pedagogue of journalism

end of hiatus?!??

2008-10-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

by: Kimberly Trix Lee [Editor-in-Chief '08-'09]

it has been quite some time when someone last posted an entry in this blog.
i dont know. i dont really have motivation to post anything in this blog right now. i just posted something in my blog and im sleepy at this moment...

time seems to pass so swiftly...

and it feels as if im being left behind...

stress and all. it's driving me crazy.
anyway, i signed up for it after all. i can gripe and gripe all i want, nothing's going to change.

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
mam tirones' seemingly favorite quote...
well, this is true. the greater the authority that you have, the greater the pressure that you feel...
the higher your place in the stratum, the greater your stability must be...
uh-huh.

PLAY YOUR ROLE. OR LOSE YOUR POSITION.
this is the wallpaper of the english journ computer.
what? im not saying anything after all... lol.

adapt.
why do we have to adapt?
why do we have to conform?
the thing is that WE DONT HAVE TO.
we dont have to lower the standards just to please everyone. you cant please everyone. you just cant. just dont try. you'll just frustrate yourself and disappoint others.
and NEVER COMPROMISE FOR EVERYTHING.
not even in the face of utter chaos.
i'd rather choose pandemonium than compromise to something that i dont even want to do.
conformity is a horrid word.
we dont have to conform.
it's like "you are unique. just like everyone else."
all that crap.
STANDARD is called as such because it is what it is.
standard.
the norm.
the norm CANNOT be lowered.
the norm CANNOT be compromised.
the compromise must come from those who want it.

"...and if i dont want to do something, then i bloody hell wont do it..."
my australian friend once told me.
and i definitely love him for his devil-may-care attitude.
he sticks to his belief. not faith or anything. he is an atheist after all. what i mean to say is that he stands firm to what he believes.
if i dont want to compromise, and you want me to do so just for your sake, then get your face out of my sight...
or something like that.
what i think is what i think.
what i feel is what i feel.
no one can say anything.
this is my friend's belief. and i am loving it right now.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS DONT LAST...
definitely not.
not gonna say anything anymore.

writers out there:
a writer's style is undebatable... irrefutable...
it is your style.
no one can say anything against that.
however, I REPEAT HOWEVER...
crappy writing IS DEFINITELY NOT considered as style...
or anything remotely similar to that.
the word CRAPPY doesnt mean bad or horrible...
it just means NO EFFORT AT ALL.
a good story, a good poem, a good article, a good literature...
they all have the same element.
EFFORT.
a writer who poured his entire soul in making such a piece is a good writer.
put your heart in it.
writing IS NOT mandatory.
write when you want to write.
dont force yourself.
and dont force yourself if you dont even want anything to do with writing.
pretense is a vile beast eating at your being.
and it will claw its way out of you, in one way or another.

this will be cut short since i have to finish journ-related things.

hopefully, someone will post something soon.

What to Do to Make the Editors Flare Up in Frustration

2008-08-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

Writer: Miguel Rico T. Subosa, Managing Editor '08-'09

Okay, since this blog is getting a little too positive... let me break the mood a little, and incorporate a little sarcasm into this... So, for aspiring writers, here's what you SHOULD do to stoke the flames of the editors' frustration...

1. "Thesaurize" your articles. Okay... so you idolize the immortal Edgar Allan Poe, or the eternal Emily Dickinson, or even the recent Mary Roseanne Ramirez (sorry, Roseanne, this is my entry. walang aangal. haha.)... They have the indescribable acumen to use hifalutin' words without throwing you off, and of course, we, the editors, understand that you desire to do the same thing. However, sad as it may seem, this sort of verbal acumen may be inherent. I mean: not everyone can use big words like they can. Yes, it is tempting to use that aristocratically euphonious term, but, before you write it down, make sure you know what it really means. Remember, synonyms mean almost the same thing, not THE SAME THING. So, do not use Word's Thesaurus application to convert your "small" word into a big word. Get it? Say... You want to declare that the Arroyo administration makes you nauseous. Sounds nice, huh? But is it in the proper context? (buzz) NO. Unless you want to say that the Arroyo administration turns you into an abominable, despicable, sickening, obnoxious jerk, then no, nauseous is NOT the right word. In times like this, it is better to just be straightforward with things. Just say, "The Arroyo administration sickens me!" Stronger emotion, right? And stronger emotion means stronger appeal. (Well, don't use that phrase anytime soon, though. Journalists have this suckish thing that prevents them from saying what they really want to say. It's called political correctness.) But you get the idea. You don't need to use big words to sound big. Sometimes, the simplest words connote the strongest messages. Know when to use those big words. But if you choose to overuse them, expect a paper bleeding with crimson marks. Sorry, but your paper will be the outlet of our frustrations. Beware.

2. Observe improper subject-verb agreement and incorrect usage. Us, the editors, knows that you is already at high school, nonetheless, you already knows the regulations of correct subject-verb agreement and proper usage. Okay, so how did that first sentence sound to you? If it sounded normal to you, beware - you may be the potential submitter of a profusely bleeding draft. If it irritated your eyes, as much as it irritated me to type it, then, congratulations, you are among the people who are appreciated for making the editors' jobs easier. Before you submit that article, proofread that paper on your own. Are there any disagreements between the subject and a verb? Are all the prepositions used in the right context? Are there any double negatives? Are there any improper pluralizations? Please bear in mind that, like you, we, too, are students of MandSci, and therefore, have lots of homework to do. Please... I repeat, please... Make our lives easier by checking your grammar and usage!!! We appreciate it if you would give us at least one more hour of sleep. Trust us: one hour makes a difference - and a huge one, at that.

3. Beat around the bush... a hundred thousand times. We read your work once. Twice. Thrice. Four times. Five times. Six times. Seven times. Eight times. Nine times. Ten times. Ad infinitum. And we still don't get the point. Why? Perhaps you've been discussing the same thing over and over and over and over and over (ad infinitum) again. Perhaps your article contains nothing but a single, overdeveloped idea. Perhaps you've tried too hard to stretch a thought that doesn't even deserve that much elaboration. We don't know, but whatever it is, it is rather annoying. Yes, that is a litotes (and yes, "litotes" is singular). True: with brevity should come substance. But, length does not necessarily equate substance. Remember, what beats a good, long speech - is a short, substantial one. Impress us with a concise article that we will still talk about as we chat on YM rather than with a looooong article that we would choose to disregard, in favor of our five hours' worth of assignments. Sorry, not our fault. Blame our teachers.

4. Don't make any sense. We read your first paragraph, and we don't get your point. We read your second, and we still don't get it. We read your third - we still don't get it. We read your "grand finale" and we scream, "F**k! This doesn't make any sense at all!" If this is what happens, ugggh... then you've really ticked us. And that never spells anything good. We want an intellectually challenging article - not an intellectually challenged one. You know what I mean. Please... before you hand over that paper... make sure it makes at least some sense. If it's nonsense, make sure it's as rhythmic as Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky." If not, take note that, in copyreading, we can always enclose your paragraph in a humongous red box and inscribe in huge red letters: KILL. You don't want that happening. It's like a big trampling stomp on your ego. Seriously.

Okay. So that's about it. But I'm sure none of this year's journalists abide by these rules... right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have been nominated for membership in the school organ. Guys, you have the raw potential. Just a little honing, and you may be MandSci's next star writers. We know you will be.

After you read this entry, you may be discouraged to submit articles, thinking we're too meticulous. DON'T BE! We're not saying we detest your mistakes. WE DON'T. It's okay to make mistakes since even we, the editors, make mistakes. Please... just do your best to minimize your errors. That is all. Take note: hours worth of homework plus even more hours of copyreading your works equals excruciating pain and torment. No, that is not a hyperbole. Do us a favor and make our lives easier. Have pity on our poor souls.

announcement and GROUND RULES

2008-08-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

by: kimberly

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

August 22, 2008 (Friday), there's going to be a journalism meeting after school hours. It will be for the preparation for the upcoming Division Schools Press Conference.
Various journalists from every year level will be invited.
We are going to post the invitational memos in your designated rooms.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

we need "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR".
submit handwritten letters for the editor (well, that'd be me. lol.) regarding anything about school. you can write about suggestions, comments, basically anything.
you can either submit it to maam frias or to me.
i repeat, HANDWRITTEN LETTERS. make your handwriting neat coz we are simply going to scan the to-be-published letter and put that directly in the schoolpaper.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

english journalists of all year levels!!!!
write articles. any sort of article. whatever you want.

these are the school year's themes:
NEWS --- the news category doesnt have any theme. you think that it's a news story, write an article about it and submit.
FEATURE --- science vs religion. this is just the general theme, though. dont use it as your title.
LITERARY --- reverse fairytales. you make the protagonist look bad, the antagonist look good... you make it horror.. you make it satirical... whatever. it is literary, you just unleash your imagination. =D
SCIENCE --- astronomical advances.
SPORTS --- if you think it's a sport news, write an article and submit.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO THE EDITORS...

any organization has to have some rules and regulations to live by.
now, since we're journalists and free expression is something that i value (not to mention that i dislike too much authority and restrictions) i am going to set just ONE GROUND RULE.
ONE SIMPLE GROUND RULE.
and it can actually fit in a single word: RESPECT.
im not going to elaborate on that since i know that we can all understand what it means.
i hope that you're all going to take that by heart. keep that in mind. it's a fundamental rule that does not only apply to the journalism team.
it applies on real life.
everywhere.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Don't worry about opposition. Remember, a kite rises against the wind, not with the wind."

to the freshies...

2008-08-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

by: kimberly

hi freshies!! well, i think you're a talented bunch. keep up the good work. the interest and eagerness that you all show is quite refreshing. i mean, you are all young but all so enthusiastic to learn! and that is really something.
keep on feeding your thirst for knowledge.
that thirst must not be set aside. dont forget that.
keep on being voracious readers!! you'll learn HEAPS... if you guys need some advice or anything about which books are good or what, dont hesitate asking anyone of us. we sure can help you out. *wink*

well, basically, this entry is for the freshies. but then, thinking of it, it is for everyone...

FEATURE WRITING TIPS

~ be creative. c'mon guys, we know that you can pull out that hiding little creativity monster inside! unleash it!!

~ with brevity comes substance. we all know that the schoolpaper doesnt have enough space to accomodate every single article that we are going to write so brevity is important. but then, of course, you must NOT sacrifice CONTENT.

~ COHERENCE!!! it hurts the head to read an article that repeats the same thing over and over and over and... you get the idea. arrange your ideas in your head (or if you want, you can jot it down on a scrap of paper). recall the preceding tips. unleash the creativity monster... but dont put the readers on a roller coaster ride. it hurts the head, really.

~ check your subject-verb agreement. nothing annoys editors more than crappy grammar. yeah, we make mistakes. but PLEASE... kindly check your grammar first before submitting it to anyone. oh, and dont forget your spelling...

c'mon people, we know you can do it. keep on practicing.
and, well, the theme for this schoolyear's feature page is "SCIENCE VS RELIGION"
write an article, guys. we're not promising that it'll be published. but what harm will it do in trying?
no harm, no foul. lol.

here are the other themes for the other categories:

news: whatever you think can be considered as a news story. be alert people!!

feature: science vs religion. unleash your imagination!!

literary: reverse fairytales. make the protagonists look bad, make the antagonists look good, turn the tale into horror or thriller or whatever you want it to be... (poems and stories alike. unleash your imagination!)

sports: whatever you see that can be considered as a sports story. should be school related.

science: astronomical advances

and, dont forget that we need "letters to the editor"... write a letter addressed to the editor-in-chief regarding anything school-related. then submit it to me.

good luck guys!!!

Journalism CONTESTS

2008-08-13T03:20:00.000-07:00

--- Writer: Rosie
--- Feel free to edit, just don't forget to attribute it to yourself. :-)

1 Division Press Conference

Who: All the schools in Mandaluyong; 3 representatives from the same school for each category. Contestants are allowed to join two categories, provided that they don't have the same schedule. (In the event that they do, don't panic. There are some ways to fix that.)

What: The usual categories... News, editorial, feature, sports, copyreading and headlining, photojournalism, and editorial cartooning.

Where: Contests are held in one of the division schools... Last year, we were the host. I have no idea where it is this year. I'm guessing Mandaluyong High.

When: Mid-school year

Why: Because it's cute? Hahaha. Just a chance to hone the writing skills of people. And kick each other's ass. How: Basically, it's the first in a series of contests, so it feels like "do or die." Don't worry though. The outcome of this does not affect the line-up for the regionals. It's done the usual way: contest then awarding.

Pre-contest Drama: Training in the school. The most relaxed training you're ever going to get.

Awards: Medals for top 3, certificates of recognition for 4th to 7th place. Certificates of attendance for everyone (yay!) and special awards for the "overall highest pointers." (Like when you join feature and editorial and you win 4th in one and 1st in the other. 07-08, sounds like someone we know, huh? Peace Ate Karen!) There is also an award for the school with the highest collective score (the higher the place of the contestants, the higher the score.)

Remarks: I know the pressure is on, but it's not that hard to win. NOT because the others are not good enough. Trust me, there are good writers in the other schools. It's because there are like 20 or so of you in each category, so there's a nice probability of winning. BUT it's not good to count on luck and chance. Praemonitus, Praemonitas. (Forewarned, forearmed.)

2 Regional Press Conference

Who: Everyone in the region. Word of caution, the people you'll see here are the best of the best. And don't be surprised at the number of people present. We're talking every school who gives a damn about journalism. And that's almost every school that ever existed. One category per person, unless there's someone brave enough to take on two.You'll be pitted against 150 people or so. I remember there's less than 1% chance of winning (wow that sounded supportive... We were so paranoid we actually computed!!! Don't emulate that. Hahaha.) It is the prerogative of the adviser as to who's going to join.

What: Same categories. There is also an election (for juniors) for the editor's guild. This is an opportunity to make friends (and/or enemies.)

Where: Some big school. I don't know. Last year, St. Scholastica's in Marikina.When: A few months after the aforementioned.

Why: To select the NCR representatives for the nationals.

How: The sports and photojournalism are held at least a week BEFORE the other categories. (This is because sports writers and photojournalists cover the same game; the photojournalists will have to be present during the contest day of the other categories, for layouting.) BRING THE SCHOOL PAPER or suffer disqualification. Usually lasts the entire day (or into the night if it's far.) Awarding is around three weeks to a month later.

Pre-contest Drama: Training in the school and training in some other places... Involves speakers, warm juice, cold sandwiches and contest-ish workshops. Before the contest itself (like an hour before) there are lectures for each category given by a member of the judges. PAY ATTENTION. It's best to cater to their preference.

Awards: Top ten for each category, top 3 get the medals and the chance to go to nationals. Certificates for 4th to 10th place. Again, everyone gets certificates of participation. (One more for your portfolio, Seniors.) Others include highest individual pointer, highest school pointer, school paper adviser of the year and the journalist of the year award.

Remarks: When you feel like "Oh my God I can't do this there are too many people and they all look like they know what they're doing," just think: Everyone's feeling that way. Just do it. No regrets. Just do your best, don't underestimate your contenders but don't overestimate them either. Each is as bad as the other.

3 National Press Conference

Who: People from all over the country... You know, the top 3s from each region. That means, 3 people for each category from every region. Now, it's not just the students, you have to deal with the teachers as well when it comes to the "social" aspect.

What: The. Biggest. Journalism. Contest. And the most fun. (I promise. It is.) And the longest. (It lasts for one school week, longer if you're unlucky with flights.) Involves planes, parades, sleeping in schools, dealing with everyone from crazy kids to overbearing adults, partying with your contenders and sneaking out in the middle of the night for campfires. Might even involve miscommunication; you never know just how many dialects there are in the Philippines until you hear them being spoken... All at the same time. There are the usual categories, and then there's radio broadcasting, tagisan ng talino, talent contest, the wikipedia online writing contest and some others I totally forgot.

Where: Some far place that would most likely involve an airplane. Last year, it was Koronadal, South Cotabato. According to the veterans, it's going to be somewhere in Visayas next. (It goes, Mindanao-Visayas-Luzon or something. I also heard that they pick the place by drawlots. I don't know how true that is.)

When: February. Word of warning... It usually coincides with "prom season," so if you get in, there's a chance you won't be able to attend. Or you won't want to. Or you will attend because of the "theory of force." Whatever. Hahaha.

How: When you get there, which depends on the available flight, you will have to go through the long and winding registration process. There are freebies, so, yay! Haha. Then you do the parade of delegates. There is no shortage of food, don't worry. The various contests go on for the next three days, then on the fourth day it's awarding. (Yes, the judging is THAT fast.) Fifth day, you can go home. If you don't want to, or you can't, you can explore the place.

Pre-contest Drama: Training in the school, and training by the NCR journalism teachers. (There's a three-day workshop in RELC, Marikina, where you start by 7 a.m and end at 7 p.m... Yep, 12 hours. For three days. They encourage you to stay in, and it's better if you do. Everything is free the food is superb, the company is likely to be great, and the acommodation is excellent. Unless you have obsessive-compulsive control freak paranoid parents, then you can't. It would seriously make you feel like you're on vacation. The downside is that they'll train you to tears.)The pre-contest training is where you'll learn where you're going, what is expected of you, what you'll go through, and it's also where you can try out for extra contests. (Remember, extra contests mean extra responsibilities AND perks. From experience, radio broadcasting is waaay fun.)

Awards: Top 7. Top three get the big-ass trophies, certificates of recognition for 4th to 7th place, and everybody gets certificates of recognition. Then there are the awards for the "extra" contests. Remarks: I don't know where to start. Hmm. Let "Praemonitus, Praemonitas" suffice for now. There are too many things to say. :-)

4 Teodora Valencia Search for the Ten Outstanding Campus Journalists and Papers (NCR level)

Who: Two people from each school, one for English and one for Filipino

What: Basically one of the biggest tortures in the history of journalism contests. There are 6 categories; news, editorial, feature, sports, copyreading, and science writing. And yes the, uh, lucky people who get picked will have to go through everything in their respective medium. That means, 6 hours of nothing but writing. The campus newspapers are also entered in the contest.

Where: Some school. Of course.

When: January.Why: To, er, award the top ten journalists in the region.

How: *My brain is going "Bad memories!!!" Hahaha. I mean, I was in major personal turmoil during this time so... You know.*
Here's the thing... You sit down, they give you two pieces of paper--one is blank, the other is your material. Then you write for whatever category. When you turn that in, they automatically give you the next two pieces of paper. And so on, until you get to the last category, by which time your hands will be aching like hell. If memory serves me right, it's more vexing than college entrance tests. Prepare pens. Seriously.

Pre-contest Drama: Oh. Heck. I can't say anything much. (Since I was warned 3 days before.) It's basically a test of versatility, and there really ain't much ways you can prepare, if you ain't already. (Translation: Grit your teeth and do it.) Training in school... You know, like div press con.

Awards: Top ten for each category. (We weren't actually present during the awarding.) I think the top three get the medals and everybody gets certificates, as usual.

Remarks: Basing things on probability, again, good chances of winning. I mean, you get 6 chances to win, and there are ten places. I think Brian (Filipino) got a 3rd and a 4th place; I got a 3rd (in science) and a 6th (in features). See. Good chances.

***BASIC ADVICE for writing contests***

Rosie says: Don't forget your PAPER. Hahaha. I swear, I was so nervous during those contests I didn't bring the paper for drafts and such. I remember during the regionals I was so spaced out that I went to the contest room with only one freaking pen. It was actually one of my most priced possessions: the white parker pen I won during the spelling contest. (See below.) Anyway. I ended up begging for paper from people I didn't know, and hoping that the pen wouldn't run out of ink. Also, MIND YOUR HANDWRITING. Some judges are picky and they don't read the article unless the handwriting is good. Not too big, definitely not too small, and always, always, legible. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. Usually, they'll give you a piece of paper with everything you need to do. ("Write the title" wasn't on the instructions so I didn't... Uh, in case you have bad panic tendencies too, don't forget your title.) Oh yeah, kind of unrelated, but if you ever meet Mrs. Palanca (National Director of the Editor's Guild who resides in this region) DO NOT SPEAK UNLESS YOU ARE SPOKEN TO. Do not laugh or talk too loud in her presence, and do not, for heaven's sake under any circumstances, disobey her. Don't even look her straight in the eye when she's in a bad mood. She can make the teachers cry, people. Careful.

5 Y-JAM Spelling Bee (Division level)

Who: Schools you are very familiar with. One person from each year level, and you will be playing as teams.

What: Spelling!!!

Where: I'm guessing Kaban ng Hiyas. Or City Hall.

When: Depends on when Mr. Lito Cinco gets the funds. Haha. We joined the "1st Spelling Bee," so I don't know where to base it. It happened before the regionals though.

How: Three rounds. Yes, this is scored as a team, but the spelling is done individually.First round... each person from every year is given ten words (easy, promise. You'll stab yourself if you don't get more than seventy percent.) Then the scores are added, and the top four schools are picked out.Second round... ten words, rotation of members. It's oral. You pick out a word from a box or something, they say the word, then you spell it over a microphone. Since there are four of you, two people will spell twice. After this round, two teams remain.*I'm getting nostalgic. I was soooo proud of my groupmates!!! Haha.*Third round... The two teams go through it again. The team with the most points win.

Pre-contest Drama: Ma'am Frias gets a little carried away sometimes... Kidding! Peace ma'am! I remember spelling around 500 words during training. (After school, which meant I was excused from CAT... Haha.)

Awards: The top four schools automatically get prizes (nice, nice stuff... ) It's just a question of who gets the biggest trophy. :-)

Remarks: If you are Mico Subosa, then don't even attend the training. Hahaha. The words can be classified under "frequently misspelled by people who don't pay attention." I remember our winning word, spelled by the then Junior's representative, was "calaboose."

6 Others

...RMSEC, or Ramon Magsaysay Student Essay Contest

*The RM Awards are Asia-wide... But this is a National Contest and if you win you go up to international.Open to all students, journ students are often the most hassled to do this. It works like: pick a RM awardee, write essay, submit through e-mail. Catch: from what I know, unless you have that certain "chutzpah" that sets yours aside from the usual essays (like if you're actually a red cross volunteer yourself, if you've met the awardee personally, or if your father IS the awardee) you don't really have much of a chance. HEY. I am not discouraging you. I am tipping you. Choose your slant wisely. Wink, wink. Make it sound different.

...Y-JAM thingies

Y-JAM holds those essay contests and such, I just don't know exactly when and what they're called.

---------------------------------------Editors, add please :-). :-)

welcome; bienvenidos; bienvenu; benvenuto; wilkommen!!!!!

2008-08-10T02:52:00.000-07:00

This is the solitary sanctioned blog of the City of Mandaluyong Science High School Journalism Class.
This is where the editors will be disseminating the journalism discourses, dialogues, tips, instructions, suggestions, opinions, advice, and what-nots.
We hope that this would be beneficial and advantageous in the course of the gruelling yet enjoyable journalism year.

Good luck! Buena Suerte! Bonne Chance! buona fortuna! viel Glück!

Feel free to contact us if you need any help.

earnestly,

Kim and Rosie,
doyennes and concocters of this most verbose blog