About me
A Singaporean girl chronicling her adventures of life here at home and abroad. Stick around!
Lim kopi jiak roti
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Because my answers will be very long, I believe I should reply in a blog post for you - anonymous.
(put your name lah dont shy shy. 'starz' also can or 'ilovepies' also can hahahah.)
- First thing's first, do you intend to join wkwsci? Because I'll be replying according to what I know and how it relates to my school. So most of it is with relevance to my school, but well, read on, and see if it helps ya!
1) I'm into Broadcast, journalism and advertising, and I can't decide. What are the downsides of the interdisciplinary course?
Well gurl, I assume you're a girl coz comms is just FULL of girls, you asked the right person. I consider myself an Interdisciplinarian and I'm one of the few in my school who declared my concentration as Interdisciplinary. I like both Broadcast and Journalism. Well, coz my interest lies in a mix because I like News, yet I'm not into print but Broadcast News, so I'm both and therefore, an Interdisciplinarian. My school, being anal haha whoops, wanted me to choose a PREFERENCE, so I put Broadcast. Doesn't really matter though, it's just for their books.
Anyway, there aren't any downsides of the course if you're talking about wkwsci. Because the school actually doesn't really actively encourage you to take a one track thing. The school is fine with you taking different types of courses and it doesn't affect you academically or anything. Mentally or emotionally hahaha. Being lame, but yes, there aren't any downsides actually.
BUT I do recommend that you at least know 2 of your MOST preferred concentrations. To have all 3 of it - Broadcast, Journalism and Advertising, makes you appear confused. I think you don't really know yet, what specifically you want to do. But at least 2 ya? 3 is just a bit too much. At least streamline it down to 2 that you really really know that you want. Because we also have a certain number of Academic Units (AUs- point system) and you can't really use all of your AUs on all 3 of them. You have to focus and narrow it down to 2.
Majority of the students don't take ALL journ courses or ALL broadcast courses, usually we mix the courses that we like to take and so, we are ALL 'sort of' interdisciplinarians. So yes, there isn't a downside.
If you're talking about employment, we all graduate with a general Degree in Communications. No specifics are mentioned. IF I'M NOT WRONG. So it's not like, you chose advertising and halfway you decide 'broadcast is for me', but you stated it early that you like advertising and you've been taking advert mods all the while and SO no Broadcasting companies will hire you just coz your cert reflects that you're an Advert student. Nah, we graduate with a general degree. So don't worry about that.
I have colleagues who were once from wkwsci and they all thought that they were going to a certain track that they like, but ended up... they are working for another track. For example, I've a colleague who studied PR but she's now in Journ. Another colleague, Print Journalism but now working in Broadcast Journalism. So yeah, it's not cast in stone. You won't really be at a disadvantage.
BUT OF COZ, please do know what you want to do, otherwise you study the wrong thing for nothing.
Like everything else, it's important to find out what you like to do, otherwise time is wasted. I've schoolmates, up till now, they don't know what they want to do. And keep switching tracks. I find that slightly iffy and jumpy because you need to know what it is you want, otherwise you'll waste time.
2) Is it a disadvantage for FYP if you're in a Interdisciplinary track?
Neh. If you're good at your shit, EVERYONE WILL WANT YOU.
Nowadays there are groups formed with members from different tracks. They put up a comprehensive campaign with different skill sets involved. So nope, I don't think you're at a disadvantage. As long as you find people who are like-minded and would like to carry out an FYP similar to what you have in mind, then you've got da powah.
For me, compromise lah. Broadcast Journalism (BJ) is so niche and nobody has ever done an FYP on BJ before. And it's weird lah. So I guess I can go about doing something like a documentary. That is pretty much quite similar to BJ. It's real and current. I've friends who are like-minded so here we goooo.
Basically, if you're good at what you do and get along well with people, you're good to go. Don't need to worry.
3) Is the Broadcast industry small in Singapore? What are the career prospects like?
It depends on what area you want to go into. Do you like to make movies? Or do you like the news like me? Or Documentaries?
As we all know, as of now, there is only one holy grail and mother broadcasting company of Singapore. That is, MediaCorp. Channel 5, 8, U, Suria, Vasantham, CNA, you want it you got it. That's under the Government.
But if you talk about SMEs or smaller companies, there are a LOT. They are called Production Houses. My school is linked to a number of them like Little Red Ants, and... quite a few lah, it's just that I'm not quite aware. I only know Little Red Ants coz me friends are there heh. Others, you can go google production houses in Singapore. They are approached by companies to produce content. So for example, if a company wants to make an advertisement, they can approach a Production House to create one. Or if you want to make a short film, there are Production Houses. If you want to clean your mother's backside..... I'm just kidding.
But yes, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY PRODUCTION HOUSES AROUND.
You just gotta find them out.
Even MediaCorp goes to Production Houses to produce content. Pay them and get content. Goodness am I even allowed to say that? But yeah, you get the drift~
For Broadcast Journalism, there are overseas branches here like BBC, CNBC, Bloomburg. Yeah, quite a few.
Even Documentary... there's Nat Geo and ESPN branches. I don't think you CREATE the documentaries here but yeah, there are branches here. For a start haha.
So I guess there is definitely an industry. Not quite as big as other countries, but there are jobs lah nonetheless.
Unless you wanna make a blockbuster movie like Ilo Ilo, yeah, that one I'm sure you can do it, but it'll take a lot of talent, hardwork and patience to get there. In Singapore, it's tough getting recognised as an independent filmmaker. That one, you gotta carve your own name. Not easy.
If you wanna be a moviemaker, quite hard. But other than that, I'm sure there are jobs out there.
So yeahhhh, here ya go!
Hope it's comprehensive enough. Otherwise, shoot away. I'm here to reply.
(put your name lah dont shy shy. 'starz' also can or 'ilovepies' also can hahahah.)
- First thing's first, do you intend to join wkwsci? Because I'll be replying according to what I know and how it relates to my school. So most of it is with relevance to my school, but well, read on, and see if it helps ya!
1) I'm into Broadcast, journalism and advertising, and I can't decide. What are the downsides of the interdisciplinary course?
Well gurl, I assume you're a girl coz comms is just FULL of girls, you asked the right person. I consider myself an Interdisciplinarian and I'm one of the few in my school who declared my concentration as Interdisciplinary. I like both Broadcast and Journalism. Well, coz my interest lies in a mix because I like News, yet I'm not into print but Broadcast News, so I'm both and therefore, an Interdisciplinarian. My school, being anal haha whoops, wanted me to choose a PREFERENCE, so I put Broadcast. Doesn't really matter though, it's just for their books.
Anyway, there aren't any downsides of the course if you're talking about wkwsci. Because the school actually doesn't really actively encourage you to take a one track thing. The school is fine with you taking different types of courses and it doesn't affect you academically or anything. Mentally or emotionally hahaha. Being lame, but yes, there aren't any downsides actually.
BUT I do recommend that you at least know 2 of your MOST preferred concentrations. To have all 3 of it - Broadcast, Journalism and Advertising, makes you appear confused. I think you don't really know yet, what specifically you want to do. But at least 2 ya? 3 is just a bit too much. At least streamline it down to 2 that you really really know that you want. Because we also have a certain number of Academic Units (AUs- point system) and you can't really use all of your AUs on all 3 of them. You have to focus and narrow it down to 2.
Majority of the students don't take ALL journ courses or ALL broadcast courses, usually we mix the courses that we like to take and so, we are ALL 'sort of' interdisciplinarians. So yes, there isn't a downside.
If you're talking about employment, we all graduate with a general Degree in Communications. No specifics are mentioned. IF I'M NOT WRONG. So it's not like, you chose advertising and halfway you decide 'broadcast is for me', but you stated it early that you like advertising and you've been taking advert mods all the while and SO no Broadcasting companies will hire you just coz your cert reflects that you're an Advert student. Nah, we graduate with a general degree. So don't worry about that.
I have colleagues who were once from wkwsci and they all thought that they were going to a certain track that they like, but ended up... they are working for another track. For example, I've a colleague who studied PR but she's now in Journ. Another colleague, Print Journalism but now working in Broadcast Journalism. So yeah, it's not cast in stone. You won't really be at a disadvantage.
BUT OF COZ, please do know what you want to do, otherwise you study the wrong thing for nothing.
Like everything else, it's important to find out what you like to do, otherwise time is wasted. I've schoolmates, up till now, they don't know what they want to do. And keep switching tracks. I find that slightly iffy and jumpy because you need to know what it is you want, otherwise you'll waste time.
2) Is it a disadvantage for FYP if you're in a Interdisciplinary track?
Neh. If you're good at your shit, EVERYONE WILL WANT YOU.
Nowadays there are groups formed with members from different tracks. They put up a comprehensive campaign with different skill sets involved. So nope, I don't think you're at a disadvantage. As long as you find people who are like-minded and would like to carry out an FYP similar to what you have in mind, then you've got da powah.
For me, compromise lah. Broadcast Journalism (BJ) is so niche and nobody has ever done an FYP on BJ before. And it's weird lah. So I guess I can go about doing something like a documentary. That is pretty much quite similar to BJ. It's real and current. I've friends who are like-minded so here we goooo.
Basically, if you're good at what you do and get along well with people, you're good to go. Don't need to worry.
3) Is the Broadcast industry small in Singapore? What are the career prospects like?
It depends on what area you want to go into. Do you like to make movies? Or do you like the news like me? Or Documentaries?
As we all know, as of now, there is only one holy grail and mother broadcasting company of Singapore. That is, MediaCorp. Channel 5, 8, U, Suria, Vasantham, CNA, you want it you got it. That's under the Government.
But if you talk about SMEs or smaller companies, there are a LOT. They are called Production Houses. My school is linked to a number of them like Little Red Ants, and... quite a few lah, it's just that I'm not quite aware. I only know Little Red Ants coz me friends are there heh. Others, you can go google production houses in Singapore. They are approached by companies to produce content. So for example, if a company wants to make an advertisement, they can approach a Production House to create one. Or if you want to make a short film, there are Production Houses. If you want to clean your mother's backside..... I'm just kidding.
But yes, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY PRODUCTION HOUSES AROUND.
You just gotta find them out.
Even MediaCorp goes to Production Houses to produce content. Pay them and get content. Goodness am I even allowed to say that? But yeah, you get the drift~
For Broadcast Journalism, there are overseas branches here like BBC, CNBC, Bloomburg. Yeah, quite a few.
Even Documentary... there's Nat Geo and ESPN branches. I don't think you CREATE the documentaries here but yeah, there are branches here. For a start haha.
So I guess there is definitely an industry. Not quite as big as other countries, but there are jobs lah nonetheless.
Unless you wanna make a blockbuster movie like Ilo Ilo, yeah, that one I'm sure you can do it, but it'll take a lot of talent, hardwork and patience to get there. In Singapore, it's tough getting recognised as an independent filmmaker. That one, you gotta carve your own name. Not easy.
If you wanna be a moviemaker, quite hard. But other than that, I'm sure there are jobs out there.
So yeahhhh, here ya go!
Hope it's comprehensive enough. Otherwise, shoot away. I'm here to reply.
