NEWS DATES EVENTSSCHOOL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
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August, 2007
The Melgrammarian “I wanted to publish students’ voices and opinions about current issues, let people know what students think and provide a place where students can critique the School,” said Year 11 student Herbert Moore, founder and Co Editor-in-Chief of The Melgrammarian, Melbourne Grammar’s student run newspaper. The Melgrammarian began in early 2006 with one student’s idea and determination. Now there is an edition of the Senior School newspaper published each term. With the imperative to include as much information as possible and give everyone a voice and chance to contribute, the newspaper is a mix of world news, topical issues, opinion and more light-hearted segments. Several high profile interviews have been published, including Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu in the lead up to the 2006 Victorian election, Dr Martin Parkinson, Executive Director of the Treasury, during the G-20 conference and BHP Billiton CEO Chip Goodyear. The Dr Martin Parkinson interview was a coup only obtained after dedicated persistence on Herbert’s part - many calls, emails, an attempt to get a press pass, background and security check - and one of the only interviews he gave during G-20. “It is great to get involved and to give students the opportunity to understand how some of the most important people in the world are thinking,” said Herbert Moore. An editorial committee meets every few weeks to come up with content and layout ideas and Senior School students are invited to submit articles. The newspaper is entirely student-run, from writing and editing of articles to layout and distribution. Fellow Editor-in-Chief, Graphic Designer and Year 11 student James Walker takes a weekend of solid work to layout the publication. Head of English in the Senior School Stephen Dessants and the Director of Marketing and Communications Annie Hayward are on hand to offer the boys advice with the editing of the newspaper, particularly in relation to layout and proof-reading. However, they are keen to point out that the success of The Melgrammarian relies on the fact that it is a student-run, student-directed and student-edited newspaper. “Run by a group of students, the newspaper takes education out of classroom, but it actually is classroom education. They are engaged in editorial practices, talk about what is fit to print and learn about positioning of pieces, dovetailing into what Year 11 and 12 English students are learning in their unit on issues,” said Mr Dessants. Annie Hayward says The Melgrammarian is a very important part of the School’s communications program. “It’s a showcase for the rigorous intellect of Melbourne Grammar’s student group. It shows current and prospective parents that the School helps develop strong, independent minds; young men with good critical faculties and diverse perspectives. It shows that as Senior School students are coming to the end of their secondary education and getting ready for the wider world, that they are well equipped to tackle issues and ideas, and take a leadership role in society.” Late last year multi-award-winning journalist and current parent Kate Legge was invited to run a workshop with the editorial team: “I was blown away by the energy and spirit of these boys who had a dream and found a way of delivering it into print. The Melgrammarian is everything a good newspaper should be: informative, bold, even cheeky at times, sharp, thoughtful and entertaining. Watch out Rupert Murdoch. It's not often you come across this kind of endeavour. No waiting to be told. To the School’s credit there was no suggestion of shutting it down at the first iffy editorial decision. Instead staff organised a crash course in defamation and libel and now you'd be mad not to read it from cover to cover.” The Melgrammarian is one of two student run publications in the School, the other being Miscellany which is produced once a year and features student poetry, prose and artwork. 
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