Comments on: Becoming a Journalist http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/ Writings and whereabouts Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:01:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: andrei http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1500 andrei Thu, 14 Sep 2006 04:24:37 +0000 http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1500 I think you are underestimating the importance of horseriding throughout the course of Romania's thrive towards the European integration. This, my friends, is a highly demanding exam and I beg you not to dismiss it before taking the time for serious consideration. This all comes down to history. It was the horse who's always carried the Romanian soldier towards victory, may that be the 12th century, War World II or Sergiu Nicolaescu's movies (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0630197/). They're trying to revive our history, so that we can ride our way into the EU in January. This is unbelievable! I am one of those who had a tutor preparing me for the admission exam and I must confess: cross my heart, no matter what you pay, no tutor will ever prepare you for the moment in time when you have to combine grammar, expressivity and creativity to accurately describe a horse you've never seen. I think you are underestimating the importance of horseriding throughout the course of Romania’s thrive towards the European integration.

This, my friends, is a highly demanding exam and I beg you not to dismiss it before taking the time for serious consideration. This all comes down to history. It was the horse who’s always carried the Romanian soldier towards victory, may that be the 12th century, War World II or Sergiu Nicolaescu’s movies (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0630197/). They’re trying to revive our history, so that we can ride our way into the EU in January.

This is unbelievable! I am one of those who had a tutor preparing me for the admission exam and I must confess: cross my heart, no matter what you pay, no tutor will ever prepare you for the moment in time when you have to combine grammar, expressivity and creativity to accurately describe a horse you’ve never seen.

]]> By: gorgeoux http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1304 gorgeoux Sat, 09 Sep 2006 00:20:06 +0000 http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1304 I tried hard not to panic, and not to laugh at that exam either. I barely got in, and, as pointed above, obtained a scholarship within the first year. I can't see why it's still going on that way now, the exam. As for oral, I had the foreign language exam so, does it count? :D Then again, the ethics professor was publicly "acclaimed" for high level corruption during my time, and I expect (suspect?) that more details but the exam are still the same today as they've almost always been. My aunt had followed that school many many years before me ;) I tried hard not to panic, and not to laugh at that exam either. I barely got in, and, as pointed above, obtained a scholarship within the first year. I can’t see why it’s still going on that way now, the exam. As for oral, I had the foreign language exam so, does it count? :D

Then again, the ethics professor was publicly “acclaimed” for high level corruption during my time, and I expect (suspect?) that more details but the exam are still the same today as they’ve almost always been. My aunt had followed that school many many years before me ;)

]]> By: Cristian http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1268 Cristian Fri, 08 Sep 2006 09:58:09 +0000 http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1268 No, you're not. Boris like to know the limits of people. In his head, that's perfectly understandable. Gheorghe likes that as well sometimes. No, you’re not. Boris like to know the limits of people. In his head, that’s perfectly understandable. Gheorghe likes that as well sometimes.

]]> By: Romerican http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1259 Romerican Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:52:32 +0000 http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1259 Am I being facetious when I suggest that mandating/indoctrinating a standard of creativity in reporting is a holdover of good communist journalism? Let's ask Boris... Am I being facetious when I suggest that mandating/indoctrinating a standard of creativity in reporting is a holdover of good communist journalism? Let’s ask Boris…

]]> By: Ruxi http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1165 Ruxi Tue, 05 Sep 2006 16:39:34 +0000 http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1165 I actually tried to post a long comment on Bradutz' blog but alas, the computer crashed when I hit post :( I did not take the oral exam either but I do not think it is such a bad idea. In fact, a journalist has to deal with real people, most of the times, people s/he never met before. So an oral examination is a pertinent test in these circumstances. Plus, considering that all candidates have passed the baccalaureate, which has at least 2 oral exams (3 if you have another mother tongue than Ro), you should have some experience about talking to strangers, under pressure, for a grade. Yes obviously I do not think it is the best idea to ask people to make stuff and than determine how creative they are based on how credible the outcome of their imagination is. Because, to use a stereotypical phrase "viata bate filmul" (life beats the movies... by far), a lot of things could actually happen, even though they may not seem very credible. I am not the biggest fan of the U.S.-type of admission in college either. A lot of times this admission is also turned into the same giving-them-what-they're-looking-for thread, which means the personal essays have been through a lot of editing before they reach the admission commission. I like the fact that FJSC still tests grammar and stuff. I found the tests subjects to be very easy though, which does show the exam has enough leverage to welcome in different types of people. The point of the exam is not to find all the God's gifts to journalism, but to find people interested enough in journalism to complete the courses in the 4-reuired years and pursue a career in journalism. In fact, most of the times, the students' ranking after the entrance exam, is changed a lot through the following four years. And some who "barely" made it in, turn to be real talented and hard working people. And sometimes, it is because of the way FJSC runs, some people get lost on the way. I actually tried to post a long comment on Bradutz’ blog but alas, the computer crashed when I hit post :(
I did not take the oral exam either but I do not think it is such a bad idea. In fact, a journalist has to deal with real people, most of the times, people s/he never met before. So an oral examination is a pertinent test in these circumstances. Plus, considering that all candidates have passed the baccalaureate, which has at least 2 oral exams (3 if you have another mother tongue than Ro), you should have some experience about talking to strangers, under pressure, for a grade.

Yes obviously I do not think it is the best idea to ask people to make stuff and than determine how creative they are based on how credible the outcome of their imagination is. Because, to use a stereotypical phrase “viata bate filmul” (life beats the movies… by far), a lot of things could actually happen, even though they may not seem very credible.
I am not the biggest fan of the U.S.-type of admission in college either. A lot of times this admission is also turned into the same giving-them-what-they’re-looking-for thread, which means the personal essays have been through a lot of editing before they reach the admission commission.

I like the fact that FJSC still tests grammar and stuff. I found the tests subjects to be very easy though, which does show the exam has enough leverage to welcome in different types of people.

The point of the exam is not to find all the God’s gifts to journalism, but to find people interested enough in journalism to complete the courses in the 4-reuired years and pursue a career in journalism. In fact, most of the times, the students’ ranking after the entrance exam, is changed a lot through the following four years. And some who “barely” made it in, turn to be real talented and hard working people.

And sometimes, it is because of the way FJSC runs, some people get lost on the way.

]]> By: Raluca http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1164 Raluca Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:45:24 +0000 http://www.owlspotting.com/2006/09/05/becoming-a-journalist/#comment-1164 I agree. Ironically, I taught the media writing class in my department. If students don't make at least a B (which, unlike other classes, means having a score between 85 and 93, with A>93), they don't get into the program. The first thing I told them was to forget the writing classes from the English department. I gave them sets of facts or sent them out to gather their own and challenged them to provide the maximum of infomation by using the minimum of words. (They struggled, because their previous writing experiences meant "a bate campii cu gratie"). Of course, they had to follow other rules of media writing and try all media formats, including some for broadcast, PR, and advertising. I think it's a very efficient way of weeding out the people who are not cut out to be journalists. They have a semester to learn what media writing is all about (plus some ethics, organizational pressures, etc.) and then demonstrate that they deserve to stay in the program. On the other hand, I think the exams at FJSC mainly try to test the language skills of the candidates, not necessarily their creativity. Hehe, I had the same "tutor" panic attack when I showed up at the exam. I agree. Ironically, I taught the media writing class in my department. If students don’t make at least a B (which, unlike other classes, means having a score between 85 and 93, with A>93), they don’t get into the program. The first thing I told them was to forget the writing classes from the English department. I gave them sets of facts or sent them out to gather their own and challenged them to provide the maximum of infomation by using the minimum of words. (They struggled, because their previous writing experiences meant “a bate campii cu gratie”). Of course, they had to follow other rules of media writing and try all media formats, including some for broadcast, PR, and advertising. I think it’s a very efficient way of weeding out the people who are not cut out to be journalists. They have a semester to learn what media writing is all about (plus some ethics, organizational pressures, etc.) and then demonstrate that they deserve to stay in the program.

On the other hand, I think the exams at FJSC mainly try to test the language skills of the candidates, not necessarily their creativity. Hehe, I had the same “tutor” panic attack when I showed up at the exam.

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