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The College View - what d'ya think?

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13

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    #62
    mehfesto2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭mehfesto2


    One question regarding the college view -

    Why do you buy in pics from Sportsfile etc., when you send people out to matches with cameras only for their pictures to get about 1-2 inches of space. I know I have been affected by this at least once. And a few people Ive talked to have said the same about themselves?


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    #63
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    mehfesto2 wrote: »
    One question regarding the college view -

    Why do you buy in pics from Sportsfile etc., when you send people out to matches with cameras only for their pictures to get about 1-2 inches of space. I know I have been affected by this at least once. And a few people Ive talked to have said the same about themselves?

    We don't buy photographs from Sportsfiles, or others. Thankfully they help us out when our sports editor needs photos.

    In any case, there are not too many agency shots used and they are, generally, used only used when pictures for lead articles when they cannot be otherwise sourced.


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    #64
    Slurmsy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭Slurmsy


    Monument has it right. We don't actually pay for the photos from Sportsfile (or anywhere for that matter). They are given to us as a favour, one we very much appreciate.


    Honestly we try to use them as little as possible but the reality is that a lot of the photos we're sent aren't up to newspaper print quality. We usually end up with hundreds of photos, of which only a handful are usable or appropriate for use in layout.


    We don't like not using people's stuff, and we do what we can to use them, but sometimes we just don't have a choice.


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    #65
    mehfesto2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭mehfesto2


    Fair enough.

    At least there's reason behind it. Good to hear you don't have to pay for the pics either - whoever managed that one should be given an award! :D


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    #66
    boomboom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭boomboom


    Slurmsy it's ok - I'm not interested in a role on the paper was just wondering what's the story for next year. I'm more interested in Campus mag actually as i think it suits my writing style more though i think the College view's actually quite decent.

    regarding the plug i mentioned it was a my friend's film being shown in a wee theatre in town but no worries :)


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    #67
    Slurmsy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭Slurmsy


    mehfesto2 wrote:
    At least there's reason behind it. Good to hear you don't have to pay for the pics either - whoever managed that one should be given an award! biggrin.gif

    Yea, it's really a gift from God.
    boomboom wrote: »
    Slurmsy it's ok - I'm not interested in a role on the paper was just wondering what's the story for next year. I'm more interested in Campus mag actually as i think it suits my writing style more though i think the College view's actually quite decent.

    Well there's always Flux (the art section). It's more informal, if that's the issue, when it comes to writing style.


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    #68
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    Here's my two cents* on contributing and other info if anybody is interested...

    After the edition out later this week, the next issue of the paper won't be until after the summer. The paper is now 32 pages split into news (8 pages), news features (3 pages), comment (3 pages + the letters page), sport (5 pages, down by 1 page), and our renamed/revamped arts pullout 'Flux'.

    Health and tech have been removed as standalone sections. The features has been changed to 'news features,' with other features in arts pullout, which has been expanded by four pages. The College View has been released about once a month for 2008/2009.

    Depending on funding etc, the frequency may change to every three weeks for 2009/2010. But there is noting firm on this at the moment.
    There is also a view -- both by some inside the newspaper and by the SPC -- that the College View should return to operating under a society. It would be a duel society / editorial structure, with no editorial interference from the society. It would allow for the running of events, both on the formal and social side.

    Generally the idea is to open the paper up a bit, make information like the below available, and formalise the running of the paper – it apparently is currently operating under no formal rules, structure, with no constitution as other societies are required to have.

    Writing

    If you're interested in writing for any section, you can turn up at the writers' meeting before an issue where articles are handed out. Or you could pitch an article idea to an editor at the writers' meeting after the meeting is over, or by email -- section editors can be contacted via http://www.thecollegeview.com/

    Different sections editors will have different preferences for handing out articles or accepting ideas. Many will just want to hand out a list stories. There seems to be a different level of openness to pitching ideas, but most appear open to it. Don’t be afraid to try and send off an email suggestion.

    Each editor will also have different ideas if what is or is not a good story. If an editor of the paper doesn’t like your idea, it does not mean much, it’s just their view against yours. It’s the same as the Real World TM, one ed may love it, another may hate it. There’s no harm in trying if you think you have a good idea, but also be willing to consider suggestions if they are given to you. Who ever tells you this isn't a highly subjective game is at best foolish.

    If you are submitting a story, make sure it makes the deadline you are given. If you don't want to piss off the editors or subeds than avoid random quotation marks around words, random capitalisation, and explanation marks. If you written for the paper note how your articles are being edited. Make sure to read over your article more than once before sending it, and have a quick read of at least the highlights of the style guide: http://www.thecollegeview.com/style-guide/

    Articles will be used or not for various reasons – what you view as a ‘good’ article may not get in because of lack of space, or it is about which happened too long before the publication date, or another section is covering the same topic etc, etc. What you view as a bad article may be viewed as ‘bad’ article may get in because there has been too few submissions for that section etc.

    Photographs

    I guess you can contact the image editor or a section ed directly on this one. Sending them photographs or letting them know you are available to take shots (of events on campus, matches etc).

    You don’t need a high-end camera, but it helps. Many midrange / compact cameras don’t have a hope in taking shots of the quality needed. When sending photos give them in as the highest res you can, do not reduce the size.

    Photos may be chosen to be used depending on the views of the photo ed, the section ed, the editor, and the layout team. It can depending on what works with the layout or what best fits a story etc.

    Layout & design

    If I do say so my self, we’ve massively improved the design of the paper this year, and even comparing the later editions and first issues last year, the paper has improved. Help is welcomed on the layout, but it can be hard to teach people who are not proficient in InDesign, PhotoShop, and lack the basics of newspaper design, and it involves working at the weekend. As far as I know, we will be looking to adding to the layout team next year.

    * = this is not an official guide, everything said in the above is my personal views on such matters


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    #69
    dead-bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20 ✭dead-bob


    I heard a rumour that one subeditor reads out every piece of bad grammar, punctuation and poor syntax he encounters and then makes fun of it. I also heard a rumour that if you are writing for a section then you might want to read a piece in that style before you take one on. It is unusal how some people volunteer to write a piece without much familiarity with the style they are trying to undertake. This isn't a reason to take the piss out of people,I just feel they are making life a bit too hard on themselves. There are good writers who could really show their stuff if they were just a little more familiar with the conventions in which they are expected to operate. Writing is, after all, all about reading.

    I am really excited by the level of writing throughout the new college view though.

    If there are any people reading this who would like to write about music but felt put off by pedestrian standard of reviewing set in the Attic this year, worry not. Music is being taken far more seriously in Flux, despite the best efforts of every non-me member of staff, so if you actually read music magazines and want to give it a go come along to the meetings next year and I will give you something cool to do.


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    #70
    mehfesto2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,148 ✭✭✭mehfesto2


    My picture was accredited to someone else today. Im not happy.


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    #71
    Slurmsy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭Slurmsy


    mehfesto2 wrote: »
    My picture was accredited to someone else today. Im not happy.

    I'd assume it's the one on the front page of "News Features", in which case that was my fault and I'm sorry. There was a mix-up with a number of photos and I missed it. I had been working for about 12 hours straight but that's hardly an excuse. The mistake will be fixed for the website and I'm going to redo the final PDFs so that when people download them at least there you'll be correctly accredited.


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    #72
    ManoCornuta
    Closed Accounts Posts: 93 ✭✭ManoCornuta


    mehfesto2 wrote: »
    My picture was accredited to someone else today. Im not happy.

    My name has been spelled incorrectly in the paper, I wasn't particularly happy with that one either!


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    #73
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    ManoCornuta wrote: »
    My name has been spelled incorrectly in the paper, I wasn't particularly happy with that one either!

    And who are you?


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    #74
    Matthewthebig
    Registered Users Posts: 5,217 ✭✭✭Matthewthebig


    lols at that porn article.

    Max Hardcore doesn't punch girls in the face...

    learn2extreme porn plz


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    #75
    dead-bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20 ✭dead-bob


    Matthewthebig wrote: »
    lols at that porn article.

    Max Hardcore doesn't punch girls in the face...

    learn2extreme porn plz


    He does though. Unless someone has gotten plastic surgery to look like Max Hardcore. That would be a sad thing.


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    #76
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    I had nothing to do with writing the article on the survey of the SU, which also asked about the USI etc, but I've heard a notable number of people today remarking on the sample number of 200 compared to the total student population [of what 8,000 or so on campus daily? or 10,000 if you count distance learners, part timers etc?].

    Their point being it is too low of a sample, with at lease one suggestion the poll should be of 1,000 people or around 10% of the population... this is however flawed. National polls are taken on this scale, ie the ones conducted by the Irish Times/TNS and Sunday Business Post/Red C (examples: a, and b).


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    #77
    Diarmaid07
    Closed Accounts Posts: 247 ✭✭Diarmaid07


    monument wrote: »
    I had nothing to do with writing the article on the survey of the SU, which also asked about the USI etc, but I've heard a notable number of people today remarking on the sample number of 200 compared to the total student population [of what 8,000 or so on campus daily? or 10,000 if you count distance learners, part timers etc?].

    Their point being it is too low of a sample, with at lease one suggestion the poll should be of 1,000 people or around 10% of the population... this is however flawed. National polls are taken on this scale, ie the ones conducted by the Irish Times/TNS and Sunday Business Post/Red C (examples: a, and b).

    If there were only 40 people in the University, would you base research on 2.5% of the population of the college - one person?

    You have to account for sample size as well. 200 was not fair, however I have to commend the college view for stating that the article was written by ex-USI and declaring the small amount of people questioned.

    Just a very quick 0.02 there =]


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    #78
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    Again: National polls taken by the Irish Times/TNS and Sunday Business Post/Red C use 1,000 people as sample.

    In this context, how exactly is a sample of 200 taken across the campus "not fair"?


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    #79
    Fuhrer
    Registered Users Posts: 4,661 ✭✭✭Fuhrer


    It seems unfair to most people because the results that you got from the survey were vastly different then the opinions that they would have.


    Me for instance, after reading the article I asked people about what they thought of the Union, they all said it was ****.

    But hey, thats how it goes. People were probably polled coming out of the Hub and were all involved with the SU


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    #80
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    Fuhrer wrote: »
    But hey, thats how it goes. People were probably polled coming out of the Hub and were all involved with the SU

    As far as I know the sample was taken at different points across the campus, ie in the different building / schools.

    One major problem with polls -- in general and not just this one -- could be that more critical people are, as a group, less likely to take part in the poll in the first place. In any case, polls are limited in accuracy, and even when very accuracy are only a snapshot of a limited time. People's opinion can change quickly from week to week.


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    #81
    irlande
    Closed Accounts Posts: 100 ✭✭irlande


    monument wrote: »
    Again: National polls taken by the Irish Times/TNS and Sunday Business Post/Red C use 1,000 people as sample.

    In this context, how exactly is a sample of 200 taken across the campus "not fair"?

    200 students is one class.

    :)


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    #82
    irlande
    Closed Accounts Posts: 100 ✭✭irlande


    Personally, I think College View has amazing potential but doesn't live up to it at all. For every great article you read there'll be 3 or 4 that are simply awful.

    The seemingly visible bias against the SU is a bit ridiculous and the surveys are questionable. (All of which has already been mentioned.)

    I do think College View is an excellent platform for giving student news. It is truly interesting to read whats been happening on Res or what's going on with some of the sports teams on campus, but random opinionated rants which get a full 2 page spread undermine the integrity of the paper if you ask me.

    My personal opinion is that it needs a whole new management structure and needs to get the finger out and rethink itself. 'DCU's only independent quality student publication' my hole. :)

    Oh, and congrats to Mark Egan for winning the College Views version of the election :)!


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    #83
    boomboom
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭boomboom


    I don't know where this idea of the paper being biased against the student union comes from. it just reports honestly on what's going on e.g. the old bar story was really only brought to light by the paper. the reporting on the rag week funds was honest and didn't just go with the old Campus mag line of "Oooh wasn't everything just peachy... so much fun was had...."

    heck, i think that if anything this month's issue was kind to the SU in certain respects e.g. the large amount of positive coverage on the election, the survey which gave a high approval rating to this year's three su peeps, etc. I think people should stop trying to side with the su for once, the College view's actually quite good really!!!!!!


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    #84
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    irlande wrote: »
    The seemingly visible bias against the SU is a bit ridiculous and the surveys are questionable. (All of which has already been mentioned.)

    After an edition which has the headline "Students satisfied with SU" on page 3, you're saying there is a "seemingly visible bias against the SU"?
    irlande wrote: »
    but random opinionated rants which get a full 2 page spread undermine the integrity of the paper if you ask me.

    I'd agree with you here, it reads like a comment article rather than a news feature. Opinion outside the comment section should be labeled as such.


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    #85
    dead-bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20 ✭dead-bob


    monument wrote: »
    After an edition which has the headline "Students satisfied with SU" on page 3, you're saying there is a "seemingly visible bias against the SU"?

    EVER HEARD OF SARCASM? WAKE UP PEOPLE!


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    #86
    Spiralling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29 ✭Spiralling


    irlande wrote: »
    Oh, and congrats to Mark Egan for winning the College Views version of the election :)!

    Ah, yes, whoops - that was my fault. In between getting Flux ready for print I was getting the figures for this together and well, mistakes happen. At least it was only in the small box at the side...

    But, can I also just ask as Flux's editor, what do people think of Flux anyway? What was right? What was wrong and should be changed?


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    #87
    irlande
    Closed Accounts Posts: 100 ✭✭irlande


    Spiralling wrote: »
    But, can I also just ask as Flux's editor, what do people think of Flux anyway? What was right? What was wrong and should be changed?

    What the hell is Flux?


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    #88
    Spiralling
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29 ✭Spiralling


    irlande wrote: »
    What the hell is Flux?

    The arts supplement in the middle of the paper. You may have read it, you might have just thrown it away...


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    #89
    Diarmsquid
    Registered Users Posts: 1,584 ✭✭✭Diarmsquid


    Didn't get to read it yet, but a supplement? Really?
    It's a small enough paper anyway. Bit unnecessary go dividing it up?


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    #90
    monument
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 14,080 Mod ✭✭✭✭monument


    Diarmsquid wrote: »
    Didn't get to read it yet, but a supplement? Really?
    It's a small enough paper anyway. Bit unnecessary go dividing it up?

    The arts section has been a supplement for while now. Under the name 'the Attic' up till now. It's a bit more obvious it's a pullout this issue tho since it splits the 'news features' spread.

    Having it as a supplement allows for a different design and style compared to the generally more serious parts of the paper (ie news, news features, comment, and sports).


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    #91
    thusspakeblixa
    Registered Users Posts: 1,910 ✭✭✭thusspakeblixa


    I myself especially like the sports section
    *slaps back*


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