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.

Journalism is, at this moment, one of the most distrusted occupations alongside politicians and lawyers. The Collins dictionary defines a journalist's work as to simply report news factually, without analysis. If this were the case, then there would be no reason for the public to dislike the press.

Rebecca West, a US journalist, defines journalism more accurately as "an ability to meet the challenge of filling the space".

To "fill space", tabloid journalists attempt to create news. They occasionally follow celebrities around and masquerade an incident as news, like the newspapers which felt that Mike Tyson buying expensive designer jewellery or his visit to Madame Tussaud's were front-page material.

Others use more underhand methods to create news. This is a rare event but when it does happen it tends to stick in people's minds. A good example of this was a member of the press who deceived an England rugby star into admitting to having taken drugs.

It is incidents like these that explain why the public now views the press, an influential part of society, in such a bad light. These members of the press feel that sensationalism is more important than news.

Jenny Tully, Castleknock Community College, Co Dublin

Every year, thousands of students and their parents are faced with the decision whether or not to do Transition Year. As an experienced TY student, I want to help the readers who fall into this category.

I did TY because I was very young: without it, I would have been 16 leaving school. I also felt I needed a break, rather than going directly from my Junior Cert. to the Leaving Cert. course.

TY involves an enormous amount of extra money. It is an extra year of school fees, plus hundreds of pounds spent on trips. So far this year we have visited RTE. the Dail, Ceol in Smithfield, Wild Wicked Women's Festival (held by Fingal County Council) and the Burren; and a trip to Barcelona is arranged, along with an overnight hike for Gaisce.

TY gives a chance to take responsibility. I was involved in organising a spectacular talent show. TY allows you to do things you normally wouldn't do: we went skiing in Kilternan, a new, exhilarating experience for everyone.

I would advise students to do TY if they are prepared to do their best and try everything.

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: free-phone 1800-798884.

Media scope is edited by Harry Browne.