1 A semesterly publication PRISM Awards 2004 Warren Fernandez
Transcription
1 A semesterly publication PRISM Awards 2004 Warren Fernandez
July - Nov ʻ04 | Issue 01 MITA (P) No. 268/10/2004 Co A semesterly publication - A School of Communication and Information Newsletter - PRISM Awards 2004 Warren Fernandez visits SCI Chronicle 10th anniversary SIRC makes it big in UK 1 Dean’s Message Dear SCI Graduate, Greetings from my colleagues and me here at the School of Communication & Information! I am writing from a newly completed fourth floor extension on what used to be the school building’s roof. More on this in a later article. Let me begin by saying that I am not asking you for money in this newsletter. Often, when I tell alumni that the School wants to make a stronger connection with them, a common response is a look of concern that we are asking for money. So let me repeat: I am not asking for money in this newsletter. Now that I’ve clarified that and gotten it out of the way, let me tell you why we want the connection. A top university requires three elements: good infrastructure, good faculty and good students, including the alumni. Of the three, good students and a strong alumni connection may seem the least likely to contribute to the makings of a great university. But, in fact, good students challenge the faculty to stretch themselves intellectually, making teaching a joy. Whisperings of our excellent student body and teaching environment, in turn, attract more first-rate faculty, which attracts more good students and more top-notch faculty and so on, creating a virtuous cycle. This virtuous cycle brings fame and recognition to the programme and the University. The biggest triumph for a programme is a great alumni body that contributes to society in research, employment, and ideas. The quality of these contributions determines the programme’s and university’s buzz. A good buzz makes fresh graduates hirable and sets off another virtuous cycle of attracting good faculty and students. So you see, a a strong student and alumni body is an essential part of a great programme. Alumni Day is on November 27th and I hope to see you there. We’ll be giving tours of the building to show you the new fifth floor, the renovated fourth floor, and changes in the School. I’m also looking forward to seeing familiar faces and hearing about what you are doing now. I will be updating you twice a year about developments in the School and facilitate connections among alumni through this newsletter. There is much to be proud of in SCI, and I want you to be connected with it. Best regards, Ang Peng Hwa Connexscions - Connecting You and Us Who would have thought that choosing a name for a newsletter is so difficult? We met. We brainstormed. We threw ideas back and forth, debating the good, the bad and the ugly, considered and consulted numerous people: the teachers, the students, the Dean, and of course, the alumni. Only the best names could have made it through such stringent criteria. Out of the dozen names we came up with: “Connexscions”, “@SCI” and “SCIdeas” made the cut. Ultimately, it was YOU, the alumni who made the choice. Close to 50% of the alumni voted for “Connexscions”; 30% chose “@SCI” while the remaining picked “SCIdeas”. CALLING ALL ALUMNI! “I like Connexscions, it’s sophisticated and stylish.” Nizamudheen Ishak, one of the alumni, said. “Connexscions”, derived from the word connexion in French, essentially means connections. It represents the hope that current students and faculty of SCI will connect with ex-students who once, like us, studied and played in SCI. This newsletter serves as a bridge between the school and the alumni. We look forward to hearing your feedback. Please contact us at connexscions@ntu. edu.sg. Even the name of the newsletter has yet to be cast in stone. Come celebrate NTU Alumni Day with us this November 27! NTU and SCI will be planning a day of exciting activities for you. Take the opportunity to catch up with faculty members, or simply take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about your time in SCI with fellow alumni. Also, come admire the sparkling new facilities on SCI’s top floor! Refreshments will be provided. For more details, contact Ms Chew Ying Ying at [email protected] or Assistant Professor Lee Wai Peng at [email protected]. -- CHY SCI Name Change Positions It as Asia’s Leading Institution The School of Communication Studies (SCS) was renamed the School of Communication and Information (SCI) in 2001 as it expanded to include the Division of Information Studies, like many communications schools in the West. The new name has positioned SCI as a leading institution in Asia, incorporating both tracks in communication and information. With its well-rounded academic focus, the school is also able to attract more researchers 2 and professors from Asia and the West. “The name ‘SCI’ indicates that communication is the process while information is the content. The key outcome is innovation and ideas,” said Dr Lee Chun Wah, Division Head for Public and Promotional Communication. Apart from gaining international recognition for the many winning projects, SCI is equipped with a very strong program. Dr Ang Peng Hwa, Dean of the School of Communication and Information says, “Alumni should know that our work is being recognised for their significance and they can therefore hold their heads high when they meet competition from other programmes.” -- GC making waves PRISM Awards Comes to SCI Think big – that was their inspiration. Indeed, they made it big. SCI students Lye Peixian, Deng Yihan, Nai Ying Jiin, Jasmine Yang and Yang Yanni received the prestigious 2004 Public Relations in the Service of Mankind (PRISM) Award for their project Colors for Life 2003: Campaign for Club Rainbow Singapore. The campaign project, completed in 2003, topped the “Students project” category and received an award of excellence. Group leader Lye Peixian, a fourth-year student, said, “It was a sweet bonus for us because when we were conceptualizing and executing the campaign, we did not expect to participate in PRISM, and (to) eventually win the award.” The group was motivated to work with Club Rainbow Singapore (CRS) on a public campaign after the organization had to cancel a fund-raising event 2003 due to SARS. While they are thrilled to have received the recognition, Peixian and her group remain firmly rooted to the ground. “We were very thankful for a supportive client. We had little restrictions and were SCI Team at the PRISM Awards given plenty of freedom in all aspects of the campaign. They were helpful and supportive and it wouldn’t have been a success if it weren’t for them,” she said. Dr Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, the project supervisor, was all praise. “This group of� They were extremely cooperative and worked as a true team, sharing all the toil and fun of a demanding campaign,” he said. The PRISM Awards, now in their eighth year, were created by the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore in 1987 to recognize and reward excellence in public relations and communications in Singapore. The awards, which are presented bi-annually, aim to encourage creativity, originality, and best application of public relations and communication practices across all sectors of the economy, in commercial as well as non-profit activities. -- AY Two SCI Second-Year Student Projects Selected For Prime-Time National TV Parkour and Hall Privacy Broadcast on Channel i SCI students continue to make the school proud. Last semester, two second-year student video news stories were selected by Channel i for their 8:30 news bulletins on May 5 and 6, 2004. The two broadcast projects, Parkour and Hall Privacy, were given priority time during the news program and acknowledged as SCI student projects with the student producers’ photos shown at the end of the clip. This was the first time that a professional news broadcast has given credit to independent producers for their work. The two stories were chosen out of a group of 22 final term video projects from the Broadcast Journalism class. Jennifer Lewis, editor of SPH Channel i news, was invited to view and comment on the Broadcast Journalism class projects. She singled out Parkour and Hall Privacy as news stories worthy of broadcast because Parkour was an eye-opener to many viewers -- few knew of the existence of such a group! (And) Hall Privacy was a well-told story that gripped the attention of many.” Parkour, an energetic sport invented in Paris 16 years ago, was recently introduced to Singapore. Practitioners of the sport are called tracers. The story showcased a group of players called “tracers”, their gymnastic ability and passion for the sport. Hall Privacy delved into the controversial issue of privacy in campus hostels. It brought to light the concern of the Office of Student Affairs for protecting and taking care of students who may be in danger inside their rooms and the students’ dissatisfaction of the free access of hall managers to student rooms. To view the selected projects, please go to SCI’s website or go directly to http://www.ntu.edu. “Parkour” producers from left to right: Cheong Kai Lin, Lim Tian Yun, Cheong Fung Wai Angela, Lan Gek How Communication Research FYP Published At JCMC An FYP from the graduated batch of 2002 was selected and published in April this year in an acclaimed scholarly journal, the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (JCMC), Volume 9 No.3, after passing its stringent peer-review process. The three students from the Division of Communication Research (CR) who wrote the paper are Lee Bee Hian, Sim Li Chuan and Trevor Tan Mon Kiat “It’s very gratifying to see that SCI undergraduates can make a contribution to the scholarly community by publishing in this prestigious peerreviewed journal,” Dr Benjamin H. Detenber, head of CR division said. Published by the International Communication Association, JCMC is a Web-based journal founded almost a decade ago that focuses on the emerging field of computer-mediated communication (CMC). The publication, produced quarterly, is a premier journal for CMC research in the world today. The study� periment. The findings p� extent than they can in face-to-face interactions. For all the help they received during their final lap in SCI, Lee said, “To the faculty, thanks for all the guidance and patience with the less than academically brilliant, but normal people like us.” If you are interested in taking a look at the published work, please check it out. http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol9/issue3/detenber.html -- WP 3 making waves EBM Final Year Projects Showcased in Singapore Festivals Several outstanding short films produced by SCI final year students were screened at various local film festivals. These Final Year Projects (FYPs) received positive reviews from the judges for their creative ideas and commendable work. Order Your Happiness Now! Fan Shu Fen, Toh Yian Nee, Ng Kian Hwa This film was selected for the Singapore Young Guns festival in May 2004. Singapore Young Guns showcases work from schools worldwide, screening outstanding short films of emerging student filmmakers. This pseudo-documentary traces the rise and fall of The Wonder Pill, with opinions from Singaporeans. Grey Chia Chun Kit, Melissa Yuen, Awi Ismail, Jason Ng Since its screening at the Singapore Young Guns in May 2004, the film was chosen to compete in the 2004 International Student Film Festival Hollywood in early November. The 20-minute short film follows the male lead, Joshua, in his search for the truth of something that has always been in his mind. In the process, he leaves the people around him exasperated and hurt. The Last Flight of the Red Butterflies Marc Ling , Foo Huey Yih , Denise Yong, Ang Ban Yong This film not only won the FYP award for having the highest FYP grade, but was also featured in Singapore Short Cuts in March 2004, which seeks to raise awareness and promote local filmmakers and their works. It was also shown in Short & Sweet, in conjunction with MITA’s Annual Innovation Fiesta, August 2004 This film tells the true story of Catherine, one of Singapore’s most notorious Ang Hor Tiap members. Ang Hor Tiap or Red Butterfly Gang was arguably the most active female secret society in Singapore’s history, yet is little documented. This docu-drama follows Catherine’s adventures as she navigates through the shady world of nightclubs, cabarets and secret societies. The Cast of “The Last Flight of the Red Butterflies” -- GC 4 Dreams of Two SCI Grads Come True It was a dream come true for Gilbert Chan and Joshua Chiang, two School of Communication and Information (SCI) graduates, when the Singapore Film Commission and Media Hive sponsored them to produce a $100,000 digital feature film. Chan and Chiang won the Singapore Screenplay Awards about two years ago. Today, Chan is not only the producer, but also the codirector of the film. With the help of his good pal, Chiang, a freelance director, he wrote the script and they jointly directed the film. The 100-minute film titled “S11” revolves around a robbery at a petrol kiosk. “S11” producers and cast from left to right: “The inspiration came when my Gilbert Chan, Joshua Chiang and Timothy Nga friend wanted to invest in a feature film and asked me for ideas,” said 28-year-old Chan who is the executive producer of Red Ink Media. “And I decided on the theme of coincidences. How strangers affect one another and their relationship in situations such as a robbery.” “S11 actually contains three different stories but all happening at the petrol kiosk where a robbery brings the three characters together,” he added. Packed with a powerhouse cast, “S11” stars Kevin Murphy (Chicken Rice War, Avatar, City Sharks and Michael Chiang’s Private Parts as ‘Lavinia’), Timothy Nga (Light Years and One Leg Kicking) and Cindy Teo, a graduate from the faculty of law at National University of Singapore. Filming was not easy for Chan and Chiang, as most of the scenes involved shooting at night and outdoors. “Luck does play a part too,” said Chiang. “We had to make contingency plans when the locations that we wanted were occupied due to some unforeseen reasons.” “To top it off, one uncle appeared and told us that the spot that we took was his regular spot for selling durians. We had to hunt for another place immediately when he refused to move. All these happened on the first day,” Chan added. Despite this, things are going smoothly for the two directors. They have cut the scenes and are waiting for the music to be finalised. Media Hive will distribute the big screen release. “There are plans for this film to be distributed in the United States,” said Chiang. Chan says that it is not easy to survive in the film industry. “You need to have the passion to motivate you. There are people who have left the industry before, as they felt jaded and the pay is not glamorous especially if you just started out.” -- JN “Know Dyslexia, Overcome Dyslexia” If you have heard about the “Know Dyslexia, Overcome Dyslexia” campaign, their publicity efforts have paid off. A joint effort with the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), the onemonth long campaign launched in December 2003 was a Final Year Project (FYP) by four SCI students Pamela Tor Das, Ratna Damayanti, Tammie Ng and Winston Ng. The aim of the campaign was to help parents gain knowledge about dyslexia and to raise public awareness about DAS. “I think it was a general consensus amongst the four of us that we wanted to work with an association that helps disadvantaged children,” said Winston Ng. The elements of the campaign included exhibitions at the Ang Mo Kio and Geylang East Community libraries and awareness talks at four com- munity libraries. Winston Ng and his group members sourced for sponsors for the campaign and prepared all the publicity materials for “Know Dyslexia, Overcome Dyslexia”. They also helped set up a media conference for the DAS. Following the media conference, the campaign was reported extensively in the print and broadcast media. It was also recently covered in the August issue of Voices, a community magazine for the Central district. For the campaign, the group did an extensive survey on the perception that parents have of dyslexia and DAS, and presented a comprehensive analysis of their findings to the association. They also gave another presentation at the official opening of the Dyslexia Centre in June, this year. After the end of the “Know Dyslexia, Overcome Dyslexia” campaign, Mr Robin Moseley, the executive director from DAS, sent a letter to the dean in March this year commending the four students. He wrote, “All four students put a great deal of effort and enthusiasm into this project, even during the December holidays, and I cannot find fault with any aspect of their work.” Having received the commendation and knowing that their hard work had been appreciated, the group was extremely delighted. “That was wonderful icing on the cake,” said Winston Ng, “to have the Association underline our importance to their success - it was a really proud moment for us.” -- SL making waves Students Produce Radio Program For RSI Do you love listening to the radio? Next time when you tune in, it might just be a SCI student’s voice on air! Since August 2004, students taking the Chinese radio practicum have been producing a new weekly programme for Radio Singapore International. Called Campus Green, this five-minute radio programme talks about campus life in tertiary institutions like NTU. Spearheaded by the NTU radio practicum students, each weekly programme is a pre-recorded capsule produced by a student. The segment comprises a mini-talk show cum interviews discussing the latest trends and happening in school. Some of the topics that have been discussed are on tertiary students’ dress code, the frequent sms-ing of students in lectures and tutorials, and learning foreign languages. Campus Green is a collaboration between RSI and Mediacorp Radio. It is the brainchild of Mdm Chin Kwee Chin, Programme Director of the Chinese Service in Radio Singapore International (RSI), as well as the tutor for the Chinese radio practicum. A student at work producing the programme “NTU students have both the capabilities and facilities to produce the programme,” Chin said. “ I am glad to provide them with the opportunity and pleased with the refreshing content they have come up with.” The students felt that Campus Green enabled them to understand the fundamentals of radio programming. Moreover, since Campus Green is aired on locally on Mediacorp’s Chinese radio station as well as regionally on RSI, it serves as a motivation for them to produce better radio programmes. “Although it is not a live show, my friends and I are still very excited to hear our very own programme on air,” Teresa Tan, a third-year radio practicum student said. Scheduled to run for at least a year, Campus Green gives students the freedom to produce and create a style of their own. Chin said, “This is a winwin situation for both the students and RSI.” So tune in to Capital 95.8FM every Saturday at 3.40 p.m. or RSI Chinese every Monday at 9.25 p.m. to know the hottest and latest happenings in NTU. If you have missed the past episodes, you can listen to Campus Green online from the RSI website. -- WP Films by SCI Students Find Global Audience SCI students have done their school proud. Two final year projects were screened at the 37th New York Exposition of Short Film and Video (EXPO), Jury Awards on December 13, 2003. The EXPO receives up to 700 submissions, but only 63 were chosen for screening. The two SCI videos that were selected were Radio Station Forgot to Play My Favourite Song and Adam in Heels. Radio Station Forgot to Play My Favourite Song, produced by Gavin Chelvan, Siau Che Sheng and Billy Tan, is a documentary on the local rock music scene. Tan, 26, sound editor of the group, said they were very proud and pleased that the subject matter of their documentary struck a chord outside Singapore. Adam in Heels focuses on four male cross-dressers and gives an insight into why some people choose this lifestyle. An all-female team of Yan Kit Ying, Leong Tarn Meng, Jasmine Teo and Low Siok Hwee produced this video. It was not easy for the students to produce the films. While Radio faced technical problems as producers battled to find a story focus; Adam found it difficult to progress past the initial stages. Yan, 24, director of Adam, said difficulties first appeared in the research stage, as it was hard finding material on cross-dressers in Singapore. “We had to find alternative means to get information and interviewees, and also persuade them to agree to be featured.” Both groups praised their project advisors for helping them overcome the obstacles. For Radio Station Forgot to Play My Favourite Song, Tan said, “Dr Pieter Aquilia helped a great deal by just letting us run wild, as well as being incredibly supportive and encouraging during production.” For Adam in Heels, SCI Lecturer Nicole Draper was a great source of inspiration and encouragement to the group. Draper said she was happy for the group. “I am very impressed because they forged ahead on a topic which was very challenging. They are a good group of students who are dedicated and work really hard.” The short films also won the Media Development Authority Book Prize 2004. They were also screened at various festivals such as the 2004 Women in the Director’s Chair festival, the Amsterdam Cinemasia Film Festival 2004, Singapore Short Cuts festival, Independent Documentary Week at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and an independent music festival in Beijing. -- OR Screenshots from Radio Station Forgot to Play My Favourite Song 5 SCI celebrities Fellow SCI in the Media While SCI prepares us for a future in the media industry, how many of us actually move in that direction? In this article, we introduce some of our ex-schoolmates who have carved their niche in the industry. An internship with Channel 5 turned into an audition that landed Ng Hui in a role in the comedy sitcom Living with Lydia. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. Ng officially joined MediaCorp in February this year and has appeared in several drama serials and variety shows. Name: Diana Ser Occupation: Presenter, ChannelNewsAsia A veteran in the local media industry, Diana Ser has worked with many different aspects of the media. Starting out in front of the camera as an actress and host, Ser moved on in search of a greater sense of fulfillment. While taking a part-time master’s degree in SCI in 1998, she met an editor of The New Paper who invited her to be a guest writer. Ser eventually became a journalist for Streats. Recently married, she is now back in front of the camera as the interviewer and presenter of the series GetRea! on Channel NewsAsia. After eight years in TV, Ser says: “I think I have found something I feel truly passionate about. Going to SPH as a print journalist for Streats sparked off my interest in journalism. Marrying TV and journalism is the highlight of my career.” Did her training in SCI help her in her career? Ng says: “Definitely! Being familiar with the basic workings of the media industry helps in understanding the different areas of work involved that makes a production work. Plus the knowledge in camera direction, lighting, blocking etc.... I am more at ease when working in front of the camera.” Having tried her hand at hosting PSC Nite, she has also hosted a variety show called I’m the One. Catch her on King of Variety on Channel 8 every Friday. Name: Michelle Alicia Saram Occupation: Actress International celebrity Michelle Saram was discovered as a model during an internship with the now-defunct Go magazine. Saram first appeared on the front page of their May 1996 issue, and then signed on as a model with Elite Models. She was propelled into the limelight after she was picked to appear in Aaron Kwokʼs music video. Her appearance as Ye Sha in the popular serial Meteor Garden II further spread her name when the show was aired in several countries. Since she graduated from SCI in 1997, Saram has also starred in Threshold of An Era with Louis Koo, Bullets Over Summer in 1999 and Skyline Cruisers in 2000. In 2003, Saram returned to star in MediaCorp serials To Mom with Love, and Baby Boom. Name: Edwin Koo Occupation: Photojournalist, Streats In ClickArt World Photojournalist Meet 2003, Edwin Koo shined among more than 220 lensmen to bag a second prize for his entry. Out of more than 600 entries submitted, his image was the runner-up for the Best Photography Award under the category Behind-the-Scenes. Part of Koo’s beginning portfolio consists of a book called Rot Fai, which means Trains in Thai. Koo and his project mate Chng Ngo Peng captured life along the Thai Railways and compiled them in this book for his FYP in photojournalism. So what is the difference between journalism and photojournalism? Koo says: “A photojournalist needs to be as curious as any other reporter. Both need to know what’s going on, make sense of it, then tell the story. In this manner, both are storytellers, just that the wordsmith’s tools are words, and a photojournalist’s tools, pictures.” 6 Name: Ng Hui Occupation: Artiste, MediaCorp Name: Ian Tan Occupation: Journalist, The New Paper Ian Tan bagged the Local Journalist Award for 2004 for his outstanding work in Hanoi. This award from the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) acknowledges him as the best local journalist in the region. Prior to that, he won the Singapore Poolʼs S-League Picture of the Year in 2001 and SPH Feature of the Year in 2002. Tan started working as a journalist since he was 21 and also spearheaded the Tech section in The New Paper. Tanʼs take on what makes a good journalist: “Integrity is paramount, because building trust between your newsmakers and your readers ensures you have a new story to write tomorrow! You also need to think very fast on your feet. I believe the best journalists are those who really care about their newsmakers and their readers.” -- GHY new SCI building buidling Reaching for Higher Grounds The new conference room on level 4 The SCI building under construction The graduate students’ office A study room only for the students? A roof garden in a university campus? They are no longer a dream but a reality at SCI. After nine months of construction work, the upgrading of the SCI building was finally completed at the end of August. This included the expansion of the existing fourth storey, and on top of that a spanking new level for facilities. While the whole school cheered for the expansion, students were probably happier, as they now have a fully air-conditioned study room for themselves. Situated on the newly built fifth level, the room is equipped with cabinets for the CI Club (formally known as the CS Club) to store their documents and stationery. While the tables could be moved around to facilitate project discussions, the room can also be used for Paparazzi and performing arts rehearsals in the evenings. As it is a room for the students, the CI Club management committee was involved in the conceptualisation and planning process. “I feel that it’s a good indication that the SCI office and the Dean take the needs and the opinions of SCI students seriously,” says Gea Swee Jean, president of the CI Club 11th Management Committee. “We’re pleased as punch, and quite excited too, because we think it’s going to look quite scenic up there with the roof garden and all,” she adds. The roof garden, which is not completed yet, has the best view from the SCI building. “In great universities, the best views are open for everyone to enjoy, not only for the dean,” says Dr Ang Peng Hwa, the dean of SCI. After the roof garden, the new conference room on the fourth storey has the best view from SCI. There had been a shortage of space, especially with the addition of the Division of Information Studies. The space constraint was further aggravated with the rise in student intake. “The extension is indeed timely,” says Dr Ang. “The building was built with the possibility of a rooftop extension. The year we moved in, we knew that we had to do an extension because our enrolment is increasing every year.” With the new extensions, the graduate students can now move back to the SCI building, together with the rest of the SCI community. Ten offices for SCI graduate students and three offices for visiting professors have been built on the fifth storey. “In my view, architecture matters,” says Dr Ang. “And architecture matters greatly if one wants to be a great school.” -- SL The new 4th storey extension, where the deanery resides now The SCI study room on level 5 The SCI building after completion 7 7 making waves Digital Moves... Off The Beaten Track Ever heard a funky, remixed version of Rasa Sayang? Well, now you can even watch a music video of this traditional favourite, jazzed up and performed in rap! Six final-year students from the division of Electronic and Broadcast Media (EBM) won the first prize in the Student Category of ‘Digital Moves’; a video competition organized by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), for their music video, Rasa Sayang Remix MTV. Daphne Chen, Rita Seow, Sylvia Lim, Ng Ai Lian, Tham Lai Yee and Lim Tee Lip received $3000 and a plaque from Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tony Tan on February 14. The group presented the plaque to the Dean of SCI, Professor Ang Peng Hwa, on August 23. The competition, organized as a preceding event to Unconventional – that’s the first word that comes to mind when viewing Michael Lee’s art works. The graduate from SCI’s pioneer batch overturned the old adage ‘form follows function’ in his solo exhibition at the Alliance Francaise, When a Body Meets a Building. Using Autocad software and digital prints, Lee presents imaginary architecture that have bodily characteristics. His other works are in the form of sculpture, video and installation. Looking back on his undergraduate years in SCI, the current Pathway Leader of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Fine Art programmes in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) says, “I am grateful to SCI for all the crucial moments that transformed me intellectually.” He recounts his encounter with metaphors during a Consumer Behaviour Lecture and Dr Lee Chun Wah declaring ‘Shopping is Theatre!’ – the powerful sentence that marked the emergence of the hidden MINDEF’s Total Defence Campaign, called for entries to present any of the Total Defence core values in a fresh, fun and creative way. The students’ winning entry was a three-minute music video, which focused on racial harmony and diversity. It was chosen for its local flavour and because the message of racial harmony was succinctly captured, the organisers said. “To win was unexpected and exhilarating. Production was very tough as a lot of things went wrong, so we are really proud of the final video,” said Daphne Chen, the director of the video. To see the winning video, log on to http://www.totaldefence. org.sg/mediaroom/campaigns/digital_moves/main.html -- SS thinker in him, as he “began to think analogically.” Lee returned to SCI to complete his Master of Communication Studies in 2001, which he described as a time to “further develop my intellectual department.” The theoretical framework of psychoanalysis that he explored in his dissertation is a mainstay of his current art works. Inspired by Finnish artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila’s film, which is based on her PhD research on relational problems, Lee hopes to produce his own take on the issue within the next ten years. He also aspires to contribute constantly to the diversity of the world by exploring the margins of cultural conventions. “Always strive to do something better and different each time, otherwise it’s a waste of time and space,” the dynamic artist adds. Given Lee’s achievements, who’s to say the road less taken doesn’t lead to success? -- FW Some of Michael Lee’s recent awards 2004: Emerging Artist, National Arts Council 2002: Two Commendation Awards, NAFA The prize-winning term with the Dean and their award (L-R) Daphne Chen, Ng Ai Lian, Tham Lai Yee, Dean Ang Peng Hwa, Sylvia Lim, Rita Seow, Lim Tee Lip. 2001: Highly Commended UOB Painting of the Year Michael and his works Photo by courtesy of SPH-Streats staff stuff Salute to the Teacher of the Year 2004 Ever felt inspired by a teacher? A teacher who made classes fun instead of a drag, motivated and spurred you on during your learning journey? Most of us never had the chance to thank this special someone, but in NTU, we try our best to do so. NTU students nominate and vote for the Teacher of the Year of their choice annually. An Excellence in Teaching award is given to a lecturer from all schools on campus every year. This year in SCI, the special award went to Dr Mark Cenite from the Division of Communication Research. Dr Cenite began teaching in SCI in 2002, and he was nominated Teacher of the Year two years later. 8 He does not believe in acting stern and allknowing. Instead, he encourages his students to experiment and explore different ideas. “My approach works for me...some have said they studied harder for my class than any other. It showed.” To be concise, “I try to be human.” Here is Dr Cenite’s take on being a ‘good teacher’. “As a teacher, getting your attitude is the right key...If you like your students, and you want them to learn, you have a shot at having a good class.” -- WP staff stuff Helping to Bridge The Journalistic Gap The School of Communication and Information (SCI) recently completed a two-year training project which began in December 2002, to raise the standards of journalism education in Vietnamese universities. The training project, entitled Assistance for the Reform (Development) of Vietnamese Journalism Schools was funded by a grant of US$110,000, from Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), currently the largest grant organization in Japan. Thirty-two participants were trained in total and they ranged from communication graduates in their 20s to journalism professors in their 50s who were enthusiastic about honing their craft and upgrading their knowledge and teaching skills in journalism. Over two years, participants attended four workshops which were conducted both in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam and Singapore. The workshops included a wide variety of subjects such as print and broadcast journalism, public relations and advertising, multi-media and web design to knowledge management. Participants also visited local and international media organizations in Singapore to get an insight into current media trends. The main instructors for the training project were Dr Ang Peng Hwa, the Dean of SCI; Associate Professor Sharen Liu, Head of Electronic and Broadcast Media of SCI; and Mr Chua Chong Jin, a current media consultant and a former SCI Assistant Professor. Other SCI instructors included Associate Professor Dr K. Sriramesh and Lecturers Sharon de Castro and Lee Chu Keong. Industry media professionals were also invited as guest speakers. As most participants spoke little or no English, two interpreters, one for each year of training, were hired to bridge the communication gap. “The biggest challenge,” said Liu, who was also the course coordinator, “was the language barrier, which slowed down the teaching process. But our interpreters, selected by the participants themselves were very good; plus the enthusiasm of the participants more than made up for any inconvenience.” Acclaimed local political journalist comes aboard For Cherian George, joining SCI as an assistant professor was a “natural progression of things”. The former journalist and author of Singapore: The Air-conditioned Nation conducted writing courses during his nine years at The Straits Times and lectured at the Assistant Professor Cherian George Stanford University in the United States where he received his doctorAlthough he admits that ate in communications. George is he sometimes misses the newsroom also not new to SCI, having been environment, George says he is glad an adjunct lecturer to the final-year that being an academic at SCI allows journalism students in 1999. him to make contributions to the “I enjoyed teaching “intellectual life of society”, just like them,” he says, and hopes to “repeat a journalist. this experience” with his new stu“And I don’t need to worry dents. about daily or weekly deadlines!” he A political and media com- laughs. mentator, George now manages a And what does he like best news-writing module for second year about teaching? SCI undergraduates, and lectures “The sound of students’ graduate students on media laws and laughter!” is his quick reply. Indeed, policies. the friendly and affable George often He also has research peppers his lectures with amusprojects involving Asian media poliing anecdotes and witty remarks, cies and the alternative publications sometimes having students laugh at under his belt. themselves too. “I’m hoping for a healthy Having spent only a few balance of research and teaching,” months here, he says that SCI has quips George when describing his lived up to his expectations and its work at SCI. “good reputation” shared among meOutside of SCI, he also dia insiders. As he looks forward to writes occasional commentaries for following semesters, George hopes newspapers and runs a newspaper that students continue to “challenge for children from his own laptop. faculty like me to give the best possible education, and show initiative in learning.” -- ML In addition to “training the trainers”, Dr Ang also gave two student lectures at the National Universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities. Dr Ang made history by being the first foreign lecturer to speak at the School of Journalism in Hanoi. One outcome of this two-year training project will be a basic journalism textbook in Vietnamese which is slated for completion by the end of this year. Based on knowledge garnered from the workshops, seven participants were identified to write the textbook which will be used by journalism students from both the National Universities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Overall, Liu thought the training project was a worthwhile venture. With a smile she said, “it was satisfying to note that after only one year of training, participants reported positive changes made to their curricula and teaching styles.” SPF officials who were invited to attend the feedback sessions held in Hanoi, in May this year, were also very pleased with the results of the training. -- CHY SCI instructors and the participants The Global Public Relations Handbook Never thought that you might know the editor of the book you are reading now? Well, in future do pay more attention to them; they might be members of the SCI faculty. The Global Public Relations Handbook, edited by Professor Krishnamurthy Sriramesh, was released in May 2003 and is currently into its second print. In November 2003, it received the PRIDE Award after being judged by the National Communication Association as the best book in public relations released during the year. The National Communication Association is based in Washington, D.C. With its global contributors and wide-ranging focus, the handbook offers invaluable insights on global public relations practice. The information in it should also prove helpful to public relations professionals by introducing them to the unique environments they will face in a globalised world. Each chapter covers the history, development and status of public relations within a specified country or area, and considers the profession in relation to factors such as the political environment; the level of economic development; culture; the media environment; and activism. In addition, each countryspecific chapter also includes a case study epitomising public relations practice in that country. This handbook sets itself apart from other volumes in international public relations with the inclusion of a section on public relations practice in a global setting, with chapters analysing the operations of multinational corporations, foreign governments, international organisations, non-government organisations and multinational public relations agencies. “After over two years of hard work, it is heartening to know that this small piece of work is being received well by both academia and the professional communities,” was how Professor Sriramesh summed up his reaction to the accolades the book has been receiving. -- WP Staff Promotions Congratulations Dr Foo Tee Tuan and Dr Xu Xiao Ge for receiving their PhDs and being appointed Assistant Professors at SCI! Our hearty congratulations also goes to our non-academic staff, Mr Tok Joo Guan for his promotion to Technical Executive. 9 undergrad New Admission System For Freshmen If you feel that you had a hard time getting a place in SCI, it was even tougher for the freshman this year. Besides passing the university admission criteria, they also had to clear other hurdles – a written test and an interview. This was the first time that SCI screened all applicants who placed Communication Studies as their first choice. In the past, students were admitted directly based on their academic results. Only those with borderline results were interviewed. Professor Schubert Foo, the vice-dean of SCI, said the purpose of the written test was to gauge the candidates’ command of language and the ability to express their thoughts logically and succinctly. “More importantly, their aptitude and interest in pursuing the course were also assessed through CCA records and portfolio of works during the interview immediately following the written test,” he added. Competition was very keen this year, as most of the candidates had previous experience in communication-related activities. More than 400 interviews and tests were conducted, but only 172 applicants were admitted. Those selected had a wide range of interests and demonstrated a strong interest in the media. Applicants who excelled in non-academic activities in their junior colleges or polytechnics were also considered. The number of polytechnic graduates admitted this year to SCI jumped to 16 against only two in the previous three years. “We expect the intake of polytechnic students to gradually increase in line with the university’s policy to provide an avenue for a proportion of polytechnic students to obtain undergraduate degrees in Singapore universities,” said Prof Foo. Although the new� continue with it. “We are of the view� well in the programme and industry,” said Prof Foo. -- TT A Freshman’s “Odyssey” “Odyssey” - a pirate’s adventure for the brave and courageous. This was the theme of this year’s School of Communication and Information (SCI) freshmen orientation camp. The camp held from 5th to 9th July, included two days of outdoor activities at the Sentosa Island. Ng Cheezi, 21, a second-year SCI student, led this year’s orientation camp committee, which planned innovative games for the camp. “I remember vividly a food auction game, where we use the money we ‘earn’ through the other games to bid for ‘mysterious’ food,” Foo Shu Yi, 19, a first-year SCI student said. “We did not know what was hidden in the bag and in the end, we spent a large sum of money on a cabbage.” To the freshmen, it was indeed all fun and laughter. But behind the scene, SCI freshmen orientation camp committee had been planning for almost a year to make this five-day camp eventful. “We wanted the freshmen to have loads of fun and at the same time, get to know CS better,” says Ng. “The camp was a platform for them to make new friends so that they will not be alone on the first day of school.” Planning the camp was no mean feat. The key problem Ng and her committee of 14 students faced was insufficient funds. “We started from zero cents and had to undertake many canvassing activities to reach our target aim of $6 K,” Ng says. “It was a tough process to raise funds and we were not able to get any sponsorship. Holding a bash at Centro and setting up of stalls during the school bazaar raised funds.” The committee also developed a small booklet and CD-Rom giving details of the camp. The orientation packages were later delivered right to the freshmen’s doorsteps. Judging from what the freshmen had to say about the camp, Ng and her committee’s hard work paid off. “I enjoyed the camp very much,” says Xie Wanting, 19. “It was definitely a great opportunity for me to interact with the seniors and other freshmen, who otherwise I would never get to know.” -- TT ma student page Yahoo! For Masters Take a cue from master’s students Arleen Cuevas and Camille Faylona. Link up with your classmates via Yahoo! groups.The two came together on March 30 this year to set up a pioneer Yahoo! group account for the Masters’ class. Cuevas, 24, the moderator of the group, said, “It was our idea to start a Yahoo group as we were foreign students from the Philippines and wanted to have a forum to get in touch with our classmates.” The group currently has 45 members. Case studies, case analysis and guides to writing research reports are posted on the site for all to share. Members also share their work experiences. Cuevas says, “Exchange of information and communication has been pretty good, especially when mid-term and final exams are coming up and everyone shares information about papers and other school requirements.” Besides exchanging information, the 10 members also use the group site as a social platform where they could keep in touch with their classmates. The group members organized a dinner a few months back using the Yahoo group site. Faylona, 23, said, “I think the group has been able to get members of the program in touch with each other.” A current Masters student and member of the group, Rajani Pillai, said, “The Masters students do not have any kind of association or any representative body to bring out their woes to the management. I guess the need to keep in touch and share information, thoughts and views triggered setting up this group.” The group founders say that the alumni can opt to be a part of the group though the Yahoo! group is mostly used by current students for discussions about schoolwork. A separate NTUMMC alumni group is also being established. Those who wish to join the NTU-Masters Programme Yahoo! group may email [email protected]. -- RW MA Students’ Gathering ma student page Award For Best Dissertation Not Your Average Graduate Student The sight of a monk in a grey tunic, carrying a large backpack on his shoulders and walking around SCI, has raised the curiosity of many students. Most of them react with surprise when they realise he is actually a master’s degree student here. “Last semester, some would stop in their tracks and look at me with shock,” says Venerable Yan Xu with an amused smile, “but this time the new students just smile at me.” The 29-year old Buddhist monk from China, who joined the Master of Mass Communication course in January this year, has even garnered some media attention. He was featured in The New Paper, and is by now used to people asking questions. “It is not enough for Buddhist monks to stay in the monastery and read scriptures,” he explains. “The new media is developing so fast, so we must know how to use it to serve our members and the public better.” Venerable Yan Xu also feels that the media has the potential to be a “bridge between the Buddhist world and the secular world.” He is already doing his part in building that bridge by editing two local Buddhist magazines. Citing examples of Buddhist-themed television and radio stations operating in Taiwan, he hopes that with the knowledge and experience gained at SCI, he would be able to achieve that for Singapore, or wherever opportunity takes him. Indeed, the monk from the Jiuhuashan Institute of Buddhism in China has “gained a lot” from his time here at SCI. “I’ve learnt to pay more attention to current issues, media impact, and how it affects peoples’ lives,” he says. Even though course readings “seem never-ending”, he enjoys his classes and the lively discussions with other students. He is also full of praise for the SCI faculty, whom he calls “world-class professors” with a “high quality of teaching.” When asked how he would respond if his fellow monks were to ask him about SCI, Venerable Yan Xu immediately replies, “I would encourage them to join of course.” He adds, “Student life is good, and SCI is full of activity and opportunities to learn and gain fresh ideas and cultural views from other students of different backgrounds.” -- ML Venerable Yan Xu Ms Chan Mei Yee, a 2002 Masters in Information Studies graduate, was the recipient of the National Library Board Award at the Convocation this year. This award is given to the student with the best project/dissertation in Master of Science (Information Studies) programme. Started in year 2000, this award of $500 is given to one recipient every year. Ms Chan’s dissertation was Applying Scenario-based Design and Claims Analysis to Evaluate Usability of the National Library Board Digital Library. It questions the usability of digital libraries, especially since users have grown accustomed to human librarians. Ms Chan received her Bachelor in Business degree from Nanyang Technological University in 1995. She is an Administrative Officer in the Department of Computer and Information Systems at the Singapore Polytechnic. As part of her research, participants were recruited to evaluate the usability of the eLibraryHub, the National Library Board’s digital library, by identifying the advantages and disadvantages of its current design. These aspects are measured by the ease whereby users can accomplish their tasks. Factors include how user-friendly the site is and the speed with which they complete the task. The disadvantages were recorded and were organized according to problem-solving strategies and design guidelines. A list of recommendations to revamp eLibraryHub was then proposed. eLibraryHub is looking to incorporate the suggestions to create a more efficient and user-friendly system. -- RW amic The SCI - AMIC connection Tucked in a quiet corner on the second level of the SCI building, the modest façade of the AMIC glass doors belies the organisation’s illustrious history and the vital link it shares with our school. The Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) has spearheaded media development and communication expertise in Asia since 1971, commanding goodwill among industry insiders in Asia and abroad. AMIC has been housed in SCI since 1996, and the two share a close partnership. “I feel proud, of course, to be involved in AMIC’s activities, and that we enjoy such a good working relationship.” says SCI Dean Dr Ang Peng Hwa, who is also the newly elected chairman of AMIC. SCI supports AMIC with substantial core funding and co-publishes all of AMIC’s books and journals, such as Media Asia, and the Asian Journal of Communication (AJC). Many of our faculty also participate in AMIC’s research and activities. As chairman, Dr Ang provides strategic direction for AMIC’s development and daily operations. He has been working with AMIC even before the SCI was established, and has edited and co-authored many books, including Communication Education and Media Training Needs in ASEAN (2000) and Mass Media Laws and Regulations in Singapore (1998). Former SCI dean, Dr Eddie Kuo, has also been involved in AMIC since its earliest days and together with the late Anura Goonasekera of AMIC, founded the Asian Journal of Communication (AJC), which he continues to edit. Dr Kuo has also written numerous books and articles with AMIC, such as Mirror on the Wall: Media in a Singapore Election (1993) and the Changing Media Environment and Implications for Communication Education (2000). Though he stepped down as AMIC chairman in July, he continues to provide consultation and advice. The SCI-AMIC collaboration has many positive returns for SCI. “Helping AMIC organise conferences across Asia also gives visibility to our faculty and raises our profile,” says Dr Ang. “Also, it’s definitely a good thing for our faculty and students to have such a resource at our doorstep.” Last year, the SCI and AMIC libraries were merged to form the Asian Communication Resource Centre (ACRC), now one of Asia’s largest collections of documents and audiovisual material on communication. Besides SCI students and faculty, scholars from around the region can also come to SCI to utilise the ACRC materials for their theses. Together with the SCI, AMIC continues to contribute to media development by initiating training programmes for media professionals across Asia. Its international conferences and shared publications with SCI also provide the much-needed Asian perspective on communications. As Dr Ang reiterates, “We definitely have a good relationship, and future cooperation looks very good for both.” -- LC The AMIC office 11 Events Warren Fernandez gives talk @SCI Warren Fernandez and his book titled, “Thinking Allowed?” Always thought that Singapore politics is just a façade with no real avenue to advocate changes? Think again. Warren Fernandez, Foreign Editor of The Straits Times, addressed this issue when he talked to first-year SCI students in late August. The talk was based on his recently published book, Thinking Allowed? –Politics, Fear and Change in Singapore. Fernandez served on several public committees like the Remaking Singapore Committee and Singapore 21 Committee. His book draws from Thinking aloud columns on Singapore politics and society that have appeared in The Straits Times since 1991, and also includes new essays that delve into recurring issues that Singapore is grappling with. In his talk, Fernandez called for a more proactive society which is willing to speak up to fight for changes, despite the common fears of crossing out-of-bound (OB) markers. “Some people suggested we should try to define OB markers, to make them clearer, so people would be less afraid to speak up,” said Fernandez. “We on the Remaking Singapore tried to do that, but found it near impossible to do, because whatʼs a sensitive change with time and context. For example, race, religion, national service are all sensitive issues. But we already do discuss these quite openly and rationally.” He believes that talking about OB markers is a “red herring or dead-end. I think its time to transcend this OB marker debate and move beyond it, to deal with the real issues at hand. Our new Prime Minister has said over and again that he wants Singaporeans to speak up on their concerns. I see no reason not to take him at his word.” Several times during his talk, Fernandez argued that change can happen in Singapore, adding “itʼs up to you and me to make a difference”. He gave the example of how the film classification system changed to allow M18 ratings after the proposal made by the Remaking Singapore Committee. He also cited the sweeping changes in the education system that were being made, partly in response to feedback from society. “This is not something just for the government to decide,” he commented. You and I have a role to play in making sure that we take the right decisions as we confront these new challenges,” Fernandez said. The talk was received well. “It answered queries always on our minds and he was a good representative to show that the media is open and ready to face criticism and skepticism of the public,” said Dunstan Lee, a student. “His talk was an eye-opener. Itʼs a rare chance to hear from the mediaʼs point of view,” said Germaine Chan, another student. “The question and answer session presented some interesting views. Overall, the talk gave a different perspective on how politics is presented in the media.” -- RW Singapore Internet Research Centre An Asian Perspective and Asian Presence in Internet Itʼs been just eight months since it was launched and the Singapore Internet Research Centre (SIRC) is already going places. The Centre sent a team of research associates to England to attend the Internet Research 5.0 international conference organized by the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) in September. Associate Professor Randolph Kluver, the centreʼs executive director, said the SIRC sent the team to the conference to learn about the AoIR, the largest Internet-specific research organization in the world. “More importantly, we wanted the international community of Internet researchers to know about the kind of work we are doing here. Overall, I would say we were very successful in that,” he said. Dr Kluver led the team of research associates comprising Assistant Professors Lee Wai Peng, Shyam Tekwani, Kavita Karan and Miss Shahiraa Binte Sahul Hameed to the conference, which was held at the University of Sussex. The SIRC was launched by SCI in 12 January to serve as an Asian platform for the discussion of ideas in an information society. It is SCIʼs first official research body, focusing on issues such as Internet policy and the Internet in Asian societies. Dr Kluver said the Centre aims to be a “premier Asian research institute on the Internet”, bringing an “Asian perspective” to a traditionally Western oriented body of knowledge. The idea of an Internet research centre was initiated by former SCI Dean, Professor Eddie Kuo. However, it was the schoolʼs current Dean, Associate Professor Ang Peng Hwa, who formed an Internet policy group that was the core for the SIRC. While the centre is hosted and has received initial funding from SCI, individual research projects have private sponsors. Research associates at the centre come from the various divisions at SCI. During the trip to England, the team visited the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) at Oxford University. Dr Kluver said the objective of the visit was to expand the SIRCʼs relationship with OII and to discuss potential collaborations. “We also wanted to see what OII is doing and hopefully generate some ideas for the SIRC,” he added. Dr Kluver said the SIRC is likely to host OII associates in future although no definite plans have been made yet. He added that this cross-continent communication between the two research bodies was a good way to expand the potential for collaborative research. -- LC SIRC research associates make their mark in England: (from left) Assoc. Prof. Kluver, Asst. Prof. Tekwani, Miss Shahiraa , Asst. Prof. Lee and Asst. Prof. Karan Events VISIT BY PUBLIC RELATIONS BIGWIG Professor James E. Grunig, a renowned figure in the public relations field, was invited to serve as the Wee Kim Wee distinguished professor in SCI during July and August. In that capacity, he spoke to students and public relations professionals here as well as to public relations professionals in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. He has earned many awards in his 40 years of research work including the Pathfinder Award for excellence in public relations research and the Paul J. Deutschmann Award for Excellence in Research. He described SCI students as “outstanding”, who worked very hard and were eager to learn. “The students showed interest in my presentations and asked good questions.” “I was encouraged by the number of SCI alumni working in public relations profession and the number of working Professor Grunig sharing his professionals who are enrolled in the Master’s program.” insights on PR theories and However, he felt that there was still room for improveethics during his vist here ment. He said even though public relations professionals in Singapore were attempting to play a strategic management role with their organizations and clients, public relations often is seen only as a marketing support function. “Marketing public relations relations is an important part of public relations, but I think Singaporean professionals need to expand their vision of public relations,” he said. Commenting on the public relations specialty in SCI, he said, “I think some excellent public relations courses are being taught in the specialty...but in my opinion, public relations and advertising are separate disciplines and should be separate options in the PPC Division.” Friendly and approachable with a sense of humor, Prof. Grunig always had interesting anecdotes to share. “I came to Singapore thinking I would be very hot most of the time. Instead, I thought I was in Antarctica whenever I was in an air-conditioned building. Singaporeans really seem to want to be cold when they are inside!” -- RW A Success for MediaBuzz night It was originally supposed to have been an evening to discuss the ethics of reporting terrorist acts, but the merger of Singapore’s two main media companies changed all that. The 70-odd participants at the MediaBuzz night on September 22 instead spent time discussing the marriage of the MediaCorp Group and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) at the Library @ the Esplanade. Members of the Singapore Press Club (SPC) and SCI students were among those who attended the forum. The SPC and the NTU School of Communication and Information (SCI) organised this event, which was chaired by SCI’s Assistant Professor Dr Mark Cenite. “Just five days before the forum was scheduled to happen, the MediaCorp-SPH merger was announced. We reconstituted the event because we thought it would be bizarre to get media professionals together so soon and discuss anything other than this historic merger that was on their minds.” The five panelists for the evening were Patrick Daniel, managing editor of SPH’s English and Malay newspapers division; Shaun Seow, managing editor of MediaCorp Group; Sutha Kandiah, head of telecommunications, media and technology from UBS Investment Bank (S.E.A.); P.N. Balji, media consultant from BANG Public Relations and Dr Cherian George, assistant professor from SCI. The forum was organised to facilitate interaction and discussion of media-related issues between SCI faculty members, students and the top managers in the industry. Lau Joon- Dr Cenite (extreme left) and panelists Nie, who is the honorary assistant secretary of Singapore Press Club and also senior producer for MediaCorp News, initiated the idea. “It started off as an opportunity to discuss issues related to the profession to create an informal occasion for the exchange of views among members and students,” said Lau. The forum was well received by the audience who attended. “This gathering is beneficial to media practitioners, academics and students from journalism as it provides a venue for them to share their observations on the merger,” said Dr Xu Xiaoge, assistant professor from SCI. Writer and media consultant Peter H L Lim who is the former editor-in-chief of The Straits Times said, “I think the forum stimulated thinking on various issues. The Singapore media situation is very complex. It’s not only business considerations, but also issues of national politics, editorial quality, and how well the newspapers and TV stations serve readers, viewers and advertisers.” -- JN what’s new Nanyang chronicle Celebrates 10th Anniversary Joy and excitement fill the Nanyang Chronicle workroom, as the NTU paper celebrates its 10th Anniversary. As part of the anniversary, the editorial team decided to give a facelift to the varsity newspaper, which was started on August 1994 in the School of Communication then situated at National University of Singapore. This idea was initiated by the chief editor, Lester Chiew, 23, and managing editor, Alvin Chua, 23. “We wanted to do something for Chronicleʼs 10th anniversary, and it was also about time the newspaper got a new look.” The revamp changed not only the organisation of the content but also the typefaces, layout and colours. “Itʼs a complete makeover,” said Alvin. “Other than the old Chronicle red which we preserved for traditionʼs sake, everything else was given a facelift.” The paper was launched to provide a training ground for SCI students. A campus paper for the NTU population, the Chronicle team has been able to sustain its aims despite numerous challenges in organizing and gathering news. SCIʼs former Dean, Professor Eddie Kuo said, “Over the years, the Chronicle has increasingly been accepted as a paper by the student, of the student and for the student.” Currently, the Nanyang Chronicle has a circulation of 15,000. The exposure that the Chronicle team gets from running the newspaper is beneficial to those interested in gaining newsroom experience. The team runs stories not only from official sources like the Studentsʼ Affairs Office but also initiates their own scoops. The Chronicle also allows students to voice their opinion on controversial issues such as lack of consultation with the student body over “Nantah” name change, which is treated responsibly by the editorial team. -- JN A recent issue of the Nanyang Chronicle 13 CLASSNOTES Master’s Program 2002: Heng Siok Tian (MSc.) has just published her third collection of poems Contouring in March 2004. One of the threads of the book is the tension between the old analogue world and the new digital world, a common theme explored in the field of communication. My City, My 2002: Adrian Lee is with Nokia Mobile Phones. He Canvas (1999) and Crossing the Chopsticks and is actively promoting photo-logging services other poems (1993) were her previous works. on the Internet, in conjunction with multimeIntan Azura Mokhtar (MSc) was eight months dia messaging service. For business related matters, you can contact Adrian at his office pregnant when she attended the convocation last year. She gave birth to her baby girl, An(6723-2505). nika Barisyia, on 15 September 2003. Her son, Adam Dhiyaʼulhaq, is now five. 2001: Richard Wee has just moved to 77th Street 2001: as an Assistant Marketing Manager after Sunita Kumari (MSc.) has been residing in three years in MediaCorp Radio. Florida, USA, since March 2003. Sunita gave birth to a baby girl on 9 March, 2004. Serene Ho married Edwin in June 2003. Bachelor of Communication Studies 2003: Elaine Ho joined MediaCorp TV12 as a programming executive in July 2003. Her primary job is in buying and acquiring programs for Kidʼs Central. Benjamin Yeo is a doctoral student at Pennsylvania State Universityʼs School of Information Science and Technology. His research interests include the management of mobile information systems and enterprise systems integration, as well as IT planning and economic development. Rob Khoo (MSc.) is working as a producer in MTV Asia. 1999: Mohamad Sufian Bin Jumahri heads the Asia-Pacific division as an International TV Sales Executive with Marcus Evans Television in Sydney after a stint in London. He will eventually be posted permanently to an Asian city. Watch this space for more updates from this globe-trotter. Tan Woan Chyn (MSc.) is currently teaching Chinese in Meridian Junior College. Woan Chyn can be contacted at tan_woan_ [email protected] 1998: Yeo Kwee Chuan is a writer-editor with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Tokyo. Previously, he worked as a news assistant and producer with CNBC Asia, Singapore, and staff reporter with Dow Jones Newswires, Hong Kong. 1997: Samantha Santa Maria completed her Master of Journalism at Medillʼs School of Journalism in 2003. She started out as a features writer for the 130,000-circulation daily The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, and has since been promoted to Entertainment Director. Sharan Kaur says hello to all alumni, especially the 1997 group. Sharan is married and lives in Kuala Lumpur. She is a senior copywriter with CCAS Sdn Bhd, a local advertising company. Sharan has a one-year old daughter, Harsohela Kaur. You can view Harsohelaʼs pictures at http://www.geocities. com/bebesohela/sohela. Sharan would like to get in touch with her old friends. You can contact her at: [email protected]. 14 2000: Ivan Chew (MSc.) is currently a manager at Jurong Regional Library. Check out his personal ʻblogʼ at http://ramblinglibrarian.blogspot.com/ Wayne Law (MSc.) is the Chief Financial Officer with a snack food manufacturer in Shandong Province, China. The company will soon be listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Lai Mei Lien (MSc.) is the Director of Our Kids Place International Preschool (http://www. ourkidsplace.com/). Her training in Information Studies has been put to good use. She has set up a digital library for early education; a resource library for teachers, parents and children; and a website. Cheryl Marie Cordeiro (MSc) is a doctoral student with the Department of Linguistics at Gothenburg University in Sweden, but based with the Gothenburg Research Institute (http://www.gri.gu.se/) under the “Scandinavian Management” group of researchers. It took time for her to get used to the easygoing and laidback lifestyle of the Swedes, a huge change from Singaporeʼs hustle and bustle. “I hope to come back to Singapore and work in a tertiary institution eventually.” 1999: Richard Xu Rong (MSc.) is currently working at UOB IT/Business Solutions Division. Wan Kwok Wai (MSc) Kwok Wai joined the Vanda Group in Hong Kong as their Regional Research Manager in 2003. -- FW what’s new SCI students can now have a taste of Indian culture while doing their PhDs. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by SCI and the Mudra Institute of Communication Arts (MICA) in Gujarat, India. The MoU allows for exchange and collaboration on four levels: joint research projects, information exchange, staff exchange, and student exchange. MICA offers a two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Communications Management and runs one-year executive diploma programs. It was founded in 1991 and has since established itself as one of the premier Indian institutes of learning. -- SS Video Editing is a breeze with Avid Students of the Electronic and Broadcast Media (EBM) Division can now edit their projects faster and have better quality videos with the new Avid Media Composer Adrenaline. Avid is the leading industry software for video editing. The Advanced Video Editing Lab was set up in June 2004 by the EBM department at a cost of S$500,000. The Avid Media Composer processes the videos faster with real-time effects. This means that the changes made to the videos can be seen immediately, with no lag-time. The division head of EBM, Associate Professor Sharen Liu, says, “Our latest set-up is in keeping with one of SCI’s aim, to always give our students the best deal in technical support for their video projects.” With a faster and more efficient network, the server also has a storage space of 5.7 terabyte, equivalent to almost 100 computers with a storage space of 60 gigabyte each. Since there is ample storage space, students no longer have to compress their video files and compromise on the quality of their videos. Final year projects are now allocated 100GB per 20-30 minute project, compared with 20 GB previously. Fourth-year EBM student Randaa Razak applauds the move, “Video editing is so much faster and easier, it is almost a breeze.” -- CHY TEAM ConnexscIons (in alphabetical order) Editors Chan Huiyi Serena Leong Ong Rushan Peh Wei Ping Stephanie Shi Teresa Tan Layout Team Grace Chiang Adrian Yeap Photographer Jave Ng Business Team Lynnette Chan Felicia Wong Writers Chan Huiyi Lynnette Chan Grace Chiang Goh Huiyi Michelle Lee Serena Leong Jave Ng Ong Rushan Peh Wei Ping Stephanie Shi Teresa Tan Felicia Wong Rena Wong Adrian Yeap Lecturers Ms Vandana Chopra Faculty Coordinator Ms Ellen Hauser A/P Lee Chun Wah