Blog #17: Fourth Interview Questions

1) What characteristics in design make an award-winning yearbook?

2) What characteristics in copy make an award-winning yearbook?

3) What characteristics in yearbook editors make an award-winning yearbook?

4) What are the best ways to improve photography in yearbook?

5) What are some ways I can get my staff more involved or excited about yearbook?

6) What are leadership qualities that are required to run a yearbook staff?

7) What are good design staff training activities?

8) What are good photo staff training activities?

9) How can I get my staff more comfortable with each other? What are good bonding activities for a staff?

10) What are qualities that are absolutely necessary for a good theme?

11) What exactly is the job of an Editor-in-Chief? How can I tell when I am doing too much or too little?

12) What are the biggest "weak spots" in otherwise functional yearbook staffs? What should I do to improve or avoid these weak spots?

13) Have you ever seen a strong staff absolutely tank? Why did it happen?

14) What do you think are the biggest "no-nos" in the yearbook world?

15) How do you best train potential future editors?

16) If your potential future editors seem weak, what are the best ways to train them?

17) What is your opinion on the maestro method?

18) Where do you turn for inspiration?

19) What should I do if I am losing sight of the theme?

20) Describe your favorite yearbook ever. What made it so great?

Blog #11: Third Interview Questions

1.) What is the most important component in an award-winning yearbook?

2.) What is the most difficult thing to accomplish in a yearbook?

3.) What sets apart award-winning staffs from regular staffs?

4.) What qualities do you think make a good editor?

5.) What is the best way to strengthen a yearbook's theme?

6.) What are the most common problems yearbook staffs face? How can staffs overcome these problems?

7.) What makes a good designer/photographer/writer?

8.) How can we improve yearbook design/photography/copy (depending on the interviewee's specialty)?

9.) How can I, as an EiC, get the staff more involved?

10.) What are the most striking books/themes you have come across in your yearbook career? What made them stand out?

11.) What role should the EiC play, exactly?

12.) What are common EiC mistakes?

13.) It has been mentioned to me by several people that the most difficult part of becoming an EiC is learning to leave your old editorship behind. Can you verify this? How do you suggest that EiCs get past this?

14.) What are group bonding activities that you suggest staffs do together?

15.) Is there anything you would like to add? (Standard interview ending question).

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?

Blog #2: Interview questions

Besides the five questions provided by the senior team, I would also like to ask my interviewee, Mimi Orth, these questions:

1. What are traits or similarities that you find in successful yearbooks?
2. What do you think makes a good editor?
3. What do you think are the differences between regular journalism and yearbook/scholastic journalism?
4. How does creative writing factor into yearbook copy?
5. What is the best way to strengthen a yearbook’s theme?
6. What do you think is the best way to help our photography?
7. Are there any activities that you suggest our photographers do?
8. What are the differences between ROP/artistic photography and Yearbook photography? How can I explain this to our staff?
9. What do you think are the problem areas in design for the average yearbook staff?
10. What kind of students should we look for when recruiting designers?
11. What do you think are the most common misconceptions when coming into yearbook? How can we dispel these beliefs?
12. Is there anything you would like to add about yearbook?