Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

1. How can an editorial publisher produce a quality yearbook?
2. Can you define what a quality yearbook is in your terms?
3. Can you name a yearbook or a few yearbooks that meet all criteria in making it a quality book?
4. What can deter an editorial publisher from producing a quality yearbook?
5. What characteristics in design should a quality yearbook have?
6. Why is graphic design necessary in a yearbook?
7. Where have you seen great design in a yearbook?
8. Why is typography important in designing a yearbook?
9. What should a designer avoid doing while designing a yearbook?
10. What advice do you have for beginning graphic designers who are designing for yearbooks?
11. Is there a specific design trend you would like to see or see more often in 2014 yearbooks?
12. What characteristics in photography should a quality yearbook have?
13. What are some techniques or practices that a photographer should know or learn?
14. What advice do you have for beginning photographers in order to take good photos?
15. Why are well-taken photos important in making a quality yearbook?
16. What should a photographer avoid when taking photos?
17. Where have you seen good use of photography in a yearbook?
18. What characteristics in copy should a quality yearbook have?
19. What techniques or common practices and habits should a beginner-level writer have when writing yearbook copy?
20. Where have you seen exemplary copywriting used in a yearbook?
21. What should a writer keep in mind while interviewing a subject for a potential story?
22. What should a writer avoid doing when writing copy?

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

1. How can an editorial publisher produce a quality yearbook?
2. What defines a quality yearbook?
3. What are all of the components of a quality yearbook?
4. What characteristics in editors make for a quality yearbook?
5. What characteristics in staff members help create a quality yearbook?
5. What are some common issues that result in an unsuccessfully executed yearbook? How can an editorial publisher resolve these problems?
6. What must an editorial publisher do to keep the creative process of the yearbook running smoothly?
7. Where can an editorial publisher draw inspiration for quality spreads?
8. What is the best way to strengthen the overall aesthetic (design, photo, and copy) of a yearbook?
9. How can an editorial publisher best help their fellow editors and staff members in creating spreads?
10. What can an editorial publisher do to make sure that quality spreads will be turned in on time for a deadline?

Blog 6: Second Interview

1.  Who is your mentor and where do they work?

• My mentor is Mimi Orth, and she works for Herff Jones, a publishing company specializing in the printing of yearbooks.

2.  What five questions will you ask them about their background?

• How did you learn about Herff Jones, and what made you want to work for them?
• Can you describe what working for Herff Jones is like?
• What do you like most about working for Herff Jones?
• What challenges did you face in your work experience with Herff Jones, and what did you do to solve these challenges?
• Can you give a brief history about Herff Jones?

*Additional question that I might ask

• How did you choose your major, and how has it helped you in your work?

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?

• I plan to interview my mentor, Mimi Orth. During my mentorship, she gave great advice and constructive criticism on my course work. I feel that the way she guided me is what is an essential character for an editor, and I would like to listen to her perspective on my topic. I would also like to ask her questions on her past work in publication, and what she has learned and experienced from them.

2. You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask?

• How long did you work in publication, and what was your most memorable experience from it?
• What were some common or reoccurring issues you would come across while working in publication?
• From your experiences, what are some important qualities that an editor should have while running a publication?
• How did you organize your staff, and how were you able to manage numerous deadlines in a publication?
• Where do you get inspiration for your product, and what do you think is the most efficient way of connecting your product verbally and visually?

*More additional questions I might ask:

• From your experience on working with so many schools, what do you think is a common thing that many staffs struggle with?
• Trends and styles are always changing, which influences the way a product looks. What do you predict will be popular among print publications this year?
• Did you ever experience a time where a publication's product was not executed well? What was that time like, and what can a publication do to avoid a situation like that?