Blog #8: What I've Learned So Far

1) What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?

Something that I've really tried to focus on while working on my senior topic is how to strengthen theme throughout the book. This is something we have gotten better at over the years, but still needs to be worked on. Something that schools often have to help strengthen their theme are theme pages. For this reason, I have been trying to figure out ways to make the theme more clear not only by putting in more theme pages, but by incorporating little things in the content spreads.

2) Post evidence of this accomplishment. It can be in the form of a picture, video, document, etc.

I just completed the ladder this past week, which is basically the list of all 128 pages that are going to make up the book (I would post in on here, but that gives away absolutely everything that is going in the book, and I feel that might be a bit too public.) If you look at this year's ladder in comparison to past years, you will notice the new theme pages and spreads that are going to be put into the book. There are five theme pages and an three spreads of opening. This may mean nothing to you, but considering that last year we only had one theme page, and the year before that zero, this is quite an improvement. We are adding in theme the way that Casa Roble and Brentwood do, which is something we have always strived to do. Also, the extra two spreads of opening is something that we rarely do. Normally, books have only one opening spread. Depending on how you do it, the extended opening can add to or take away from your book. This year, though, we have a solid theme, solid photography, and solid copy to go with it.

In any case, here is something that appears throughout the book and strengthens this years' theme of "Here." I wish I could reveal more, but a lot of our current stuff is being used for promotional purposes, so we'll have to make do.

3) What research helped you to do this and how?

One article that really helped me is "Why Theme Copy Works," by Crystal Kazmierski. In this article, Kazmierski talks about how students will often be overdramatic in their theme copy, trying to stuff it with clichés and SAT words. Yet, according to Kazmierski, theme copy should be just the opposite. Theme copy works because you are trying to reel the student in, trying to make them understand the theme in the clearest way: by talking to them in a way they would normally be talked to. Theme copy is informal, but with a strong voice, as though the book itself is talking to you. That is something that we have definitely incorporated into our current theme copy. The book sounds like a snappy and sarcastic, but in such a way that it seems to be trying to cover up its secretly sentimental side. It's the perfect voice for the year, and we are making sure that the entire book screams it.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

For my independent component, I will work on the 2011-2012 yearbook. This includes staying after school to brainstorm, finalize, and tweak designs, as well as meeting with various editors to sort through photos, write and re-write the ladder, and do outside-of-school staff training.

2.) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

Considering that I have already spent about 15 hours on this years' yearbook already, just by staying after school and helping mock up designs, I have no doubt that I will be able to exceed the 30 hours expectation.

3) How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?

My independent study component relates to my EQ in the closest way possible. By testing different methods and learning from them, I am increasing my understanding of what works in a yearbook and what doesn't. I don't think that there is any way I could learn about this better than by helping create a yearbook myself.

Blog #6: EQ draft #1

1) What is your EQ?

What is most important in creating an awarding-winning publication?

2) Make sure we're all on the same page.

By "award-winning," I mean that the publication received a nationally-respected award such as the Gold Crown or Pacemaker for yearbooks, or National Magazine awards for magazines.

By "publication," I mean and solid, physical representation of journalism, namely a yearbook, a magazine, or a newspaper.

3) What are some possible answers to your EQ so far?

Some possible answers that I have come up with are the staff (including the editors or leaders of the staff), the theme or focus of the publication, and the mastery of design, writing, and photography. These are a lot of answers, though. I'm currently trying to narrow down my answers, or my EQ, to make my answers more specific.

4) What has been your most important source and why?

My most important source(s), as of right now, are looking at other yearbooks. Picking out what works and what doesn't. Understanding their failures and how to avoid them. Seeing what was a success and how to improve on it. I don't know that this counts as an official source, though, so I'll say the Walsworth Yearbooks website. They are a prominent competitor with our publishing company, Herff Jones, and they have many experts (including Crystal Kazmierski, Brady Smekens, and Karla Thompson) who have written multiple articles on how to improve writing, design, and photography. They also have written articles to help outline what works and what doesn't in the yearbook world.

Blog #5: Second Interview Questions

This time I will actually be interviewing Mimi Orth. Mimi has been at Herff Jones for many years, and has been in the yearbook industry for even longer (she tells us exactly how long every time we have a workshop, but the number always escapes me). She has seen the ins and outs of yearbook design, writing, and theme work. She has watched and mentored as no-name schools blossomed into award-winning staffs. She has even advised (think Strand's job) for an award-winning school, Campbell Hall High School. Plus, she is our Herff Jones representative. Perfect, right?

Questions:

1.) How did you get into the yearbook industry?

2.) How have yearbooks changed since you entered the industry?

3.) Who are notable competitors with Herff Jones? Why?

4.) What do you think is the main quality or characteristic a yearbook should have?

5.) It seems that the yearbook staffs you advise for are, often, some of the most successful in the nation. What can you attribute to that? How have you helped them?

6.) Is there anything in particular that make award-winning staffs stand out?

7.) Have there ever been any major challenges in your career? For example, challenging or stubborn staffs to work with?

8.) What do you do on a normal work day? What do you find most fulfilling about your job?