MPS wins Best Society at BICS

XPS

Media Production Society won the coveted title of Best Society in a large college at the national college society awards (The BICS) last night.

The ceremony was held in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill and was attended by 200 society volunteers and society administrative staff from the member colleges.

MPS impressed the judges with tales of their achievements in the national media awards, college awards and regaled them with stories from the various trips and events organised by the society.

MPS was represented by Jenny-May (DCUtv Station Manager), Denis McEvoy (DCUfm Station Manager), Alan Regan (DCUfm Deputy Station Manager), Diarmuid Hayes (Chairperson, MPS), Robyn Keleghan (incoming Chair), Richard Geraghty (former committee member, and active society member), Russel James Alford (incoming Deputy Station Manager DCUfm) and several other active members.

The atmosphere was tense in the run up to the announcement of the award - the most anticipated award of the night. It was already a roller-coaster of emotion for DCU students and their representatives with DCU's early success of 'Best Poster' (Style Soc) expected to set the tone for the remaining awards. Alas it wasn't to be as Jackie Fox was narrowly beaten for 'Best Individual', Esoc defeated in the category of 'Best New Society in a Large College', RedBrick loosing to DIT's Sign Language Society and DCU Dance Soc coming a respectable second place in the category of 'Best Event in a large College'. Music Soc also lost out on the title of 'Best online presence for a society in a large college'.

You could have cut the tension with a knife at the MPS table as their category announcement came closer. Ed Leamy had his head buried in his hands while Una Redmond and Siobhan Byrne were at the edge of their seats. So too were the fellow DCU students; not perturbed by previous wins and losses, all wishing MPS well.

At one point a séaonic communion between all the members of the MPS delegation was taking place, all heads bowed, holding hands, sitting at the table, supported by Jackie Fox, Maeve McQuillan (BICS judge), Ruth Connolly (BICS Judge), members of GLEE DCU and Steve Conlon (BICS Judge).

When MPS was confirmed as the winner an explosion of cheers, applause, and cries of joy thundered across the hall and a rush from the four corners of the room towards the MPS table.

MPS had achieved in two years what many other societies can never do in five. It had taken itself from relative obscurity to win 'Most improved society' in last years BICS to "Best Society' in 2011. An achievement that could not have reached without the sterling leadership of the management of FM and TV and the committee of MPS, especially Diarmuid Hayes.

A sincere congratulations to all those involved. It is a fantastic achievement and a proud day for DCU.

Also to forever enshrine this story in the annales of legend in Dublin City University - Denis McEvoy cried (a lot, no really, a lot!)

andyman

XPS wrote: »

Also to forever enshrine this story in the annales of legend in Dublin City University - Denis McEvoy cried (a lot, no really, a lot!)

That'll be the hot topic on Newswire for years to come

No really, what an achievement considering where FM and TV were two years ago. FM made the major improvements last year then stepped it up a gear this year. However, a lot of credit has to go to TV's development this year. They shortened the gap between themselves and FM. This left MPS as a major society in DCU (and indeed Ireland) that isn't centrally revolved around FM which was the big step they had to make and, credit to Jenny-May Finn, Kevin Dolan as well as the TV members, they did just that.

I was delighted when I saw Stephen Long's Facebook status, absolutely delighted.

Daysha

Believe me Denis McEvoy wasn't the only one crying last night. There were more than a few tears shed in the FM studio while all this was going on

I'm just one of the huge group of people who have dedicated so much of their time to MPS both this year and other years, and to say we are the proudest, happiest group of people in the country right now would be a understatement.

Like the guys said at the Soc awards, the pure commitment of our members is what makes us so special. Presenters going in on a 9am Monday morning every week to do a radio show. Editors spending days (and I mean days) putting together TV productions or recordings of other society activities. A team of 20-30 people putting together a 24 hour TV broadcast and raising over €2000 for Japan. News and sports guys spending hours on pre-production for radio shows which are of national broadcast quality. MPS members do this but we just absolutely love doing what we do.

Even yesterday at the interviews some of our members had the ingenious idea of doing a live link with the judges on DCUfm. We set up a webcam in the studio, filled the room with as many FM and TV'ers as we could and showed them just how much it would mean to us to win the award. It's the little things like that makes us stand out.

Goes without saying as well I've met some of my very best friends through this society, and it's also given me an experience of a lifetime doing what we do. And to finish off these last few weeks in college with the 4 Smedia wins, the DCU Soc awards and now the BICs is an end to the year none of us could've ever predicted.

Choc123

As someone who, like Daysha, just put his life into MPS this year, I'm so so proud of what the guys achieved last night.

Thanks to Ruth and Ed for having the brilliant idea of doing a video link - it just showed the judges what a fun, enthusiastic and close-knit society we are.
(Was gonna say professional but I did play Take That's Greatest Day instead of Shakira's Waka Waka by mistake).

It truly is the combined efforts, however small, of so many cracking people that won us this success as it did at the smedias and socs awards.

I have never stuck it out or got really involved in any other society but MPS truly is based on inclusivity and getting as many people involved as possible.

Congrats to everybody - party in Shanowen next week :-) .

MrPirate

XPS wrote: »

Also to forever enshrine this story in the annales of legend in Dublin City University - Denis McEvoy cried (a lot, no really, a lot!)

Wow, kinda wish I saw that.
When I heard the news last night, I was so friggin' happy. I was already at a friend's house party, and this just made it so much better! Proud to have played my part in DCUfm this year. Bring on next year!

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Best Society!!!

F*CK YEAH!!!

Fair play to all involved. Proud day for MPS and DCU!

Garseys

This was very well deserved! Congrats to all the MPS Committee this year and previous years who helped build it into such a success.

and out of curiosity...FM Broadcasting next year? It's a shame that the programmes you have streaming aren't accessible other than the net yet. They wipe the floor production/content wise, compared to some other college radio stations who have fm broadcasting!

Daysha

Garseys wrote: »

and out of curiosity...FM Broadcasting next year? It's a shame that the programmes you have streaming aren't accessible other than the net yet. They wipe the floor production/content wise, compared to some other college radio stations who have fm broadcasting!

It'll be considered over the summer, but there still lots of things that need addressing. Soundproofing is a major issue, and a lot of our actual output will need to be revised to meet FM standards and regulations. Stuff like defamation laws would be absolutely critical - one slip of the tongue on an FM station and we're in serious trouble. Obviously getting the wheelchair accessible door helps but that's just one of many obstacles. It's also incredibly expensive just to apply for it and the process can take months.

For now we're just working on being the best 'online' station we can be, like having hours upon hours of podcasts and on-demand shows available through dcufm.com and our facebook pages. Obviously FM is the next logical step, but all options will be considered

XPS

MPS and DCUfm were told by the powers that be that they had to prove themselves before their corner would be fought to facilitate the necessary imporvements and the acquiring of additional resources for the station to receive an FM license.

I think MPS and DCUfm have proven themselves.

Also I for one used to be a strong advocate of the FM license but after a discussion with the station manager I really don't think DCUfm should broadcast on FM all the time -it would actually hamper the personal development and growth of the more shy members and let's be honest the craic as well. Some clever timetabling will be needed and shows that would be considered too risqué can be broadcast stream only. But those students who have the most risqué shows are, to be fair, some of the best presenters and DJ's on the station.

Daysha

XPS wrote: »

MPS and DCUfm were told by the powers that be that they had to prove themselves before their corner would be fought to facilitate the necessary imporvements and the acquiring of additional resources for the station to receive an FM license.

I think MPS and DCUfm have proven themselves.

Also I for one used to be a strong advocate of the FM license but after a discussion with the station manager I really don't think DCUfm should broadcast on FM all the time -it would actually hamper the personal development and growth of the more shy members and let's be honest the craic as well. Some clever timetabling will be needed and shows that would be considered too risqué can be broadcast stream only. But those students who have the most risqué shows are, to be fair, some of the best presenters and DJ's on the station.

I think that 'prove yourselves' comment will go down in DCUfm folklore after what's happened the last 3 weeks

Speaking purely for myself and not for the station, I'd be in favour of applying for a temporary license in the 2nd semester of next year and see how that goes, maybe sometime around weeks 3, 6 and 9. It'll give people a good taster of the scale of how different FM broadcasting is and what would be required. Don't forget as well that nearly the entire first half of Semester 1 every year is spent training in new 1st years and getting them settled in the studio. Trying to do that on an institutional license wouldn't be for the faint hearted!

Then again our new management may see things differently so we'll just have to wait and see