Chonnam Tribune의 발자취
The Chonnam Tribune has been in circulation for the past 45 years and is the official English newspaper of Chonnam National University (CNU). Focusing on the zeitgeist, spirit of the times, it has always been a tool of expression for the CNU community. However, there are issues that the university publication has been facing similar with those that other student-run English university newspaper organizations in Korean universities face. Editors from various universities share their ideas about the changing spectrum of the English publications.
Reaching the Changing Audience
Looking back at history, English university organs started humbly with the high goal of aiding the internationalization efforts of the university. The Chonnam Tribune, which was first published in 1968, aimed to exchange information about academic activities abroad, covering academic achievements for publicity outside the university1. Its role, however, has extended to express the opinions of the members of the CNU community and slowly changed into a student-centered publication covering student activities and opinion especially in the height of student activism in 1980. "English newspapers can offer distinctive articles that offer both academism and journalism that serve as stimulus among university students," says Lee Su-young, Editor-in-Chief of Sangji Herald.
Through the years, however, English university newspapers and print media in general are losing popularity among the readers. What should be done in order to reconnect with the readers? "As a university publication, there is a need to refocus to the readers, the students, and look at the items through their eyes," says Kweon Yun-jin, Granite Tower Editor-in-Chief. The Granite Tower editor added that the changing composition of the organization where reporters are more exposed to foreign language material thus making them much more converse with English as well as the increase in the number of international students on campus and university partnerships with universities abroad has had a huge impact on the role of the publication.
The Chonnam Tribune, as well as other English university organs, serve as the only English publication in Korean universities, and thus naturally becomes the only tool for universities abroad for international students to know more about the university and its locality. This fact reflects the need for the publication to have a balanced offering between international and domestic, on and off-campus news and items that will serve both the readers locally and abroad.
In a Foreign Language
Reading in one's native language speeds up the information dissemination process and thus achieves the primary goal of a newspaper: to provide news in the fastest way possible to its readers. Having an English publication in a non-English speaking country can possibly result in a lower readership rate. The Chonnam Tribune is not indifferent to this issue. To address this, thorough consultation with the readers is necessary. The recent revival of the Chonnam Tribune Assessment Committee (CTAC) provides an in-depth look on how the readers, CNUians, valuate the offered articles. Kim Jina (Junior, School of Biological Sciences and Technology), CTAC member, stresses that the English newspaper should focus on content diversity and student-relevance, providing omni-faceted and in-depth news reports that will be helpful in stimulating the readers. "Low recognition among students is not what we need to answer but to increase the interest of those who read the paper." Woo Hae-chung, Editor-in-Chief of the Argus, pointed out that there is a greater freedom provided to English publications. In the height of irresponsible media propaganda and state control, English media in the university front provides a space for students to speak out their ideas, learn from their counterparts abroad, and discuss opinion in an academic fashion.
A Community in Service
As the English university organs reflect the changes in the opinion of university students in Korea, the reporters, therefore, are committed to serve the students. This entails a continuous effort on the part of the reporters to hone their skill and be in vigilance to any news item that can be helpful to the readers. With the growing number of international students on campus and Korean students dispatched to different partner universities abroad, the role of an English media is getting more in the limelight. As the reporters remain in service to the CNU community, may Korean universities not become a frog in the well and open up ways to provide information to an ever growing audience.
By Rigoberto Banta Jr., Head Student Editor
Reference:
1Kim Shinhye, The Trace of The Chonnam Tribune, Chonnam Tribune (December 1, 1991 Issue)
Rigoberto Banta Jr. 기자
tribune@cnumedia.com