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Year 12 students at ESF (English Schools Foundation) schools can learn much from a stint in the world of employment.

  They are assigned to various companies for a week and effort is made to find a position relevant to their ambitions.

  Some students work in commerce or law, others become kindergarten assistants.

 I take Advanced-Level media studies, a subject which requires us to examine how the media works and how it influences the public.

  To get first-hand experience, I joined the Young Post, a daily newspaper available to Hong Kong schools. What follows is an outline of my tasks.

 MONDAY  Young Post is based at the Morning Post Centre at Tai Po, so my day starts with a one-hour bus ride. I catch the company shuttle at the South China Morning Post office in Quarry Bay.

 I am greeted at the Tai Po centre by Young Post deputy editor Lau Chee Yong and education co-ordinator Thomas Chang.

  They set me simple tasks like typing readers' letters until I know my way around the computer system.

  I also get to sort the mail and incoming press releases to check for newsworthy items.

   My first day was short but I learned a lot about how the Young Post was laid out and produced.

 TUESDAY  My second morning again was spent covering the basics - sorting the mail and scanning press releases for things that might interest Young Post readers.

  Later I was set my first assignment - to write this account of my week of work.

 My first full day was interesting. I had an article to write and my first deadline to meet. It was a challenge.

 WEDNESDAY  The office is flooded with press releases, sent by organisations wanting to advertise an event or get a message across.

  Those most relevant to Young Post all need to be typed into the system so they are ready to be turned into news stories.

 I also was shown how to use the picture archive machine, a computer on which you can call up photographs from the big news agencies and those taken by South China Morning Post photographers.

  Images from throughout the world were available at the click of a mouse.

  Hopefully, I will be able to use this machine later on in the week.

  I then was asked to write a preview of some of the shows which make up this year's Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival.

 It was a difficult task to describe an event properly in just two or three paragraphs.

  I also received a visit from my media studies teacher, who was checking on my progress and attitude towards work, and making sure the working environment was comfortable. Luckily I received a good report as this week is considered part of my A-Level course.

  Today, I was shown a lot more and set more challenging tasks and I appreciated being given more responsibility.

 THURSDAY  After sorting through the pile of press releases, I learned another useful journalistic skill - how to conduct a telephone interview.

  I was asked to call an organisation to find out more about an event that was taking place that week.

 This meant thinking of suitable questions to ask - and asking them politely.

  Unfortunately, I didn't come up with enough interesting information to warrant a news story, but it was a learning experience. I did get some useful background information which may be helpful for other reporters wanting to write a story later on the subject.

  At the end of the day, I was told I would attend my first press conference the following morning. I have to meet reporter Jacky Wong at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai.

 FRIDAY  It's my last day working for the South China Morning Post. I met Jacky at the Arts Centre, where we watched a prize- giving presentation for a student drawing and colouring competition.

  After the awards were presented, I had the opportunity to interview the senior section winner. I had to learn very quickly how to ask the right questions to get all the necessary information - and some usable quotes - from the interviewee.

  My biggest problem was that the youngsters receiving the awards attended Chinese schools. As my Cantonese is terrible, I only managed to ask simple questions: 'Why did you enter the competition? How did you choose the subject of your picture?'   Luckily, Jacky helped out with the translations. It was a great experience. The press conference was a very professional event, with plenty of other reporters and photographers present.

  I found it an exciting look into the world of journalism and how news is gathered.

  After the press conference, we went back to Tai Po to write about the competition - and sort through my pile of press releases.

  I learned so much in my five days at Young Post - things I would never have learned in the classroom.

  The general experience has been rewarding, giving me a taste of what journalism is all about.

  The staff were incredibly nice and very helpful, setting me tasks which would maximise my experience.

Vivian is a Year 12 pupil at South Island School 



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