Now I am one of the fans of The Dongguk Post. But I was the editor of the Post 5 years ago. So I know very well about the merits and demerits of the campus magazine. Before graduating this August I thought it is most helpful to put a finger on the demerits objectively from the aspect of an outsider.
  Comparing the magazines of a few years ago with those of this year, the contents and structure have been changed. I believe the reason is that the value and direction of thought have been changed by fresh ideas of new members each year. These changes cannot help being avoided and should not be disregarded without objective appraisal. But some rules must be kept permanently. First, the faith of The Dongguk Post. Second, the truth of information and an abundance of it. Third, creativity. And finally passion and teamwork of post members.
  "Has today's Dongguk Post followed these rules?" Although I know the pains they suffer when publishing this magazine, I CAN'T SAY, "YES." Let's consider magazine no. 332 of the first semester this year!
  Pen Villager's Note is equal to the Editorial in another existing newspaper. Readers can recognize the color of a newspaper through that column because the core voice of the newspaper is directly determined by the editor. So Pen Villager's Note is most important. But the subject of Pen Villager's Note was not good. It seems that the editor wanted to say that the main problem of World Cup 2002 was only insufficient facilities for the disabled. This wasn't a core problem. The writer should have pointed out other minority group problems. Also, the contents of Cover Story wasn't fresh. I think the article was copied from existing articles and the volume was very thin. I couldn't find valuable information.
  This year only seven students have worked at The Dongguk Post and four of them are freshmen. So most of the articles were written by three senior students. It is very difficult to publish monthly but Post reporters should have tried a little harder because the magazine is not for them but for DU students. If a reporter doesn't take pride in his article, maybe the article will not be worth reading.
  Cover pages 2 and 4 and Vox-Populi were alloted for congratulating the Post on its 36th birthday. I think one page was sufficient enough for that. The repetition of meaningless articles is a good example of personal control. Basically, all pages should be used for students.
  In the case of Social Scoop and Current, the items were curious. But if the interview of someone who works for the Headquarters of Movement for Correcting the Name of America and demerits of Ex Libris had been added  respectively, the information of each report would have been more useful for DU students.
  Publishing a magazine is very difficult and all Post reporters have been doing their utmost under difficult circumstances. But if The Dongguk Post wants to be the best friend of DU students, more passion and creativity based on the faith are required and especially teamwork. In sum, The Dongguk Post should have its finger on the pulse of its readers. Students should inhale what the Post exhales. A good press is made by good readers. Good readers are not silent.

The writer is an Ex Editor-In-Chief of The Dongguk Post.

Lee Jung-moo  better68@dongguk.edu

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