The Granite Tower (GT), Korea University (KU)’s official English magazine publication, holds a training camp every summer and winter vacation to educate its cub reporters and junior reporters. As a chance to learn GT’s detailed working schedule and befriend fellow reporters, the biannual training camps are mandatory for each reporter to participate in and contribute to the nine days of training. Read the behind- the-scenes of what happened at GT in Summer 2022!
Firsts
It has been approximately two years since training sessions were conducted offline due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, with the alleviation of COVID-19 social distancing measures and a recognition that sessions would be more effective taking place in person, all GT members physically gathered at the office to conduct the 2022 Summer Training. Beyond offline training sessions, GT was able to hold multiple in-person events while the opportunity was open – the most prominent of which was GT’s exchange with SNU Quill, Seoul National University’s (SNU) English collegiate journalist organization. Members of each collective interacted with each other, presenting the overall history and organization of each publication and then gathering in small groups to evaluate each other’s most recently published issue.
Sprouting from an ambitious plan to make the most out of offline training sessions, GT editors planned social events for GT reporters to socialize with each other. Among them was the Manitto event, where every reporter was secretly designated a peer to whom they were expected to provide extra friendliness to, such as presenting gifts or giving additional feedback on their articles. Other episodes include Lunch Mates, where GT editors teamed specific reporters into a group to eat lunch together. Thanks to these social events, GT reporters were able to feel considerably closer to one another compared to recent online training sessions.
On top of the in-person events, GT sought to expand its social media presence through posting more consistent and personal content on its Instagram account. An edited recording of an interview with a GT reporter for the Manitto event even garnered more than 1,126 plays on Instagram. Other usages include throwing surprise birthday parties and uploading an appreciation post for reporters on their birthday. Additionally, best photographs taken during photography training sessions were chosen and uploaded, to demonstrate photography skills from GT reporters. In this sense, GT highly increased its witty posts on social media, making it more widely known.
English Revamp
Moreover, GT welcomed its first international student, Naama Benamy Schoneveld (’20, Linguistics), as an official GT reporter. “Frankly, I was shocked to hear that I got admitted to GT. Foreigners do not get as many opportunities as domestic students in KU considering the language barrier. I’m still very glad I was accepted, and I’ve been having a great time, despite my initial fears. This summer training was a little overwhelming, but I feel closer to everyone on staff now, and I’m excited hopefully to represent the international student community well.”
With a new international member in the group, protocols naturally had to be adjusted. The most significant update concerned the extensive amount of written materials in Korean, including the Training Guide and GT Handbook.
In conclusion, the nine days spent together with GT were hectic but rewarding. Editors were prepared in advance, from education to mini- events. Reporters gave their best and made the events possible.