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, a representative of The Irish Times will be in touch with you about organising the dates for your placement.
Aoife Roantree, Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary
"Did you see Friends last night?"
"No, we've no TV, remember?"
"No! Ye've no TV? Oh my God! How do you survive?..."
And so follow countless other comments and exclamations of wonder. But really, what's the big deal? So my family don't own a television. It's not as if we miss out on much. These days almost everything that is on the television is on the internet, the radio and in the papers. I prefer to watch films, which aren't covered by these other forms of media, on the computer's DVD player because of the superb quality.
We're certainly never bored. Not having a television has given us a much more "let's try it" attitude. I don't know many other families who throw themselves into as many activities as we do - over the years, my brothers, sisters and I have got stuck into a huge range of things, from amateur operatics and karate to showjumping and brass bands.
Looking over the advantages and disadvantages, I think my parents made the right decision eight or so years ago when they got rid of our television. That said, I do enjoy watching the television when I visit relatives, mostly MTV. I'm young, and human, after all!
All in all, I think more people should consider selling their televisions and seeing what else life has to offer.
Caoimh McCarthy, Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick You may have noticed your parents singing along to your CDs lately! No they haven't suddenly become "cool" - nothing as awful as that.
Unfortunately, however, the truth is still rather horrifying: we are in fact listening to their songs! Yes, songs like It's Raining Men, Lady Marmalade and Uptown Girl were played when our parents weren't even parents. They have been revamped and rejuvenated by so called new talent who are ultimately churning out old songs to a new audience.
Worse, it is not only the music industry that is suffering from a case of "History Repeating Itself".Television and fashion have followed suit - reruns are now back on primetime, while the Eighties have returned to our wardrobes! It seems the people controlling these industries are yearning for those days when mobile phones were the size of shoeboxes, Jacko was black and CDs were vinyls.
As a teenager, and therefore representing a massive proportion of these industries' respective target consumer bases, I am desperately asking those responsible to bring in new trends for our generation, before afros and, God forbid, shoulder pads make a come back!
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 on each week's topic, designed to assist classroom discussion, are available to teachers who place group orders through their schools. The worksheets are sent to all subscribing schools by fax. This system will re-try an engaged line up to four times. 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.
