Blog 11: Mentorship Hours

1. Where are you doing your mentorship?

• In Strand's class whenever Mimi drops by to help us on the production of the yearbook, to teach myself and the other editors, or to work with Strand and I on the computers. The tasks vary each day.

2. Who is your contact?

• My contact is Mimi Orth, a Herff Jones Sales Representative.

3. How many total hours have you done?

• In total, I have done 30.5 hours (including summer mentorship). Not including the 10 hours of summer mentorship, it's been 20.5 hours working with Mimi. The hours varied daily when Mimi was here for different purposes, such as setting up the computers, designing certain pages, or organizing programs, which took longer than the hour and a half allotted for elective.

4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did. 

• I have done more than 10 hours, because mentorship takes place every other Tuesday each month. The most that I had done was working with, assisting, and directing the editorial team, Strand, and staff on the progress of first deadline. Majority of the time I taught design team on yearbook design, edited design layouts, helped brainstorm ideas for stories, assigned staffers their assignments, scheduled out events to cover, and look over photo submissions. I also held meetings with design, photo, and copy teams during school and on weekends, and work on spreads at home (Skyping with editors and whatnot). Because I am the "Book Editor-in-Chief," I am solely responsible for the production of the yearbook itself, while Stacy handles funds, elective management, and logistics, so during mentorship I focus on the creative aspects of yearbook elective. 

5. Email your house teacher the name of your contact and their phone number confirming who they should call to verify it.

• Okay.

Blog 10: Senior Project - The Holiday

1. What did you do over break with your senior project?

• Over break, I continued looking at research to help conceive a few ideas, angles, and answers regarding my new essential question. I visited my local library to check out potential articles and books to use for the upcoming research checks, and spent time reading over these materials. I also spent some time working on my independent component, where I contacted yearbook design team members and turned in the remainder of our proof spreads.

2. What is the most important thing you learned from what you did and why? What was the source of what you learned?

• The most important thing I learned is how to manage time while working on a product which involves heavy investment of teamwork. What I mean by this is that deadlines are a huge concern in working on any type of project, in my case, the first deadline of the yearbook. Managing your own deadlines within a major deadline is something that an editor must know how to do. Every assignment given should not only be of high quality, but must be turned in on time, or else it won't be in the final copy of the yearbook. In order to make sure it is, there are steps along the way in which I will have to schedule certain times where a component of a spread is due, before the final due date. For example, a complete spread may be due January 27. It is part of my duties to manage how the spread will be completed. An outline may be due January 1; then, photos for that spread should be due January 7. The source from where I learned this is from the book titled, "The Editor-in-Chief: A Management Guide for Magazine Editors," by Benton Rain Patterson and E.P. Patterson. This book had a whole chapter dedicated to time management, which I personally think was the most important part that I have read so far.

3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

• I would talk to the Class of 2012's Editor-in-Chief, Elissa Fultz, who has more than five years of experience in Yearbook, and also worked on other independent projects of editorial publication. If I am unable to be able to interview Elissa, I would interview a fellow Yearbook advisor, Rebecca Chai. Rebecca Chai works at Walnut High School, and has prior experience working as  an editor for a newspaper as well as being a representative for Herff Jones.

New Year, New Research

Hey guys, just trying to squeeze in a quick update about my senior project. So far during my break I've slept in, ate tons, and found some useful articles that kind of help me figure out my EQ (which reminds me, I need to update my header EQ). I checked out this book from the library called The Editor in Chief: A Management Guide for Magazine Editors. Long title. So the first few chapters talked about organization, but then I got to the middle of the book where it covers staff treatment and management. There was a chart/quiz kind of thing that was outlined to determine what kind of leading personality you have, and how you can utilize your strengths to help your staff. In my case, following the chart I found that I am a hands-on type of leader, meaning that I like to do and learn by example. So ways that I can help, say, the designing department, is by showing and creating an example of my own, explaining the process along the way. That way they can see how I did something and do it themselves (give or take a few changes to make it their own designs). I found that really interesting, and it kind of makes more sense now that I think about it. When I get back from break, I'll definitely try to lead like this in Yearbook. Anyways, that was a piece of research I really liked, and I thought I'd share it here.

Blog 9: EQ

1.   I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.

2.  Review the following EQs:

 a.  What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?

• Yes, I think this is an appropriate EQ, but it is quite vague. If it was restated so that it would not have just one specific answer, or had a more detailed word choice besides "healthy weight loss", I think then it would be much more valid.

 b.  What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?

• Yes, this is an EQ, but like the previous one, it is also vague. It should be more specific so that it addresses the type of conviction or criminal investigation.

 c.  What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?

• Yes, this is a better EQ. It points out what they're EQ is trying to answer, with "...that best satisfies a customer." It also makes it more specific since what the EQ is answering, is not too broad.

 d.  How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?

• Yes, this is the best EQ out of the previous ones. It starts with "wow" instead of "what," allowing more flexibility in answers. It also addresses the topic that this person is presenting on, and a specific issue that they want to answer.

3.  Based on your review of the rule of 3 and your experience with assessing four EQs, please write another draft EQ for your senior project.

• How can an Editor-In-Chief best direct a publication in order to ensure a quality product?

First Deadline: Hard Work x1000

Hey guys! Man, November has been such a busy month. Like, the busiest month in yearbook so far. Our first deadline was yesterday, November 18th. Unfortunately not everything has gone smoothly, so we're racing to get everything turned in. Even if we are a few days late, it's important to remember that everything has to be good quality and not just a bunch of photos and text thrown together. It's the content that has to be fine-combed to perfection. Despite some setbacks on deadline, we only have a few pages left to turn in! My mentor Mimi Orth also visited today and look at everything we had. She was quite impressed with how things we're coming out, so that's awesome. It's great to get feedback and advice from some one who's an expert at design and publication. Anyways, my goal is to get all of the first deadline spreads to be turned in before Thanksgiving Break.

Also, to give you guys the gist of how much work these spreads are: the design team and myself have spent 4 out of 5 days of our weeks cooped up in Strand's back corner, going almost blind from staring at the screens so often. ...Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but it is a huge time commitment and it's so worth it when we look at the final pages.

May be unrelated, but we reorganized our little "cave" in the back corner. We have a bunch of yearbooks from other schools to get inspiration from (no, we do not steal ideas :P).

The proof file of our cover. A proof file is a file that the printing company sends back a few weeks after you turn in the original file. It's how our printing company, Herff Jones, says, "Is this really how you want this to look?"

The cover is by far my favorite part of the book that we've worked on. I think it really exemplifies iPoly's little "moments."

The ladder. A ladder is like a calendar/planner hybrid. It just shows where pages go in order in the yearbook.

I spent a full day helping design editor Mira and copy editor Posada collaborate on a spread, called a division. A division is like a mini-table-of-contents in certain sections of the yearbook. We decided on doing a fun little story on a few select seniors (they may know who they are...).

On a final note, I will hopefully finish up my independent component before January! And don't forget to keep Instagram-ing your photos to go into the yearbook!

Prepping for Design Clinic: The Gathering of Yearbook Gurus

Hey guys, big event happening on Saturday. Every yearbook publication is to take part in an event called Design Clinic. What is that even?

Design Clinic is an event where schools from the area send their yearbook publications to present the progress of their respective yearbooks. This is a big deal, because many experts on graphic design, copy writing, and photographers gather to critique the progress. Basically, the yearbook gods are judging us. It's pretty scary, but exciting and really helpful. The event will be coordinated by my mentor, Mimi, and... IS IN THE MPR. HERE. It's awesome that Design Clinic is happening at our campus. It's never happened to us before!

Of course, as nerve-wracking as it is, it also requires a lot of work. So the past few classes, the staff and editors have been rushing to finish up spreads. Last Tuesday and Friday were particularly busy for me. I've been occupied with helping the designers fix up and improve their assignments, and assigning staff members to take photos and interview students. Most importantly though, our cover (who isn't excited for the cover, seriously.), is 98% done. Also, this post is photo heavy, but hey, you guys are behind-the-scenes with us.

From @ipolyyearbook on Instagram. We usually have quick 10 minute meetings before class to discuss what needs to get done. Here, we were looking at the layout of the first 8 pages of the yearbook, and discussing what would go after them.

Cesar and Nathan working together to create their second spread. I've assigned Nathan to teach Cesar basic graphic design skills. A lot of progress has been made by our newest designer. His spreads will definitely be seen in the yearbook.

Our coverage and business editors, Malorie and Alexis. They're making flyers for advertising our Instagram.

Nitjasin and Bryan are looking over a staff member's story. A lot of times, copy must be edited and re-edited, by both a designer and a copy editor. The designer needs to know what the copy is about in order to create his layout, while the copy editor checks mistakes and accuracy.

Elijah in the process of designing another spread. It's tough making new spreads when most of them start to look similar. I took some time after class to help him by comparing his earlier one, to this one. Visualizing the similarities in a designer's spreads helps them design their next one, making it a bit more different each time.

Emmely was going through photos from Hot Dog Day. We've got a lot of great shots of people (mostly stuffing their faces with hot dogs).

Selfies are mandatory.

I helped the designers with Photoshopping cut outs. Basically, we have to outline the person or object and separate it from the background. It's time consuming, but adds a lot of interest to the spreads. Also, that's Richard throwing a bowling ball in the background. A great cut out opportunity!

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1.  What is your working EQ?

• How can an editor best direct a publication to ensure a quality product?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ?

• Organize the staff in an effective and communicative way. This allows for the editor to monitor the progress, problems, and other situations that may occur within a publication's staff members.

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

• My most informative source would be a book titled The Editor In Chief: A Management for Magazine Editors, by Benton Rain Patterson and Coleman E.P. Patterson. A lot of chapters in this book really emphasized the importance of team-oriented work and establishing effective methods of communication and relationships with a staff. Building up a strong foundation of trust and responsibility between staff members and the editor is essential to creating a successful product.

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

• My mentor is Mimi Orth of Herff Jones Publishing. I work alongside her in elective, after school, and often on weekends to create assignments,manage a staff, organize the progress of the yearbook, offer insight to spreads, teach lessons to the class, and manage other business regarding the creation, printing, and distribution of the yearbook. What I do relates to my EQ because it is taking my position as Co-Editor In Chief and allowing for me to justify it with experiences from directing an entire publication.