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.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours. 

• I will be responsible for overseeing, participating in, and directing the completion of the first 32 pages of the yearbook, in order to meet our first deadline date. I will be working alongside the design team and will also be designing a few spreads myself. I will also be assigning work, schedules, lesson plans, and grades to the staff and editors. This will be done through each elective day, after school and lunch meetings, and time outside of school. 

2. Discuss how or what you will do will meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

• I will be taking files, photos, and descriptions of what I do every time progress is done on this component. The evidence will be shown in the final design of the 32 pages, which I will post on this blog as each one is completed. 

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

• This will demonstrate my skills as an editor-in-chief, putting me in charge of a student-run publication. It will emphasize the importance of an editorial position, where I will be managing, directing, and influencing the work behind creating a product, alongside fellow staff members and editors within a publication. This component will also allow me to learn the functions of a publication, and allow for a greater deal of involvement in each department of a publication.

4. Link on sidebar.

Cover Madness: We Can Afford Color?!

Hey guys! So my mentor, Mimi, came in to visit during elective today, and I was able to talk to her about the yearbook's progress. She was there to critique our cover design and suggested we keep up the improvements in our production, which we definitely needed advice on. The cover has totally evolved from what we originally had in mind, but for the better. Unfortunately, it's not completely finished, but it will be done hopefully by next week, just in time for our first deadline. Oh man. As an editor, the cover is a big deal. A. Big. Deal. So we often spend a lot of time on it, mocking it up and scrapping it, revising and then deleting. This year is going to be a challenge since it's so different than what we usually do, and it's going to be in full color. COLOR. WE CAN AFFORD IT. Anyways, it was a relief that Mimi was able to come in and give great advice on how to organize the book, as well as the staff's duties. What would we do without Mimi. So after her quick visit, the groups continued working on their stories and spreads. I was particularly focused on helping the designers, checking over some copy with the copy editor, and conversing with the photo team about getting a lot of good pictures to go on the cover.

Elijah and his amazing cover mock up. Be excited.

Hung up some more inspiration from magazines onto the walls for reference.

The Design Corner, E. Garcia and B. Trang. Half of the Fantastic Four.

Some other staff members working on their weekly spread. Cesar is our newest edition to the Design team, and we're starting him off with his very own spread.

Old work from yearbook camp (also my mentorship). The entire feel of the book has definitely changed since summer. A lot of work to do with these revisions... But we're on it. And no, this is not what will be in the actual book. I can't spoil it yet, sorry.

Working with the Copy and Design Editors, B. Posada and N.Q. Phyakul. The progress we've made today is outstanding.

So that was pretty much what happened today. Subliminal advertising time: we need photos for our cover, guys! If you can take some pictures with Instagram or your own camera, send them in to the iPoly Yearbook Gmail. It would be awesome if your photo made it onto the cover. That is all. :)

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?