Why do we dredge out the same dull cliches every day when there are one million words in the English language to choose from? Anna Murphy takes a look at the state of language in today's world and offers some practical advice to aspiring wordsmiths hoping to make inroads into the business of language and writing.

By Anna Murphy

We all use them—they bounce off the keyboard so conveniently and God forbid that we should write anything original—it’s just not done anymore, is it? Clichés have become our time savers and so we end up reading and hearing the same words all day long from different sources.

Anyone in the storytelling industry, whether in print, broadcasting or the arts, should pay more attention to the currency of the language they use. It’s less about how qualified or experienced you are and more about the number of people who buy into your message, and enjoy the manner in which it was communicated to them. They don’t want the same old chestnut.

The media plays many roles-it can inform, influence, educate and entertain. Who are the people that work behind the scenes, and why do they do it? We highlight three outstanding women who work in radio, television, and newspaper to find out more.

By Martha Lee

"Psst, want to buy DVDs?" You turn around and see an unkempt looking youth-bright blond hair, faded tee and jeans with cigarettes in mouth. "Latest one also got, boss, "he coaxes further. You move closer to his shop and find the latest movie DVDs and music CDs. Take your pick. They're dirt-cheap. "Buy five, I give you one for free, " he tempts more. What are you going to do? If you're thinking of getting your wallet out, think again. Piracy hidesa very sinister tale of theft, crime and immorality. Strong words, but it is a strong crime. One that sees you shortchanging yourself, the economy and the industry. Cheap prices? They're more expensive than you think!

By Joshua Rayan

Go on. Have a smile. Maybe even a giggle or two. Oh what the hell, just let it all out and bawl until your face turns red and tears come streaming down your face. Chicken soup may be good for your body but laughter lights up your soul. And who knows, you may just live longer too.

By Career Central

Snide remarks, derogatory comments, insults. What do these have in common? These are what people face regularly at the workplace, and are all courtesy of the resident workplace bully. Be it the boss, colleague or client, workplace bullies come in all shapes and sizes, and across all age groups and different levels of seniority.

By Liu Lian Feng

Ever wondered how models in a magazine look so good? Not a hair out of place, flawless skin, beautiful clothes, and accessories. The mood of the theme captured perfectly in a blend of colors, lights, textures, and charisma. All these don't happen by accident or magic.

By Michelle Lim

Whether one is working in a large multi-national corporation or a small medium enterprise, a worker will inevitably be faced with many demands at the workplace. Aside from job responsibilities and workplace stress, much of these demands arise from the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. In this context, easy-going colleagues and well-managed working relationships will most likely lead to a pleasant work environment.

By Ang Song Ming

The word has gone out- Singapore wants to be the media hub for the region. It's not hard to see why. Global spending on media entertainment amounted to US$1 trillion in 2001, and it's expected to hit US$1.7 trillion by 2008. The Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for media entertainment over the next five years, where media spending amounted to US$215 million in 2000 alone. It's certainly a lucrative market that's hard to ignore.

By John Yip

Singapore enjoys one of highest rates of literacy in the world. As a result, the demand for high-quality print publications like newspapers, magazines and books has increased over time, and homegrown companies such as the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and MediaCorp have risen to the demand by churning out a wide variety of publications. Read on to find out more about the print & publishing industry in Singapore, and about the career opportunities available there.

By Nazry Bahrawi

It's often said that a picture says a thousand words. From fashion photographer Mario Testino, to the father of photo-journalism Alfred Eisenstaedt, photo-journalists have had the ability to capture the imaginations of people all around the world. Many have been captivated by the economy of a great picture, one that is able to say so much with so little, one that is able to rouse more emotion than a bevy of words. Such is the power of photo-journalism.

By Liu Lian Feng