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.
Eoin Mulvey, De La Salle College, Churchtown, Dublin
If there's one thing that truly annoys me, it's mobile phones. It terrifies me at how obsessive people can get as regards these small pieces of machinery. They spend their time sending SMS text messages to people and then waiting anxiously for a reply.
What is also frightening is how those without are invariably pressurised into purchasing one of the infernal things! This is achieved either through constant nagging or by the person being neglected as regards the planning of social events. Humorously, the regularity of these events decreases as the phone users use more and more credit.
I can well understand how useful mobile phones can be and I'm in no way a Luddite - but not for adolescents. It strikes me odd that teenagers who'll complain about lack of freedom want to be so easily contacted. Surely a call card is precaution enough and at least with that people can't call you.
All that said, I'm probably going to end up buying a mobile. I can't bear being neglected!
Ben Murnane, St Andrew's College, Booterstown, Dublin
It's funny, but one of the great teachers in life is serious illness. For seven years now I have lived with a life-threatening genetic disease called Fanconi Anaemia, the incidence of which is two in one million. The disease was in the news a few weeks ago: that US girl, Molly Nash, who needed a bone transplant from her genetically selected baby brother Adam - she had FA. I watched the coverage with interest and was amazed that the prestigious Irish Times managed to misspell "Fanconi" on multiple occasions; but then I heard a doctor on the radio pronounce it wrongly, and even the Sunday Tribune messed up a bit; as for RTE, well, it didn't even mention the name of the illness.
It all made me feel like I knew just that little bit more than those cocky journalism types - which is good for the ego.
I can't imagine myself without the illness. I'm sure it has influenced my personality in many small ways. Without being sarcastic, it does give you an insight into human suffering, and hopefully influences you for the good. Just talking to my doctor, he says dealing with death every day has taught him not to worry about trivial things like a scratch on his car. It's definitely an experience - and, in a way, perhaps, not one I would like to have missed. It's certainly a handy excuse when it comes to getting off school!
Write to media scope by posting your comments to Newspaper in the Classroom, The Irish Times, 1116 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 1800-798884.
media scope is edited by Harry Browne.
