The College View - what d'ya think?

mchalem4

This year the College View is changing hugely, and I mean HUGELY, with more pages, a new design and better writing. We've already got together a larg editorial team, but before our first issue of the new semester, we want to get more ideas for the paper from other students, and so that's where you guys come in.

We want to know what you think the College View should be writing about. I was the news ed. of the last issue back in April (and will be again for this year) so believe me when I say that there is no such thing as a stupid suggestion. We also want to know what you liked or hated about previous issues of the paper (including the last issue - don't hold back now!) and even if you hav any ideas about a new title for the paper, an idea that the editorial team have been tinkering with lately.

The team is really serious about improving this paper and making it something that all DCU students, from Nursing to Engineering to Humanities, will read and will be proud of, so any ideas whatsoever will be fantastic.

Thanks a lot, and don't forget to pick up a copy of the new and improved College paper in early October!:D

Paddy-Megans-Lo

Oooo im starting journalism (1st year) in September... Do you allow 1st years to contribute articles or help out oranything? I'd love to get different experience from various places other than the experience i already have!

I haven't read the college view before but ..

• maybe some good information for incoming first years, cause Cao, registration, accepting offers can get a bit confusing (it definitely was for me!) and hand it out on the open day?
• Even some insider info and tips on the best way to go around DCU, best shops nearby to buy from, tips on different student meals on a budget, good places of accomodation, cheap places of nights out etc.. which im sure there are plenty of tips to be gotten from the various posts on boards!

• Maybe do student profiles and interviews...like fashion section and interview and photograph students and their styles and influences, tips on fashion, places to shop, how to be fashionable...same with music and DCU bands, their influences, their sound, places they gig, how to get into music, advice to musicians...

I'll keep thinking of more ideas lol ... :)

• Maybe a 'whats hot and whats not in DCU' section which changes in each issue?

Paddy-Megans-Lo

Paddy-Megans-Lo wrote:

whats hot and whats not in DCU...

Sounds a bit too campus mag for my liking...

Honestly, I loved reading the college view and felt it was the only honest literature around the campus...

I would like to read more about work behind the scenes in societies and also some "hard hitting" stories about campus life such as sponsorship by companies of events and yet ticket prices being higher than previous years...I do like the idea that there is a paper out there that isn't afraid to tell it like it is in regards to college life and isn't blinded by the SU...ie, not everything that it does is rosy...

Whatever you do though, don't try and be the nubar or campus mag - a failed attempt at being funky, modern and cool...

cocoa

Deleted User wrote: »

Whatever you do though, don't try and be the nubar or campus mag - a failed attempt at being funky, modern and cool...

agreed. I don't mind campus, it's grand for what it is (a bit of a light read with some info on what's happening on campus) but I don't want that from the college view. Focus should not be on funkiness, bright colours or anything like that. When I read the college view I want something interesting and honest. Hell, I'll put it even more simply, I'll 'read' campus for the pictures, I'll actually read the college view.

So yeah, I'm not looking for anything too fancy or 'new' in the college view, just good, well written, well edited articles. Come on you journalism students, show me what ya got!

mehfesto2

Totally agree.

An Tarbh is god-awful though. I mean how many pictures of Blonde Mikey Robinson does any one magazine need?! :pac:

I like the college view. Great alternative.
I always thought there should be more emphasis on small gig reviews around Dublin, preferably Irish bands. You could examine the societies. See if they are too 'clique-y' like some people say.

One point I found out during the week is that foreign students in DCU are finding it so hard to adapt, that the local church in Ballygall (The Mothe rof Divine Grace) is asking for people to accept these students over for Sunday Dinner on occasion. Why aren't they being accepted by Irish students in DCU, could be an interesting topic to explore.

Or even something like sexual practice in DCU. Find out if we Irisih really as educated and safe as we were made out to be in that Durex study. Could be a good one for Ragweek or whenever the safe-sex promotions are.

Thats just my 2cents!

jennZ

I agree. There might be interviews with International Students, tips for them or just general/funny info on their countries. I saw (from College view's website, the issues were old though) that there's a travel section so people can give advices bout their country's capitals and so on.

The advice comes from a Bulgarian, of course.

p.s. I hope it's really not that hard to integrate into DCu...

mchalem4

Right so, some reaaly good points there so thanks a mill for that.

I've got to say that as a guy that wrote in almost every issue of the paper last year, including the hard news stories, Im really happy to see that it has been appreciated and hopefully will continue to be in the coming year.

I'd agree with you points about it not being like Campus - in reality its an outlet for the SU to promote its good deeds like it's doing us a huge favour. Personally I think that because we voted for them and because they are paid (no matter how menial a wage) from the university, it should be totally acceptable that we, the students should hold their actions to account at every opportunity. But hey, that's just my 2 cents .

I've seen some good suggestions already so hopefully I'll private message a couple of you in the next few days to discuss them further. In the meantime I want to hear more of them people!!!;)

I have to say, I do like the cut of you jib...

corkkaz

hey totally agree with some of ye, college view is always something to read , and is actually pretty good i must say.

i agree bout campus ever count the number of pictures of certain people - talk bout modesty :D

not part of college view but did anyone see the student handbook on dcu website? you would think dcu is five people :eek:

blacon

College view is a fantastic paper. I hope you guys stick to the roots after your changes take place.

Being on the committee of the newly founded DCU Airsoft Society, and also being a writer, if you guys are aiming to give more of an insight into societies i could write an article about our work or about the sport of airsoft. Perhaps a 'Promising new clubs n socs' section for the beginning of the year

Seriously though keep up the good work!

cviewarts

Paddy-Megans-Lo wrote: »

Do you allow 1st years to contribute articles or help out oranything?

I haven't read the college view before but ..

• maybe some good information for incoming first years, cause Cao, registration, accepting offers can get a bit confusing (it definitely was for me!) and hand it out on the open day?
• Even some insider info and tips on the best way to go around DCU, best shops nearby to buy from, tips on different student meals on a budget, good places of accomodation, cheap places of nights out etc.. which im sure there are plenty of tips to be gotten from the various posts on boards!

• Maybe do student profiles and interviews...like fashion section and interview and photograph students and their styles and influences, tips on fashion, places to shop, how to be fashionable...same with music and DCU bands, their influences, their sound, places they gig, how to get into music, advice to musicians...

[I hope Mr McHale doesnt mind me gatecrashing his thread.. ]

Hey,
Yeah we do indeed let first years contribute - we love to get them when theyre fresh and enthusaistic!

The things you have suggested are likely to be covered in Campus magazine which is another publication within the college. But fantastic that youre coming up with ideas and showing an interest! The fashion thing you have mentioned will be possibly appearing within the arts section (what I'm in charge of), but a few things have to confirmed within the next couple of weeks..

Mahfesto2, I'd be keen to follow up on the suggestion for smaller gig reviews, but the problem Im afraid I'd have is trying to get people willing to them. It's definitely something I'll have a think abotu though.

There'll be a few different things within the arts section [and the whole paper too of course] which I've been thinkin about a lot.
A few of ye have mentioned societies, but I'm not sure it thats more for Campus? Im open to suggestions of course!

One more thing, thanks for the positive comments guys, its great to see that people actually like what we're doing and read it.
Finally, anyone with any questions or suggestions just pm me here or email thecollegeviewarts@gmail.com.. thank ya

mchalem4

By the way, if you've a spare second have a look at the brand-spanking new website, www.thecollegeview.com, and leave your thoughts here. Once the first issue of the semester comes out (week 4), it'll be updated with all the latest stories and writers' blogs!!

It's a shameless plug, I know, but hey, we're students - shameless is who we are!!:D

jdivision

As a graduate, I'd like to say the best thing you can do in college if you;re a JR is get involved in something like this. Write as much as possible, do as many things as possible for it while you're there. Join in DCU FM (if it's still around). Employers are far more interested in what experience you have than what final grade you got imo, evidence of which is fact nearly everyone in my class who got a first class honours is no longer involved in journalism. No job is too small and enthusiasm is everything.
Good luck with the College View this year. Mchalem my only advice would be get something current up on the website, doesn't have to be too interesting but looks a bit out of date, even if it's just a list of stuff that's happening in clubs and socs week etc (I'm still involved as a graduate in a club there).

Choco

Just to say to the previous poster - as the Website Editor - you're right, we do need new stuff on there. Hopefully more and more exclusive-to-the-web content will be placed on it as the year goes on but to start with we've put up a load of Clubs and Socs photos, which are pretty cool to have a look through...

monument

Anybody have any thoughts on the first two editions?

figs86

Picked one up the other day (vastly improved circulation and availability - there are small stacks of them lots of places on campus, very neat and none fecked all over the place)....

...in short, it's a huge improvement on last year, well-written articles (maybe a bit mad with the shock! horror! DCU accommodation costs 2-300 more a year than trinners or ucd....who have old accommodation that is worth less and building of which is paid for long ago)

well done, keep it up

An Citeog

Yeah, I really like it. There's a good mix of everything in it and I particularly like the sports coverage.

Good work and keep it up!:)

stringy

very well put together, good balance, nice themes throughout, but why so sensationalist?? all i can see is tabloid journalists in the making. is there no good news to right about? or how about some balanced comment?

:|

It has definitely improved since last year, seems to be more people around campus reading it too

monument

stringy wrote: »

very well put together, good balance, nice themes throughout, but why so sensationalist?? all i can see is tabloid journalists in the making. is there no good news to right about? or how about some balanced comment?

Being a design editor, my main area of focus is along those lines. But if you want to expand on that I'll pass on the link of this page to the respected editors in case they haven't seen it.

Sensationalism has been mentioned before. However, I think it is a direction from the top rather than individual reporters or subeditors.

Choco

As the website editor, and one of the people in charge of designing issue two - I know I personally wanted it far more sensational on the front page than it came out. But I was overruled on that (by the person before and others on the team.)

Overall though, it isn't really that sensational, is it? It's just very much to the point, no, in a paper that has VERY limited space to get as much in as possible? And, just to put it out there, is there really anything wrong with being sensational?

jdivision

Choco wrote: »

And, just to put it out there, is there really anything wrong with being sensational?

Well what happens when you do get something sensational? Do you make it extra sensational? I haven't seen the new issues but would also advise the journalists to use the Freedom of Information Act to get info from DCU and also from Dept of Education about DCU

Tiroskan

needs moar proofreading.

I do like it, but I noticed at least 3 (fairly obvious) typos in one article that couldn't have been more than about 100 or 150 words alone. And while the writing was good, I always got jerked out of my 'groove' whenever I stumbled across a confused homonym or just plain misspelled word.

Daysha

Tiroskan wrote: »

needs moar proofreading.

Oh the irony

Tiroskan

deise59 wrote: »

Oh the irony

uh, it was a joke...

Anon69

Tiroskan wrote: »

needs moar proofreading.

Yea, that paper needs to get itself some decent subs. Whoever they've got now aren't up to scratch.

monument

Anon69 wrote: »

Yea, that paper needs to get itself some decent subs. Whoever they've got now aren't up to scratch.

There should be far fewer mistakes in the third edition which is out tomorrow (Wednesday), or at least there should be little to no major errors.

cocoa

hmmm, nude trinity wimminz from 'TDC', with no article, in the 'News' section... nice reporting...

Grudaire

monument wrote: »

There should be far fewer mistakes in the third edition which is out tomorrow (Wednesday), or at least there should be little to no major errors.

Still more proofreading needed my name isn't spelt like that damnit!

plus I may be moving to trinity giggdy giggidy:D

monument

cocoa wrote: »

hmmm, nude trinity wimminz from 'TDC', with no article, in the 'News' section... nice reporting...

Firstly, they are not nude.

I'll put my hand up and admit the "TDC" bit is down to my (unproven) dyslexia. Err... it annoys me I inserted that mistake.

But besides that, it's a stand alone picture with a bit of text. I think there's been two or three in the last editions since September and there's three in this edition.

It maybe is slightly big (it's the space we -- the layout team -- could fit it in). But, as with a lot of stand alone pics, its a bit of fun and for about something for charity (tbh I'd personally have more problems with the news value of the story below it, but that too I suppose is subjective).

Cliste wrote: »

Still more proofreading needed my name isn't spelt like that damnit!

What would your name be and where would it have appeared?

c0rk3r

Yeah decent enough this week.

With relation to the "reality star hits back at critics" story, can anyone find the boards.ie user that described the group as "spoilt etc etc" because i cant and ive been looking for it. The only thread on the topic seems to be from here http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055431493. I thought it odd that she didnt quote the username. Its a public forum afterall and shes free to do so. At first i thought it was abit odd, then maybe she was just quoting her own username and hiding behind it, then i cant find the quote at all. If anything the guy in question got positive reviews from that above linked thread. Im open to correction though, just having trouble finding it. Wouldnt it be funny to have a Monica Crowley figure at the college view. Scandal

Oh and wasnt the cocaine story pure and utter shite. I have never read such sensational trash, ever. "the guns used were not bought on ebay", "some magic beans by jack on his way to the market", "now hush hush,children and listen up", "mammy and Daddy", "whore of a hangover", "when craic becomes craic", "how fabulous did she look dead", "blood on your hands". The sentiment of the story was right but the execution was just utter garbage. Its was as though you gorged yourself on Pat mcgeehans work* then the next day took a enormous crap on your desk then desperately sieved through the contents looking for undigested scraps of words to string together. Hands stinking of ungodly foul odour you then proceed to stick your fingers down your throat in the hope of regurgitating unmetablised sentences. And the article is what was spewed together.I agree with what you say but how you said it was a differnet matter altogether.Were not ****ing children. The story had such great potential.

It was intellectually dishonest to suggest people took/take drugs because their mates do. People take drugs because its fun. Some see it as illegal, dangerous and damaging society whereas others see it as having a deep spiritual, meaningful experience that shapes and changes attitudes and perspectives in life. You could of surveyed the students of DCU and gauged their attitudes on drugs and drug consumption. It Would of been more relevent. There was a real chance to write something decent on a highly topical issue, get down to real issues but it wasnt to be. Another thing people dont use razer blades to cut cocaine. Its impractical and dangerous to have a sharp blade in your pocket/wallet. People use plastic cards, atms cards, credit cards etc. You should of shown a DCU student card separating the lines and used €5 notes in the photo.

/shrug

*literally.ripped stripes of his articles and forced them down your throat.

Grudaire

monument wrote: »

What would your name be and where would it have appeared?

Ciarán (not Cairan), the handball article. also a of got capitalised with the first letter of another guys name OFC....

mehfesto2

c0rk3r wrote: »

Another thing people dont use razer blades to cut cocaine. Its impractical and dangerous to have a sharp blade in your pocket/wallet. People use plastic cards, atms cards, credit cards etc. You should of shown a DCU student card separating the lines and used €5 notes in the photo.

/shrug

My photo there.
And in fairness to me, the few times I've been in the presence of people taking coke, a blade was used more than once. And besides, putting a credit card beside a line of flour doesn't give the same image-effect. It's all semantics!

sionnach

monument wrote: »

There should be far fewer mistakes in the third edition which is out tomorrow (Wednesday), or at least there should be little to no major errors.

Yes, no major clangers on the front page this time around, but still some errors:

further a field > "further afield"

Also the front page article on the old bar has new quotation marks at the start of every sentence within a single quote, a bit distracting for pedants like me (:

monument

c0rk3r wrote: »

Oh and wasnt the cocaine story pure and utter shite.

It was a comment article. Just the view of one person. And unlike news or features, there's normally a bit more personality shown in the writing of such.

I actually disagree with what was said. And while how it was written wasn't fully to my taste, such things are very subjective.

c0rk3r wrote: »

I have never read such sensational trash, ever. "the guns used were not bought on ebay", "some magic beans by jack on his way to the market", "now hush hush,children and listen up", "mammy and Daddy", "whore of a hangover", "when craic becomes craic", "how fabulous did she look dead", "blood on your hands". The sentiment of the story was right but the execution was just utter garbage.

Those quotes read more condescending than sensationalist.

c0rk3r wrote: »

then the next day took a enormous crap on your desk then desperately sieved through the contents looking for undigested scraps of words to string together. Hands stinking of ungodly foul odour you then proceed to stick your fingers down your throat in the hope of regurgitating unmetablised sentences. And the article is what was spewed together.

Now that's what I call sensationalism.

sionnach wrote: »

Also the front page article on the old bar has new quotation marks at the start of every sentence within a single quote, a bit distracting for pedants like me (:

Err... that's the standard way for most newspapers. What newspapers have you seen it diffrently in?

(Although admittedly there is one point where a quote strings a few too many pars without any break, but that's a minor, minor thing compared to the mistakes in the last editions)

sionnach wrote: »

further a field > "further afield"

Which way was it?

mehfesto2 wrote: »

My photo there.
And in fairness to me, the few times I've been in the presence of people taking coke, a blade was used more than once. And besides, putting a credit card beside a line of flour doesn't give the same image-effect. It's all semantics!

Stop it. Now the pretence it was real coke is gone

Anon69

Monument: I take it from your comments that you are quite high up in the College View team. It is my understanding from talking to - unnamed - people that you also had a picture of males from the calendar. I am just wondering why you didn't run this as well in your publication? Why just the girls? WHY ALL THE SEXISM?

From looking at the list of your editorial team on the - it has to be said, quite good - website, I see the majority of your editorial team is female. I would have thought that with this in mind your publication would be a tad less sexist...

Also, with regards to your comment page cocaine story - I agree with one of the previous posters that it is complete nonsense. Saying that, that comment piece criticism is benign, when compared that comment piece by Laura Hogan. All I can say is: WTF!?

carlowboy

Cliste wrote: »

Still more proofreading needed my name isn't spelt like that damnit!

plus I may be moving to trinity giggdy giggidy:D

You're leaving DCU C-ron?

monument

Anon69 wrote: »

Monument: I take it from your comments that you are quite high up in the College View team. It is my understanding from talking to - unnamed - people that you also had a picture of males from the calendar. I am just wondering why you didn't run this as well in your publication? Why just the girls? WHY ALL THE SEXISM?

From looking at the list of your editorial team on the - it has to be said, quite good - website, I see the majority of your editorial team is female. I would have thought that with this in mind your publication would be a tad less sexist...

Also, with regards to your comment page cocaine story - I agree with one of the previous posters that it is complete nonsense. Saying that, that comment piece criticism is benign, when compared that comment piece by Laura Hogan. All I can say is: WTF!?

Troll.

Anon69

monument wrote: »

Troll.

I'll admit I was a little over the top with the sexism thing but then I figured you'd get the irony with the "College View" being so sensationalist and everything

Anyway, I stand by what I said about those pieces in the "comments" section. Apart from Cristina Duffy's and Pauric McPhillips', even if the latter did read like an advert for Fine Gael, the rest of the pieces in this issue's comment were ridiculous. I'm all of opinion pieces but only if they're grounded in some kind of logic or informed thought.

Someone needs to tell those writing for "comment" that it isn't a soapbox where they can stand up and sprout whatever dribble comes to mind, Alan Averill take note, but a place where readers come get informed analysis on topics of importance and/or interest to them.

Choco

Anon69, you notice how all the authors you note are named and yet, you are nameless. Funny how you are only able to splurt your blabber behind an anonymous screen name. Or are you willing to tell us who the hell you are? As the Online Editor, I'm curious...

Anon69

Choco wrote: »

Anon69, you notice how all the authors you note are named and yet, you are nameless. Funny how you are only able to splurt your blabber behind an anonymous screen name. Or are you willing to tell us who the hell you are? As the Online Editor, I'm curious...

Nameless? It's an internet message board, why exactly would I use my rl name? You want the rl name of everyone else who's posted in this thread too? Or just those that have offered up some criticisim of the "College View"...

Choco

Anon69 wrote: »

Nameless? It's an internet message board, why exactly would I use my rl name? You want the rl name of everyone else who's posted in this thread too? Or just those that have offered up some criticisim of the "College View"...

No. I'm merely stating how you are so brave when you have anonymity but that - and from the way you won't offer your name - you're obviously not as brave as our writers who offer up their name for the pleasure of being criticised by yourself, Mr. Anon69.

Anon69

Choco wrote: »

No. I'm merely stating how you are so brave when you have anonymity but that - and from the way you won't offer your name - you're obviously not as brave as our writers who offer up their name for the pleasure of being criticised by yourself, Mr. Anon69.

lol good one. As if there's anything brave about the stuff that's published in the "College View". No offence but despite what Laura Hogan may think, I don't think the Brian Cowen will be ordering the hit any time soon

I'd imagine that your writers offer up their name because they want to get credit for their work. If they can't take a little criticism on a message board then they're in the wrong business!

Anyway I quite liked this issue. Sports & Arts were good, Tech & Features were decent, News was up and down, and apart from two pieces comment was muck. Didn't read health so can't talk about it. So don't worry, it's not all bad

jdivision

DCU is singular not plural, it's DCU is not DCU are

By the way if you're going to use source material from a national newspaper might be worth citing them, there's two articles at least that first appeared in a national newspaper

Insulting_Bitch

Having attended college view meetings, I noticed that a lot of the bigger and more 'fun' articles to write are never mentioned at the meetings and suddenly they appear in the paper written by people who weren't even there....nepotism???

I would have more faith in the paper if friends of the editorial team weren't given such high priority.

Other than that, the paper is better laid out and the features section is pretty interesting. In saying that, it shouldn't be used as a platform for high horse rants, see the last three pars of the cocaine article.

cviewarts

Insulting_Bitch wrote: »

Having attended college view meetings, I noticed that a lot of the bigger and more 'fun' articles to write are never mentioned at the meetings and suddenly they appear in the paper written by people who weren't even there....nepotism???

I would have more faith in the paper if friends of the editorial team weren't given such high priority.

Really don't like what you're implying there at all.

I can only speak for arts, but yes, a lot of the things that appear aren't handed out in the news meetings, but there are very valid reasons for that.

Firstly, there are a team of four people involved in arts, so of course we take on a lot of them ourselves.

Secondly, sometimes I rather approach people myself to ask them to write a story for me - no, not because they're my friends but because they have proven that they are good writers, reliable etc. I'm not denying this for a second - it's a big risk to have your entire section in the hands of people you don't know, and you don't know how reliable they are. That's why I always have a balance between pre-arranged articles and stories that I hand out.

Thirdly, if something falls through in the last few days before deadline, you have to come up with something to fill that gap on the page. It obviously wasn't planned, so didn't appear at the news meeting.

Finally, people approach me with stories and ideas that they have done themselves, or they want to do. They don't need to be at the meetings as they have discussed it with me already.

There's a lot more that goes on other than what is said at news meetings. I'm sorry if you think that stories are being handed out to friends but that is not the case at all.

mchalem4

So what do people think of the first issue of the new semester?

camroc

I've just had a flick through, and I think it's pretty good. A decent variety of interesting, relevant and well written articles. There is a healthy diversity of opinions on important issues such as the reintroduction of fees, with the editorial being particularly notable for taking what is certainly an unpopular stance, but a very sensible one in my opinion. Good coverage of the old bar situation as well.

The College View is actually a very high quality publication in relation to any other student papers/magazines I've read. Congratulations are in order to those behind it for maintaining a good standard of journalism this year.

Daysha

I thought it was very good as well. Can't really ask much more for a student run college newspaper.

loctite

cviewarts wrote: »

Really don't like what you're implying there at all.

I can only speak for arts, but yes, a lot of the things that appear aren't handed out in the news meetings, but there are very valid reasons for that.

Firstly, there are a team of four people involved in arts, so of course we take on a lot of them ourselves.

Secondly, sometimes I rather approach people myself to ask them to write a story for me - no, not because they're my friends but because they have proven that they are good writers, reliable etc. I'm not denying this for a second - it's a big risk to have your entire section in the hands of people you don't know, and you don't know how reliable they are. That's why I always have a balance between pre-arranged articles and stories that I hand out.

Thirdly, if something falls through in the last few days before deadline, you have to come up with something to fill that gap on the page. It obviously wasn't planned, so didn't appear at the news meeting.

Finally, people approach me with stories and ideas that they have done themselves, or they want to do. They don't need to be at the meetings as they have discussed it with me already.

There's a lot more that goes on other than what is said at news meetings. I'm sorry if you think that stories are being handed out to friends but that is not the case at all.

Fun articles being kept for the "boys" or control freak? don't know which one is worse ..... although have to give credit for the attempt to smear McClave.... how about an article on how the SU is nothing but an absolute waste of students funds which could be put to a better use.... like refurbishing the Henry Gratten toilets perhaps??

I thought it was a nice touch that the three biggest contributors also wrote the readers letters

Agree with comment above, there seems to be very much a bias against anything the SU do and tbh, this doesn't make for good reading...

The cocaine article previously was very condescending and sort of turned me off the whole paper...

The editorial in this month's issue was pretty damn spot on and thoroughly enjoyed it...