Spring Break
The Playlist: An open letter to music majors
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Focus
Last Friday, The Daily Campus ran three letters to the editor concerning the coverage of classical music concerts in the Focus section. These events include student and faculty recitals, jazz and wind ensembles, symphony orchestra and various acts at Jorgensen, such as the recent Orion String Quartet and the upcoming Center City Brass Quintet.
The comments made within those letters, while ranging in points and observations, agreed on the fact that we do not possess the proper knowledge to appreciate, understand and properly report on these events. I believe some of the exact words were "disgusted," "offended" and "amateurish." And while we do take all criticism to heart and into account (and I personally consider all comments valid unless downright derogatory), I felt as Focus editor that it was appropriate to respond.
Of the members of my staff, which is made up of more than 20 students pursuing different majors, most are journalism and English majors. We are not classically trained, we do not possess either the necessary knowledge or the ear to pick up on classical music and how it is made or what makes it up. Bigger publications such as the Hartford Courant can hire freelance writers who are specialists on the subject to provide coverage for those kinds of events. The Daily Campus, however, is a student publication made by the students for the students. Basically, we do the best we can, and we can only get better if students wish for it to get better.
If we didn't cover the events, the letters would come pouring in about how we don't offer fair and balanced coverage to university music groups. When we do, you are unsatisfied and hurl insults from afar. We are all fellow students at this university and there is no need for that.
So here's my proposition to you, the music students, as well as everyone here at UConn who feels similarly: We put more efforts into our pieces - more research to make sure the writers are better prepared to cover their assignment and more of an effort to make sure we get the story right with musicians involved - but you too do your part in making a better paper as a whole for this campus. I am inviting all music students who feel the same as those who wrote the letters to the editor to come and write for us if you are interested, because it is you who know the subject matter best.
The comments made within those letters, while ranging in points and observations, agreed on the fact that we do not possess the proper knowledge to appreciate, understand and properly report on these events. I believe some of the exact words were "disgusted," "offended" and "amateurish." And while we do take all criticism to heart and into account (and I personally consider all comments valid unless downright derogatory), I felt as Focus editor that it was appropriate to respond.
Of the members of my staff, which is made up of more than 20 students pursuing different majors, most are journalism and English majors. We are not classically trained, we do not possess either the necessary knowledge or the ear to pick up on classical music and how it is made or what makes it up. Bigger publications such as the Hartford Courant can hire freelance writers who are specialists on the subject to provide coverage for those kinds of events. The Daily Campus, however, is a student publication made by the students for the students. Basically, we do the best we can, and we can only get better if students wish for it to get better.
If we didn't cover the events, the letters would come pouring in about how we don't offer fair and balanced coverage to university music groups. When we do, you are unsatisfied and hurl insults from afar. We are all fellow students at this university and there is no need for that.
So here's my proposition to you, the music students, as well as everyone here at UConn who feels similarly: We put more efforts into our pieces - more research to make sure the writers are better prepared to cover their assignment and more of an effort to make sure we get the story right with musicians involved - but you too do your part in making a better paper as a whole for this campus. I am inviting all music students who feel the same as those who wrote the letters to the editor to come and write for us if you are interested, because it is you who know the subject matter best.
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