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 200word piece on a media-related topic.
Paula O'Donoghue, Scoil Dara, Kilcock, Co Kildare
Once again we are approaching that annual occasion which attracts tremendous interest from the media in all corners of the globe, the overpowering climax of the movie world which enthralls us for weeks prior to the hyped spectacular. Yes, indeed, I'm talking about the "great" Hollywood Oscars.
In America you are held in high esteem if you win an Oscar. To quote Brenda Fricker, "you are treated like a queen."
In Ireland, we seem to take a more relaxed attitude. We don't all race to the television with our cheese-coated popcorn waiting to view the familiar celebrities - the egotistical Jim Carrey, the dazzling Sharon Stone, the ever-young Michelle Pfeiffer, all lavishly dressed - until the real entertainment begins. The nominees are reviewed, the chosen names read out, creating a recognised tension, followed by congratulations of extreme hyperbole.
The already bored audience must listen to precomposed speeches or, as last year, be burdened with the sobbing of Gwyneth Paltrow as she introduced us to every member of her family.
Do the gods and goddesses of the screen really need this? Is it an annual celebration that truly "La Vita e Bella", or is it just another moneymaking scheme for the commercial interests that surround the business.
Fintan Gillespie, The King's Hospital, Dublin.
Every year more than 6,000 schoolboys participate in the schools' rugby cups all over Ireland. For the players, it's a chance to prove themselves to their peers, friends and relatives; these guys have been training hard all year. To play against "The Rock" in Donnybrook in front of thousands of people is almost every schoolboy's dream and ambition. I played against Blackrock in the senior cup this year, losing to them after a valiant performance. To hear chants such as "we wanna score school" from the crowd brings a unique excitement to every player's face that will never be forgotten.
The 6,000 schoolboys, as well as their families and friends, are all potential buyers of newspapers to see the match reports. This is why I feel that if there is such a demand there should be good news coverage of these matches.
The players will be reading newspapers when they get older - to get good coverage now will lead them to buy the paper in the future. A full page on school results would add a whole new aspect to the sports section of a paper. It is an idea that should be taken into consideration.
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 `faxback', right) are available: FREEPHONE 1-800-798884. media scope is edited by Harry Browne.
