BLUE PENCIL 2024
EVENT SCHEDULE
DAY 1 – 3rd February
3:30 pm Who News? (Prelims+Finals) De Nobili Hall, Auditorium Block
4:00 pm Film Screening: The T.G.V. Memorial Film Review contest AV Room, Arrupe Block
DAY 2 – 5th February
3:00 pm Pre-Contest Briefing: NoseCut Faber Hall, Auditorium Block
4:00 pm The SJU Debate St. Joseph’s Auditorium
DAY 3 – 6th February
3:30 pm Presentation: The T.G.V. Memorial Film Review AV Room, Arrupe Block
4:00 pm Off Plate (Food Writing contest) De Nobili Hall, Auditorium Block
4:00 pm Sab Kuch (Proof-reading contest) Faber Hall, Auditorium Block
4:30 pm In Conversation: Ashish Rajadhyaksha (Panel discussion) Loyola Hall, Auditorium Block
5:30 pm Panel: Why we watch K-Drama
DAY 4 – 7th February
3:30 pm Mujhe Zine Do! (Zine-making contest) Loyola Hall, Auditorium Block
3:30 pm In Conversation: Shelvin Sebastian, De Nobili Hall, Auditorium Block
4:30 pm NoseCut: Banyan Tree
5:30 pm Quiet Debate: OTT is the Death of Viewership
6:30 pm Valedictory Ceremony Banyan Tree
GENERAL RULES
● The contests will be held from 3rd to 7th February 2024.
● While the contests are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students of Communications, Communicative English, and Journalism, students of other disciplines are also welcome to participate.
● Each department / college can field an unlimited number of teams / participants except in the case of stage events.
● To register for events, please use the forms provided at https://metajosephs.in or click on the link provided here https://forms.gle/tAPy1KiYESfi7jP79.
● You may also confirm entries from your institution with a phone-call to the numbers provided below or an email to bluepencil.nous@gmail.com by 2nd February.
● Contingents can pay an all inclusive fee of Rs 2000/- for participation in all events and entry to all panels.
● Contingents can also pay a fee of Rs 1500/- for participation in all contests (except the SJU Debate) and entry to all panels.
● We will also accept a letter confirming entries from your institution.
● Teams/participants must carry valid identification from the institution they are representing.
● Participants/teams must report to the Reception Desk at the Auditorium Block on Langford Road, following which they will be directed to the venues.
● The decision of the judges will be final and binding on all participants.
● While we will allow on-the spot entries, we urge those interested to register in advance.
● A championship shield will be awarded to the college that tops the overall scoreboard.
● For all inquiries regarding contests, please call Christine (99011-73757), Tanishk (70047 56305), Rosemary (7203031455) or email bluepencil.nous@gmail.com.
CONTESTS AND RULES
Stage Events
The SJU Debate
Blue Pencil’s first ever Oxford style debate
● Participating institutions must field a team of two to speak for and against the motion
● Entry fee: Rs 500/- per institution
● Participation is restricted to the first four institutions that register on official letter-head (to be uploaded via the Google Form provided)
● The debate will be conducted in a modified form of the Oxford style debate
● All speakers must abide by the debating standards expected in such an event
● The topic will be released on Saturday, 3rd February
● Each speaker must make opening remarks for a maximum of three minutes
● A moderated discussion of fifteen minutes will follow where speakers may address questions to the chair about points made during opening remarks
● A Q+A period will then be allowed where the audience may raise questions
● Each speaker will make closing remarks for about two minutes in the final section of the debate
● The Chair will make closing remarks and invite the adjudicators to announce the results
● Judging criteria: Strength of Argument, Rebuttal, Audience Engagement, Debating Style Cash Prizes for the best team, and for the best three speakers
Date & Reporting Time: 3:30 pm, 5th February 2024
Venue: St. Joseph’s Auditorium, Langford Road
Event Head: Christine (99011-73757)
NoseCut
A variation on Press Stress, NoseCut is a team event where every bit of research and good humour helps
● Team event (two members; speaker and researcher)
● Maximum: 3 teams per institution
● Entry fee: Rs 200/- per team
● Each team will be assigned an in-the-news personality on 5th February
● Their job is to handle questions at a press conference on 7th February
● Teams can research personalities assigned to them, as well as to others during the contest
● Speakers must introduce themselves, and then begin taking questions
● Speakers may use distinctive attire/accessories associated with assigned personality after obtaining clearance from the organisers
● Researchers may assist speakers only through handwritten notes during the contest
● Time allowed: 1 minute for intro, 5 minutes for interaction, with a warning bell before close.
● Teams to note that while the intent is humour, care must be taken not to cause offence
● Judging Criteria: Presence of Mind, Audience Engagement, Research, Use of Character
Prizes for the best three performances
Briefing Date: 3 pm, 5th February 2024 (Faber Hall, Auditorium Block)
Contest Date & Reporting Time: 4 pm, 7th February 2024
Venue: Banyan Tree
Event Head: Rosemary (72030-31455)
Writing & Editing Events
The T.G. Vaidyanathan Memorial Film Review Contest
A film review contest (in video format)
● Team event (two members)
● Unlimited entries
● Entry fee: Rs 200/- per team
● Participants will watch a film and create an original review in the form of a video
● The film to be reviewed will be screened at the SJU campus on 3rd February at 4:00 pm
● The video entry must be submitted by 12 noon on 4th February to bluepencil.nous@gmail.com
● Videos must be less than 4 minutes long
● You are allowed to use mobile phones to shoot your videos
● Shortlisted entries will go through a Q&A round on 6th February at 3:30 pm
Prizes for the best three entries
Screening Date: 4:00 pm, 3rd February 2024 (AV Room, Arrupe Block)
Presentation Date & Reporting Time: 3:30 pm, 6th February 2024
Venue: AV Room, Arrupe Block
Event Head: Devi Nandana (97420-58390)
Off Plate
A team event combining food, writing, and photography
● Team event (two members)
● Unlimited entries.
● Entry fee: Rs 200/- per team.
● The topic will be given at the venue.
● Your entry should be a softcopy PDF with threephotographs, captions, a headline and two paragraphs of writing
● No plagiarism; photographs must be unprocessed images.
● Judging criteria: Originality, Presentation, Writing Ability, Overall Appeal.
Prizes for the best three teams
Date & Reporting Time: 4:00 pm, 6th February 2024
Venue: De Nobili Hall, Auditorium Block
Event Head: Khushi (99168-01397)
Sab Kuch
A proof-reading and editing contest
● Solo participants
● Unlimited entries
● Entry fee: Rs 100/- per participant
● You must spot errors in punctuation, syntax, prose style and register and suggest changes
● Judging Criteria: Ordering of Information. Language ability, Editing skills Prizes for the best three entries
Date & Reporting Time: 4:00 pm, 6th February 2024
Venue: Faber Hall, Auditorium Block
Event Head: Aaron (77189-34173)
Art & Design Events
Mujhe Zine Do!
A zine-making contest
● Solo participants
● Unlimited entries
● Entry fee: Rs 100/- per participant
● Participants will create a zine based on the prompt given
● The prompt will be provided one day before the contest
● Zines must consist of 8 pages and made using an A4 sheet
● The front page of your zine must have a title that fits the theme of the contest
● The participant’s name and contact details must be provided on the last page of the zine
Prizes for the best three entries
Date & Reporting Time: 3:30 pm, 7th February 2024
Venue: Loyola Hall, Auditorium Block
Event Head: Nikita (88489-31923)
Quizzing Events
Quizzing
Who News?
Goodbye Googlers, hello guess-takers.
● A team event for two; no mixed teams (both members must belong to the same institution )
● Unlimited entries; Written Prelims, followed by finals for eight teams.
● Entry fee: Rs 100/- per team.
● The quiz will test your capacity to make informed guesses.
Prizes for the best three teams
Date & Reporting Time: 3:30 pm, 3rd February 2024
Venue: De Nobili Hall, Auditorium Block
Event Head: Devika (62354-87782)