Congrats, December Issue, and Other TidBits

Hey all,
Congrats on another successful met deadline! I'm so very proud of all of you! Because I couldn't get in touch with everyone in time, it's been settled that our traditional deadline party will be held on your respective day, the first X/Y day after Thanksgiving Break. Sorry all, I know it would have been great to have it on either of the two days we have until break, but I want to guarantee that we can get as many as possible to participate! I'm really glad you all are working as hard as you are, so lets continue on this path!
So be brainstorming about the December issue. The issue with this issue (haha) is that we have around two and half weeks until deadline. That means we need a HUGE push of ad sales and articles. Hopefully we can work with WenMcnally again this month, but we can't always rely on them. I'm currently trying my best to get in touch with the PTSO President to see if we can work something out. My hopes aren't set to high on it, however, so again, lets raise that money for print.
Snead and I really enjoy the center page of the paper this month. Really fun. Really cool. AND we could print across the bleed. I'd really love to do this every month from here on out. So, if you have a great idea for a two page features spread (for any month) let me know.
Also you guys, I know we're strapped for cash on printing alone, but we also need to be considering funding for the New York trip. I'd love to be able to take as many people as possible, but even then, I know its a long shot. So lets work together to raise the money.
I have also told myself since I became Editor-In-Chief of the paper last year, that I wanted to have at least one issue printed in color under my editorial-ship. So lets work towards that for our final issue, alright?
I know we have a lot to aspire to this year, but I do want to enter our paper back into the VHSL competition and yeah, I want to do even better than last year. Lets keep trying our best to make that happen.
I believe in us,
So believe in us too.
- Lauren

Yeah, yeah, another picture

But it's funny this time, I promise.

Minor issue

We're running low on money this month.


real low.


SO, Megan has made a little coin jar at the front of the room. If you have any lose change or something you'd like do donate, go a head and put it in the jar. We need around $150 by Wednesday.
I'm scared.
You should be to.
Sell ads.
Lets make this happen.

-lauren

Secrets

They don't hurt people, I hurt people.

Little Birds

Little Birds

Hey guys, one more time

Drafts Drafts Drafts!
AND!
Ads Ads Ads!

ASAP.

-lauren

A few pictures you all might enjoy...

Super Carny.
Taco Bell's Mind=Blown
Don't click on this one unless you're ready to be disturbed.

That is all.

Aye, it's a new month:)

Hey, sooooo as you all know, we're having issues with Wen McNally....that means one thing: "WHERE'S THE TAPE, WHERE'S THE TAPE, WHERE'S THE TAPE MARKER MARKER WHERS MY SHOE I NEED MY SHOE" <- That was Schwartz, we all know how he is, ignore it. haha.

ANYWAY!
That means one thing: ad sales ad sales ad sales.
You guys, I know it's hard to sell an ad right now with economy and all, but seriously, try. It's always worth it to try. And get your staff on it too. Remind them every meeting that you have, to work towards getting one. Really, you have no idea how giddy I get when we sell an ad. Haha. We can do this ya'll.

Also, obviously, get to work on articles. Remember editors, I need you writing an opinion article for your section, EVERY MONTH. For more info on that, go to the Opinions blog and see what Devaux has to say okay?

Alright.

Cool.

Awesome.

Get to it :)
P.S.
Dune Cat<3
(a favorite past time of Snead and I's from, oh say, 10th grade?)
http://dropline.net/cats/images/dune-cat.jpg

Opinion Article

John Schwartz here.

I'm planning on writing an opinion piece on why I think it's dumb that we have the eagle as our mascot rather than something Forge related, such as the blacksmiths. Just giving you a heads up.

The Dark Knight

http://i.imgur.com/euAPO.jpg

NEWSPAPER STATUS AS OF NOW:

COM-FREAKIN'-PLETE!
I'm so excited you guys. You all really made this happen. It's our first issue, and we're done the day before deadline. You all really blow my mind. Thank you so much.

Thursday for my Y-days, we're having a Deadline Party. Same goes for Friday for my X-days. Bring in something, ANYTHING! We need food, cookies, chips, sodas, cups, forks, plates, napkins. Anything is something. You guys earned this, so lets celebrate okay? People who were in my class last year know that I'm particularly dedicated to these parties. We make deadline, we have a party. I'm even known to bring in a Giant Cookie! So don't forget, & editors, mark on your pages about it too! We want the word out!
-Lauren

tarah fh pics- sent

To... Lauren+Snead

Tarah sent Anne Kline's hockey pics to my email address, as well as the Talon's email address. So the field hockey article is taken care of.

What other articles need pics before the Oct. deadline??

From... Nat

Editors, I'm not kidding here:

We're doing a great job so far at staying on deadline. I'm not stressed at all about it-a first! However, we're STILL lacking photos.
Bring up your section's folder. Make sure every article that you think requires a picture, has one. Grace, Shelby and Tarah that means you all. News can get away with not as many photos, but ya'lls sections can't.
Talk to your staff, if they don't have a way to get a photo, like for sports, get in touch with Natalee Rombough. She'll take care of it.
I'm serious guys, as of now, this is really the only thing giving me stress. We're only missing around 7 articles for a 16 page layout that now runs at 10pt font. We're doing REALLY well. If I can just get photos, I'm positive it'd be set for print by Monday.
So let's all hop to it okay?
-Lauren

Status update

Yes, my Opinion article should be ready very soon. Also, here's a picture you might enjoy.

-John Schwartz

Editor Opinion Articles

Hey this is Stephanie.
All editors should be working on their opinion pieces and be almost done with them. If you haven't started yet or can't formulate an opinon of your own, then you better get on that. If you need help, ask me.
Peace, boo.

Hey guys. This is Natalee Rombough- I'm the photo editor in block X4

If any of you guys need help with a picture, or can't think of one to put with your article, or can't get to a game that you need to get to- PLEASE come talk to me!

I'm not really chained to a section- so if there is any slack that needs to be picked up, not only with photos but anything else, I can totally help :)

Hey Editors!

Hey ya'll, it's Lauren. Mock the ya'll if you'd like.

I'd first off like to say thank you for really putting in the effort this year. We've had a lot of trouble in the past years with staff (and editors) not doing their jobs. This year Snead and I decided to really cut down our editorial staff so that there is only one editor per section. So far, we've seen success.
On Thursday or Friday depending on which class you're in, I'd like to have an InDesign session. I'll go over it with you all, and if you have any question, I can address them right there. I promise it's not a hard program at all, for what we need for the paper. You can hold me to that.
Also, our deadline will hopefully be met tomorrow, October 13th. We should get the paper in on Thursday and be able to distribute the same day. If I finish with enough time remaining, I'll print out the pages and post it on the board for ya'll to see. I want you all to be as proud of this paper as I have been for the past four years. This is OUR paper, let's make it rock and make a name for ourselves. No more people asking us what "The Talon" is, alright?

Make this year a good one guys.
I have faith in you.

- Lauren

The Editor Blog, 2010-2011 Edition

Hello, all.

Hopefully, this blog will help us deal with the communication issues we've been experiencing in Advanced Journalism. With editorial staff spread across two classes, this has obviously been a bit tricky.

This blog will be maintained and updated by me (Snead), Lauren Rogers, John Schwartz, and Caitlin Russell. The purpose of this blog is to allow the lead editors to communicate with section editors and the Photography editor (Natalee).

For example:

If you (or one of your staffers) need a photo of a sports team (or whatever), post that information here so Natalee can make arrangements.

If the Managing Editor needs to make sure that the Entertainment Editor knows about the new layout design for the Entertainment spread, post that here so she'll see it.

In other words, editors need to start checking this blog daily to stay on top of new developments, needs, and requirements.

Also, if a particular post is directed to you, respond to the post so we know you read it.

Thanks!

Snead

Welcome to the Blogosphere.

Hi, editors.

Now that it's almost the end of the year, it occurred to me that a blog might be a helpful way for us to communicate between classes, especially where layout is concerned.

For example:

May issue layout.

The following are my suggestions, based on what I saw this morning (Friday):

1. Take Mrs. Hamed off of the front page. She was on the fp in October, and isn't the most recent death, sadly. I'd suggest placing both Mrs. Hamed and Mr. Carlson on the Features page. Besides, featuring a memorial on the fp doesn't really set the celebratory tone we want for the last issue of the year.

2. News page (and in general): things need to be evened out. The "Project Yellow Light" headline runs into the photo for the Haiti article, making it somewhat confusing which article the picture goes with. Remember modular design: think of the stories as boxes, and every story element needs to fit inside of those boxes. This helps to keep things clear for the reader, which is, of course, the point of all this.

3. On a related note, headlines should run across the entire top of an article. If the main headline is too short, then add a subhead, or change the font size, or whatever you need to do. This helps, again, to let the reader know that all this stuff belongs under one banner.

4. Opinion page: The Grading Scale piece is almost exactly the same as the one last issue. Cut it.

5. Entertainment, page 1: First off, there are WAY too many things happening on this page. I would suggest that we pull the VA Beach thing out, move Warped Tour + sidebar to the top of the page, and (possibly) supplement with photos of bands.

Also, book article could use book covers, and I think we have pictures for the AP Tour one.

6. Entertainment, page 2: Looks off-center, due to the picture-text-picture-text design. Try relocating a few of the elements: text-picture-picture-text, or picture-text-text-picture.

7. Our Features section currently contains no photos, which is a crime against humanity. Also, again, too much stuff on one page.

I suggest cutting several of these articles. The ones I'd keep are the Cody Norman one, the freshman year one (Langley), and the seniors prep for college one. All of these are ripe for pictures, as well.

On the other Features page, we need some sappy picture for the asking people to prom one, or it's going to die a slow, boring death.

8. Sports page: as usual, we need pictures. That'll have to happen after school next week.

Anyway, this is how this will work. I put things here, you read them, you make them happen, and you comment on the blow to let it be known that you did them.

Please, when you see a task that needs doing, claim it. Post a response, like "I'm fixing the Entertainment page." Then, when you're done: "Entertainment page is done!"

Also, before you work on layout, check this blog to see if anyone's beat you to it.

Sounds like a plan.

~Snead