
Darragh Gilhawley, St Macartan's College, Monaghan
FIFA'S DECISION not to implement the "five-day rule" for last Wednesday's international match was disappointing to say the least. The international arena is the pinnacle of the sport and should be treated with respect.
Unfortunately, the gradual demise of the international game now seems inevitable as the investors' stranglehold on "the beautiful game" tightens still further.
FIFA were scared that a successful challenge to them in the courts would cause great embarrassment and so they backed down. The main losers in this are Mick McCarthy and the Irish public.
The day is coming when international football will take backstage to the Premiership or a European Super League, and that is a great shame indeed.
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 email us at mediapage@irish-times.ie.
media scope is a weekly media studies page for use in schools. Group rates and a special worksheet service are available: FREEPHONE 1-800-798884 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). media scope is edited by Harry Browne.
