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Media masterclass a big hit
15.02.11
STUDENTS across Donegal
have been getting an opportunity to dip their toes
into the world of the media over the past year
thanks to an innovative project from well known
local journalist and blogger, Liam Porter.
His newspaper in the classroom has already proven a
smash hit with students and teachers alike, while
his first blogging and podcasting school project has
seen students at St. Eunan’s NS in Raphoe
short-listed for an Irish Aid Award at Dublin Castle
on Thursday (February 17th) for their blog –
www.steunans.scoilnet.ie
Speaking this week Liam, who worked for many years
as a newspaper editor in Inishowen, said he was
delighted with the way his venture has gone so far.
He is looking forward to developing it further with
more schools.
“The idea is to give the children a greater
appreciation of the media and the work that goes
into news gathering and reporting by turning them
into reporters, photographers, editors – basically
all the jobs necessary to turn out a newspaper.
It’s very much a practical programme, it is great
fun and can seem a bit hectic at times – (that’s
just like any newsroom I’ve been in) - but there is
hard work involved because there is a deadline to
meet and a paper to print at the end.” |
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Liam Porter whose 'newspaper in the
classroom' project is a bit hit with Co Donegal
schools. |
The project, he says,
has given him a greater appreciation of the work
teachers do on a daily basis with our young people
and he has nothing but praise for everybody he has
met in the schools he was worked with to date.
“All the young people have been brilliant and I have
found their creativity and enthusiasim infectious
and uplifting. They are great fun and they make me
smile – and working with people who make you smile
has to be good!”
He added: “Until you are in schools on a regular
basis and see the colossal and amazing work they do
every day, I also don’t think you really understand
the contribution teachers are making to the
development of our young people. I am so thankful to
the schools I have been in for the opportunities
they have given me to work with the students.”
Over the past year Liam has helped schools in
Ballyshannon, Raphoe, Convoy, Newtowncunningham and
Stranorlar and having just finished a paper in
Dromore in Killygordon in the past fortnight, he is
currently at work with students from Scoil Chartha
Naofa Kilcar and St. Eunan’s Raphoe on their papers.
Speaking about the recent newspaper project in her
school deputy principal at Dromore NS, Charlotte
Brady, said that her class had thoroughly enjoyed it
and are looking forward to launching their
publication very soon.
“From his first visit to our classroom Liam inspired
great enthusiasm among the children. He led them
through the project in a patient and professional
way, teaching them many new skills and stretching
their abilities. Through his guidance, the children
have gained confidence and learned the importance of
teamwork. They are very proud of their achievement
and will always remember Liam’s contribution.”
And it’s not only primary school students who have
benefitted under the programme with Transition Year
Students at Deele College also working with Liam to
produce their first ever school yearbook in the past
year.
“In some ways it has evolved on a few levels since
it got started. For instance one of the favourite
aspects with the students now is the fact that they
get to produce a comic. That has proven to be great
fun and some of the imaginative ideas have just been
amazing,” Liam added.
Indeed the comic from St. Eunan’s NS last year saw
them scoop the overall national award in the Show
Racism the Red Card competition – beating entries
from second level schools and Youthreach centres in
the process. And that comic was in their school
paper – Flow and Grow – which also formed part of a
winning entry in the national Eco Unesco Awards.
With the school’s 6th class about to head off to
Dublin Castle on Thursday following their
short-listing in the 2011 Irish Aid Awards, it’s
hardly surprising that Deputy Principal at St
Eunan’s, Anita McMonagle, is thrilled.
“As a teacher I have to say that this has been a
hugely positive experience, it integrates a wide
range of subject areas and gives the children a real
sense of achievement.”
She explained that in their role as reporters the
students have learned more about their local
community and the world around them while at the
same time covering subjects strands including art,
English, geography, history, SPHE and maths.
“Liam allows the children to take ownership of the
project – he wants them to come up with the ideas,
write the stories and take the photos and he just
guides them along. Because they put in so much work
it gives them a fantastic sense of pride in their
final product and the reaction they get from the
local community has been brilliant.”
She added that the 6th class blog and the podcasting
experience - for which the children have been
short-listed for the award - had also opened the
eyes of the children to new media forms and
technology.
Liam who continues to write his own weekly blog
entitled ‘A Drop of Porter’ (adropofporter.blogspot.com)
and a new Donegal election blog called ‘The Floating
Voter,’ (donegalvoter.blogspot.com) says he’s
looking forward to working with more schools in the
weeks and months ahead.
“A number of schools across the county are already
pencilled in, but if a school is interested and
wants to find out more they can contact me on
lporter@eircom.net or 086 2657758,” he
concluded. |
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