May 2001 Stet

Stet

Michigan Interscholastic Press Association

WHAT’S INSIDE Time to join MIPA for 2001-2002

3

On-site contest winners

8

Yearbook contest form

11

Literary Magazine contest form

13

About the

Cover

PHOTO A fresh outlook : This portrait was taken by Elysia Smith last year when she was a student at Plymouth Canton/Salem HS for an article on homelessness. It took first place honors for Division 1— Portrait in the 2000 individual newspaper contest.

Smith is now a student at Michigan State University.

May 2001 Vol. 28, No. 2

Stet The President’s Column

Taking a step back from the rush

B Kirk Weber

Stet

Stet is the official newsletter of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, an agency of the School of Journalism, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488241212. Stet is published in September, November, February and May by the MIPA executive director and MSU students.

2

uilding a journalism program. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately because-like many—scheduling has started at my school. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been teaching long enough to feel good about where we are as a program.

There’s always something going on—getting quality students, developing introductory level classes, improving your technology, raising money, sending kids to summer journalism camps, going to conferences, keeping up with the latest trends, and occasionally meeting a deadline. Sometimes it almost makes me want to quit . . . but that’s not an option. (At least that’s what I always tell my editors who threaten to throw in the towel.)

This is the time of year when the pressures begin to mount. At the beginning the goals are fresh and visible. But by the time January and February roll around I’m waist deep in deadlines and the last thing I want to think about is the wide-ranging future of my program. Yet I have to—just like many advisers around the country. So I’ve decided to give thanks to what I love about scholastic journalism and to those who’ve influenced me so much. (I’m hoping this will give me an extra kick of energy for the stretch run.)

• Ellie Sharrow, Flushing High School

journalism teacher. My high school newspaper adviser. You taught me how to take risks and have fun. Plus, you introduced me to PageMaker and MIPA. • Chad Sanders, Lansing Everett High School journalism teacher. You’re one of the smartest people I know. Your creativity and wit are contagious.

• Lynn Strause, East Lansing High School yearbook adviser. A true mentor. You’ve influenced me in ways I don’t even know yet. I’m so glad we have a talent of your caliber in our state.

• Dave Loney, Herff Jones Yearbooks representative. I couldn’t ask for a better yearbook rep. Things just wouldn’t be the same without you.

• Betsy Pollard Rau, Midland H. H. Dow High School newspaper adviser. Awesome.

A model journalism adviser—one of the best ever. It seems like everything you touch turns to gold. The Update newspaper. The MIPA Summer Workshop.

• Cheryl Pell, Michigan Interscholastic Press Association director. You’re so humble and kind. Quietly you’ve established yourself as one of the best state press organization directors in the country. It will be a sad, Continued on page 14

MIPA Officers 2000-2001 President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary Trustee Trustee Trustee Newspaper Chair Legislative Chair Workshop Chair Middle School Chair TV Production Chair Past President/Yearbook Chair Executive Director Editorial Assistant

Kirk Weber, Lake Orion HS (810) 693-5420 Julie Price, Haslett HS (517) 339-8249 Jeff Nardone, Grosse Pointe South HS (313) 343-2133 Kim Kozian, L’Anse Creuse HS North (810) 949-4450 ex 45 Brian Town, Haslett HS (517) 339-8249 Rod Satterthwaite, Dexter HS (734) 426 3991 Brian Wilson, Waterford Kettering HS (248) 673-6287 Kevin Moore, Lake Orion HS Gloria Olman, Utica HS (810) 254-8300 ex 61 Betsy Pollard Rau, H.H. Dow HS (517) 839-2482 Dori Leyko, Haslett Middle School (517) 339-8233 Diane Herder, Laingsburg HS (517) 651-5091 Lynn Strause, East Lansing HS (517) 332-2545 Cheryl Pell, Michigan State University (517) 353-6761 Jeremy Whiting, MSU School of Journalism E-mail: mipa@msu.edu http://mipa.jrn.msu.edu

2001-2002 MIPA Membership Application Form Please list school as you want it to be used on membership certificate and other MIPA documentation. Please type or print. Check made payable to MIPA must accompany the form.

PLEASE fill out form completely.

Important: Please write the name of each publication and/or production you are entering into membership. Only publications whose names appear here will be eligible for competition (except for Web).

School Classification: A B C D (Check with your principal or athletic director if you are not sure.)

Today’s date Renewal

Join MIPA on or before Oct. 11, 2001. After Oct. 11, add $5 to your membership fee.

New (School has not been a member in 5 years) Newspaper name

School

Yearbook name

Phone (

)

Fax Number (

)

Literary Magazine name Video Production name

Address City

State

ZIP

County

Membership Fees

Newspaper Adviser’s Name

$37.50 for one publication or production

Home Address

$10 for each publication or production after that

Home Phone (

)

E-mail Write very clearly, please!

Yearbook Adviser’s Name Home Address Home Phone (

)

E-mail

Write very clearly, please!

Lit. Magazine Adviser’s Name

Deadline: Schools must join MIPA

by Jan. 31, 2002, to participate in contests for that calendar year.

Payment enclosed $

1 publication or production

$

other publications or productions ($10 for each beyond the first one)

$

Add $5 if this is being mailed after Oct. 11, 2001

$

Add $5 if you would like a copy of A Cut Above Send to

Home Address Home Phone (

)

E-mail Write very clearly, please!

TV Production Adviser’s Name Home Address Home Phone (

)

E-mail Write very clearly, please!

Adviser’s name

Reserve your copy of

A Cut Above A Cut Above is a booklet full of winning entries from the 2000 Newspaper Individual Category contest. It will be available in early 2001 just in time to help you choose entries for the 2001 contest.

Cost: $5 (includes postage)

$

Total enclosed

Send this form and payment to: MIPA, School of Journalism 305 Communication Arts Bldg Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1212 For office use only please:

ck #

amt

po invoice date

May 2001

3

Stet

JEA listserv provides solutions, camaraderie

A

fter advising high school publications for several years, most advisers begin to pick up on the little (or sometimes big) mistakes that are consistently a problem for high school journalists.

The following list of mistakes comes from the Journalism Education

“What is the most common writing mistake, style or otherwise, that beginning journalists make?”

Association listserv (an email based chat) that is specifically designed for high school journalism advisers who are members of JEA. This listserv tackles a multitude of topics, including software challenges, yearbook distribution, budgets, press law and censorship.

Advisers throw up a ques-

tion or concern and usually one or more responses appear on the listserv by the end of the day. The opinions expressed come from teachers all over the nation—

•Long, boring leads.

including some of the most respected names in scholastic journalism.

If you would like to become a member of JEA and take advantage of the listserv and other benefits, please go the JEA Web site at www.jea.org. You may download a membership form at their site.

mented,’ and ‘remarked.’ Just use ‘said’ and put it at the end.

•Paragraphs that are too long.

•Beginning with the time or date.

•Having more than one quote from different sources in the same paragraph.

•Using the first name of students on the second reference instead of the last name.

•No quotes of any kind in yearbook copy.

•Lack of objectivity. Writers constantly throw in fact when they should let the facts speak for themselves.

•Weak transitions between sentences and paragraphs.

•Relying on one source only.

•Putting periods or commas outside quotation marks. Periods and commas always go inside the quotation marks , single or double, no exceptions. Also, colons and semicolons always go outside the quotation marks.

•Proper singular and plural agreement. ‘Band’ or ‘team’ followed by ‘they.’

•Apostrophes

•Using the pronouns “we,” “our,” and “you.”

With thanks to all of the advisers around the country who take time to keep the listserv vital.

•Using a comma between two independent clauses instead of a semi-colon or a period.

•Yearbooks that don’t have a copy block on every DPS. •Meaningless, vague phrases and words like the following: many, a lot, some, few, and etc.

•The only time to use “it’s” is when it replaces “it is.”

•AP style for state abbreviations is preferred over postal abbreviations. Be consistent, though, if you use one over the other.

•Writing in passive voice instead of active.

•Lack of agreement between noun & pronoun.

•Using the year, name of the school, or the words “this year.”

•Editorial comments in news, feature and sports copy.

•Failure to play on the readers’ emotions.

•Improper use of commas.

•Poor spelling habits.

•Confusing the words ‘there,’ ‘their,’ and ‘they’re.’

•Using words other than ‘said’ for attribution, and that includes words like ‘stated,’ ‘com-

4

•Failure to dig deep for meaningful, unusual quotes. If anyone can say it, it is not a good quote. Reporters need to ask “why” and “how” more often.

Stet

We need your help at the Fall Conference NOTES

D

o you have something to share with students or advisers that would help make publications go easier? Plan now to share your idea during a presentation at the MIPA Fall Conference on Oct. 11. Many of you have been at this business of scholastic journalism for some time now, and we need some new speakers! Please help us out. We need specific sessions like quoting and attributing, transitional devices, good leads, how to do cutouts in Photoshop, PageMaker tips, design for newsmagazines, producing videos on a budget, etc. A topic like feature writing can sometimes be too large to cover well in 50 minutes.

Just e-mail MIPA at mipa@msu.edu, and we’ll get back to you.

JEA/NSPA High School Journalism Convention The National Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association are holding their 2001 Fall High School Journalism Convention November 8-11 in Boston.

Guests will stay at the Sheraton Hotel, and are encouraged to experience the theme of “freedom first” by visiting some of Boston’s historic sites. Most are close to the hotel, including Harvard University, the Boston Common, and the Boston Public Library.

Registration for the convention is $60 for JEA or NSPA members and $70 for nonmembers. The complete registration booklet will be available in September. For more information, visit the JEA website at http://www.jea.org.

Michigan’s public information laws explained Do you know that you are entitled to receive copies of most government documents? The Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act provide citizens with ways of checking what their government is doing.

To obtain documents through FOIA, just submit a request in writing to any government agency that you would like to see records from.

The Open Meetings Act requires all meetings of a public body to be open.

More information on these acts can be obtained by visiting the Michigan Attorney General’s website at http://www.ag.state.mi.us.

Adviser earns JEA Distinguished Adviser award The Journalism Education Association awarded their Distinguished Adviser award to East

Lansing HS yearbook adviser Lynn Strause. The award, presented to three advisers in the country, is based on the adviser’s resume, statement of philosophy, specific questions and letters of recommendation.

The selection for the award is made by journalists and advisers from across the country.

Michigan’s JEA National HS Journalists elected Ashley Crenshaw of Grosse Pointe South HS was selected as Michigan’s representative for JEA National High School Journalist of the Year.

Crenshaw served on The Tower staff for three years and in that time served as managing editor of the lifestyle section, associate editor and an editorial board member.

& NEWS

If you have news to share about your program or your students, please let us know.

We’ll mention it in the next issue of Stet. Email mipa@msu.edu.

CSPA announces Crown and Circle awards The Columbia Scholastic Press Association presented Gold Crown and Gold Circle awards March 17 at its annual spring convention to schools demonstrating excellence in high school journalism. Some Michigan schools received Silver Crown awards, including Pierce Middle School of Grosse Pointe Park for their newspaper, The Trojan Times; Cranbrook-Kingswood School of Bloomfield Hills for their magazine, Gallimaufry; and East Lansing High School of East Lansing for their yearbook, Ceniad.

Several students from Michigan publications also received Gold Circle Awards, including students from H.H. Dow HS, Utica HS, Grand Haven HS, Grosse Pointe South HS and Brighton HS. Utica wins Edmund J. Sullivan award at CSPA The Columbia Scholastic Press Association Honors Committee awarded the Edmund J. Sullivan award to the Utica HS Arrow staff this February. The award, established in 1997 in honor of the CSPA director since 1981, is given to “student journalists who have fought for the right to speak their minds on behalf of their audiences.”

Arrow staff members received the award for an article they published about the senior class president who had been removed from student council for attendance reasons. When they obtained a copy of the council’s constitution, they found that the document had been altered and exposed the evidence. The president was subsequently reinstated.

Adviser Gloria Olman and intern Nikki Faircy accepted the award in New York in March.

May 2001

5

Stet The Changing

EYES

of the

BEHOLDER

By Terry Nelson Muncie Central HS

T

6

hroughout my growing up years, I often wondered at what point would I know I was growing old; when was that one day when everything worked well and then suddenly felt different? I’m here to tell you that my scientific self study has paid off. I know when you grow old, and for long-time publications advisers it’s age 46.

As I tighten my armband to help relieve my tennis elbow —not unlike a much older one John Tinker might have used to protest the U.S. involvement in Viet Nam in 1966 —I type this warning in the hopes that younger teachers remember to take their vitamins, sleep well and eat a regular warm meal each night instead of cold cheese pizza peeled off cardboard

boxes or stale potato chips at deadlines. When I deliver my end of the year remembrance speech for our annual publications award banquet in May, I’ll have to place on the end of my nose, a newly-acquired pair of cheap, drugstore bifocals, earned after reading 9 pt. type run out at 71 percent for over two decades.

“Your eyes are just beginning to change,” chuckled a knowing, much-younger optician, who looked forward to seeing me frequently to accommodate the rapidly changing prescriptions I would need for glasses.

The eye doctor sighed as she rocked back in her padded chair and imagined the money earned from my nuevo, deteriorating disability.

Jamaica. Virgin Islands. Hawaii . . .

My imagination wandered back to images of Grandma on the Waltons rerun episodes; to Jane Hathaway, pursing her lips together and peering over her glasses as Jethro; to my own Italian great aunt using the magnifying glass to read the obituaries in the newspaper.

Gasp.

I ignored the warning of experts, and continued squinting and faking the reading of copy until one night I got to the point where I couldn’t focus on the dosage on the side of the Advil bottle. So I donned a disguise and traveled incognito to a drugstore on the far, south end of town. I scurried up and down the aisles, looking for the dreaded eye glass display tower.

Prescriptions...prescriptions...I remember seeing those glasses somewhere near that counter in other stores.

Looking like a thief casing the store, I

Stet Eyes of the Beholder, continued decided that I probably needed to ask for help. Unwrapping the scarf from around my neck, tipping my hat back and removing my dark glasses, I whispered across the counter to the 16-year old employee, “Where are your glasses?”

“Glasses?” she shrieked. “I don’t think we sell glasses —Hey Joe, do we sell glasses?”

“No, no, no,” I frantically hushed her. “Not glasses, I mean...bifocals.”

There, I had said it. It was out in the open, like a gaping sore for all to see. I was old and I needed bifocals.

“For my grandmother,” I added quickly. “I need to find a pair of bifocals for my sweet, bedridden grandmother.”

“Bifocals are in the back by the Depends,” Manager Joe told me in a strong voice.

So I took my time, slithering back to the bifocals display, pausing along the way and acting like I was interested in the $7.99 curling iron and sale on cotton balls in Aisle 3.

I found new pleasure in studying the drugstore merchandise until I glanced at my watch and saw that the store would close in 10 minutes. It was now time.

I rotated and rotated that darn display, looking for something cute in bifocal-ware; something colorful, so I looked like I might wear them for a fashion statement; something a little kicky that would say to the world and to my students —“I’m not old; I don’t need these; I’m just a wild and crazy girl.”

I found brown.

Brown and wire.

I chose brown and walked dejectedly back to the front counter.

“The store is closing in 5 minutes, please make your purchases now.”

The onslaught of customers swarmed all around me. But I cared little anymore. I was old and I needed brown bifocals—and this chocolate candy bar, because on the day you turn old, you need a little treat.

I carried those bifocals with me for about a week before I had the courage to put them on.

My motor skills actually increased and the

pain in my tennis elbow lessened from the exercise of whipping off those bifocals anytime anyone walked into my classroom.

The next problem: where to put them after I whipped them off on the days I don’t wear an outfit with pockets. On my head like a headband, hanging off the neck of my shirt, or on a dreaded chain or strap like Lily Tomlin in her old “one, ringy-dingy” skits?

I met up with the basketball coach at the copier one day and finally asked him how he handled this dilemma.

“I buy two or three pairs,” he claimed.

“Then I can place them around the house, on my desk, by the phone; and I don’t worry about losing them.”

Not a bad idea. After all, we had finally gotten a 3 percent raise after 5 years of teaching without a contract. Where vanity was involved, what was money.

After three months of wear, I actually got used to being able to see comfortably, and hardly even minded when my students picked up the bifocals from the table and placed them on the end of their noses, or—better yet— thought they looked “cool” in them.

Now as a veteran bifocal wearer, I realize that age and elbow pains and eyesight failure are just relative concerns. It could be worse; I could be a candidate for those Depends in that southside drugstore.

Never in my wildest dreams when I watched late night TV with movies starring Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable and Laurence Olivier throughout the years did I realize that the man of my dreams with whom I would “grow old together” would be my publications students.

And as I continue to disintegrate and crumble over the years, I’ll remember that age is simply in the mind of the beholder.

My only hope is that the beholders need bifocals and that my future cosmetic aging will be one gentle blur.

Reprinted with permission of the author.

Terry Nelson has taught journalism and advised newspaper and yearbook publications for 25 years. Currently she is at Muncie Central High School in Indiana. Last fall she was named to USA Today's All USA Teacher, First Team and the National Journalism Hall of Fame. She is the recipient of CSPA's Gold Key and NSPA's Pioneer Award; both national organizations' highest individual honor. Terry also teaches at the MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop. Michigan loves Terry Nelson.

May 2001

7

Stet Spring Conference:

Awards presented, contests won, board members elected and some fun

By Sara Eber West Bloomfield HS

Christine Kurtz of Traverse City Central HS received the Golden Pen award, which is given to an outstanding journalism adviser each year.

Kurtz was nominated by her students. The timing was wonderful as Kurtz retires from teaching this spring.

Jennifer Buske , a senior at H.H. Dow HS, was named the All-MIPA Newspaper Student of the Year.

From Utica HS, Sandra Russo was named the All-MIPA Yearbook Student of the Year.

8

Celebrating an 80 year tradition, 250 schools from across Michigan gathered at the Lansing Center, April 10, to attend the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring conference, featuring an opening ceremony by the MIPA board.

Several journalism awards were distributed in the morning session, including recipients of the 2001 All-MIPA award. Jennifer Buske, editorin-chief of the H.H. Dow “Update” newspaper, accepted the scholarship. Prior to the awards presentation, Buske said, “I’m very nervous, but excited at the same time. I will be very anxious until our category is announced.”

Sandra Russo from Utica HS won the All-MIPA Yearbook award.

MIPA vice president Jeff Nardone introduced a pr view of the conference’s keynote speaker, Journalism Education Association president, H.L. Hall. Hall, a recently retired journalism teacher from Missouri and author, spoke to students about his upcoming presentation. “Expect to laugh a lot this morning,” Hall said.

“In this business, with all the tension that can build up, you have to be able to laugh.” In

addition to speaking about the importance of detail, Hall promised an in-depth discussion on the Hazelwood case, which set a precedent in scholastic journalism.

Publication adviser Christine Kurtz of Traverse City received the Golden Pen award, the highest honor possible for an adviser. One of ten nominees, Kurtz accepted her award with a standing ovation.

“I would like to thank all of my students, past and present,” said Kurtz. “But especially the advisers. There is no better way to impact a student’s life.”

For the first time, Spartan awards were distributed in the opening session. Out of 74 schools, 23 school newspapers received the honor. 28 Spartan Yearbook awards were also presented. Web site, broadcasting and literary magazine awards were also announced.

A presentation on the MIPA summer workshop was presented by Betsy Pollard Rau. “This is the number one workshop in the universe,” said Rau. With the theme of “One”, this summer’s program, in its 18th year, will be held July 29 to Aug. 2.

This article won first place in the On-site news writing contest at the Spring Conference. The story has been edited.

From Dexter HS, Rod Satterthwaite was elected to a trustee position on the MIPA Board. Satterthwaite advises the yearbook, newspaper and the broadcast program. He also teaches desktop publishing at the MIPA workshop.

Brian Wilson , yearbook adviser from Waterford Kettering HS, won a spot as trustee on the MIPA Board as well. The elections were held at the Spring Conference luncheon.

Kim Kozian from L’Anse Creuse North HS won re-election as secretary on the MIPA Board. Lynn Strause from East Lansing HS is the new yearbook chair. Kevin Moore, newspaper adviser at Lake Orion HS, is the new newspaper chair. This is not an elected position.

Stet

Congrats to on-site winners

Yearbook Student Life Layout

First Place: Alexis Mead, Kati Gonzalez, Charlotte Second Place: Kelsey McDonald, Crystal Franta, Goodrich Third Place: Dennis Masere, Anne Lutey, Fenton HM: Leah Omilion, Courtney Campbell, Rochester

Yearbook Copy/Caption First Place: Jacquelyn Dekker, Rochester Second Place: Maegan Hill, Goodrich Third Place: Jenna Morris, Fenton HM: Meghan Sifuentes, Charlotte

A Chad Reunion: Chad Sanders (second from left) is surrounded by three former interns from the MSU School of Journalism. They caught up with each other at lunch. Far left, Brian Wilson , Waterford Kettering HS, Second from right, Kevin Moore , Lake Orion HS, and Kirk Weber , Lake Orion HS.

Feature Writing First Place : Stephanie Adas, West Bloomfield Second Place: Heather D’Aquila, Traverse City East JH Third Place: Colleen Water, Valley School HM: Niamb Slevin, Pinckney

Editorial Writing First Place : Ryan Bonner, Melissa LeMorie, Niamb Slevin, Pinckney Second Place : Alec Gibbs, Tessa Picerno, Fenton Third Place: Lindsay Willett, Joan Chapman, Kearsley HM: Brad Jackson, Grand Blanc

News Writing First Place : Sara Eber, West Bloomfield Second Place: Princess Poole, Jackson Third Place : Jason Roberts, Pinckney HM: Andrew McKinny, Grand Haven

Special Projects First Place : Kari Gonzalez, Charlotte Second Place: Aaron Olson, Fenton Third Place: Julie Wojciechowski, Amber Ogden, Utica HM: Lisa Schwarz, Wayland

Carry In Photo First Place: Tracy Schmidt, Northwest Second Place: Michael Parr, Grand Ledge Third Place : Dave Goulet, Waterford Kettering

Broadcast Feature First Place : Kearsley Second Place: Haslett Third Place: Dexter

Broadcast News First Place: Haslett Second Place: Kearsley Third Place: Dexter

He’s a Winner: H.L. Hall and Gloria Olman , Utica HS, enjoyed the luncheon at the Spring Conference. Hall, retired adviser from Kirkwood (Mo.), was MIPA’s special guest for the day. A speaker at press associations all over the country, Hall is currently the Journalism Education Association president. He has won every adviser award there is, so MIPA bestowed an award for non-advisers to Hall—the John V. Field award—for his outstanding contributions to the field of scholastic journalism.

The Lisa Show: Lunch is the perfect time to talk about life as an adviser with people who know just what you’re talking about. Here Lisa GutierrezCarroll , Jackson HS (left) and Lisa Walker , Grand Blanc HS discuss the joys and challenges of working with students and their publications.

May 2001

9

Stet

Mike Comos brings years of experience to his students ADVISER

WATCH

Mike Comos

Each day Comos has to switch gears for a different challenge.

Under his school’s block scheduling, newspaper class meets one day and the two yearbook classes meet the next.

10

By Jeremy Whiting MIPA Office Staff

It’s not too often that you see journalism advisers who take on the tasks of both newspaper and yearbook simultaneously. Why? It’s hard. It takes up all your time. There are a million deadlines and it’s impossible to keep straight which one is coming up next.

Yet Fraser HS adviser Mike Comos is one of the few who has stayed at the helm of his school’s yearbook and newspaper classes. More importantly, he’s keeping his sanity.

Originally in the field of public relations, Comos graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. For eight years, he worked in Chicago and Metro Detroit at various public relations firms.

Comos thought he might like to teach, so he returned to college to get a master’s degree in teaching, with the intent of advising journalism.

In his eight years working in the PR field, or “the dark side of journalism” as he referred to it, Comos had realized that he could put the skills he learned to teach others how to report on subjects that mattered.

With his new degree, Comos landed a job at Benedictine HS in Detroit, where he stayed four years advising the newspaper and yearbook.

He then moved to Fraser HS. When he arrived there, the newspaper was used primari-

Mike Comos (l) enjoys helping students. Comos advises both newspaper and yearbook.

ly as a PR tool for the school and didn’t have much actual reporting in it. He wanted to take it from the newsletter format into a respectable newspaper.

Under Comos’ direction, the yearbook is also coming to the point where he is happy with it. Theme development was the main thing that needed improvement, and it has been getting better each year. Yearbook was Comos’ greatest challenge, since it’s an area he had little knowledge in.

From its primitive newsletter beginnings, the newspaper has developed into a tabloidsized paper with real journalistic reporting. Comos believes he has brought professionalism to the paper, which students will take out into the real world after leaving his class. His staff gains experience not only in reporting, but in producing a paper digitally and sending it to a

printer in Alabama.

Each day Comos has to switch gears for a different challenge. Under his school’s block scheduling, newspaper class meets one day and the two yearbook classes meet the next. Each day is different from the next, and that is what keeps it interesting.

Students apply to be in the yearbook class. Newspaper students have to go through the Journalism I class before being accepted to the newspaper class. So with both publications starting to take shape, Comos is looking to the future. He hopes to increase his yearbook knowledge and push both publications that extra bit to get them where he wants them.

Someday he hopes to join the ranks of administrators.

“I think it (school) is where I can do the most good now,” said Comos. “Maybe in the next five years I’ll make the move.”

Stet 2001 MIPA Spartan Yearbook Contest Form Please read:

The MIPA Board of Directors has been studying the contests that MIPA sponsors in order to improve them. Several changes will be taking place over the next two years that we believe will strengthen the contests and benefit your students. Changes will be made in increments. The first measure voted on by the Board at its March meeting was to allow a yearbook to still be judged if it misses the official postmark deadline. The late postmark deadline will always be one month from the official postmark deadline. When you use the late postmark deadline, your publication may not be back in time for the Spring Conference awards. There will also be an added fee for this service. All Spartan contests will have the same opportunity to use this procedure.

1 Please check one.

Spring–delivery yearbook. Mail to MIPA office postmarked on or before July 15, 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40.00 *Late Spring–delivery yearbook. Mail to MIPA office postmarked on or before Aug. 15, 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80.00 Fall-delivery yearbook. Mail to MIPA office postmarked on or before Nov. 15, 2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40.00 *Late Fall–delivery yearbook. Mail to MIPA office postmarked on or before Dec. 15, 2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80.00 *late postmark deadline

2 Please fill out this part completely.

4 Important stuff! Please read!

School

1. Since only student photographs are considered for awards, include in the front of the book or on a separate sheet the system for which student photos are marked. For example,“Student photos are highlighted with *.”

Address City

State

School phone (

2. Write a memo to the judge. In it list any special school situations, concerns or problems with this yearbook’s production on a separate sheet. Judges need this information.

ZIP

3. Keep a copy of this form for your files. You might include a self-addressed stamped postcard that we will return to you when we get your book so that you know it arrived safely in the MIPA office.

)

Adviser’s name

4. Do you want your yearbook returned? Then send a postage-paid, selfaddressed mailer with your yearbook. Your yearbook will be returned by the judge. If you do not want your yearbook back, the judge will have the option to keep it or discard it.

Editor’s name Name of yearbook

5. Please mail your yearbook along with your check for $40 (or $80) payable to MIPA. Send to:

Theme

MIPA, School of Journalism, 305 Communication Arts Bldg., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1212.

Printing company Number of yearbooks sold

Price

5 Final Check. Please mark.

Yes No

3 Advisers, please estimate

1. Did you mark student photos?

the percent of work done.

2. Did you include a check for $40?

3. Did you include a self-addressed, stamped mailer if you want book returned?

4. Are you meeting the official postmark deadline?

Writing

=100%

Editing

=100%

Design

=100%

Photography

=100%

Pasteup/Pagination

=100%

Graphic Effects*

=100%

Total Production

=100%

5 Are you meeting the late postmark deadline?

6 Advisers, please sign.

Please read & sign the following: I have read this form. I understand only student work is to be judged for awards by MIPA. All materials submitted represent student work or is designated as not being student work.

Adviser’s signature: For office use only: judge official postmark deadline:

ck. #

amt pd

secondary postmark deadline: ck. #

amt pd

Stet

Shaping the future Keeping up with what’s hot is a full-time job

By Jennifer Barrett Michigan State University

T “Back when I went to (high) school, teachers just taught us how to save and word process.

Now, students can research on the web.”

Yalile Ramirez MSU student

Jennifer Barrett just graduated from Michigan State University. She was a journalism education major and will begin her internship year this fall.

12

rends. It’s on the mind of journalism advisers and students each year at conventions. They dictate how a newspaper or yearbook will look from year to year.

Trends are a general direction that student publications tend to move in. Often, they are the “buzz words” at conventions. They are recycled from past concepts, borrowed from professional magazines or adaptations to a changed audience.

Professional newspapers struggle to hold their readers interest in today’s fast paced society. High school newspapers and yearbooks find themselves adapting to the trend.

“I’m seeing less copy,” Gloria Olman said, publications adviser at Utica HS. “Readers have a lower attention span.”

A visual and costly trend for those who can afford “extras” in their yearbook is purchasing more color spreads, especially in the opening, senior and advertising sections.

“My school has been using more color photos in their yearbook,” senior MSU student Yalile Ramirez said, former staff member at Nazareth Academy, Indiana. “When I was a photographer on staff, we rarely had color as an option.”

Jostens representative Bob Berschback has also noticed the trends in running color and also more senior ads in yearbooks.

“Personal ads from parents have skyrocketed, including full color ads,” Berschback said.

Parents’ dollars often help pay for the cost of the yearbook when senior ads are purchased.

Repeat buyers are common among families who have more than one, who often purchase an ad for each child upon graduation. Another trend is the rising number of “friend” ads, where a group of students purchase a spot in the book together.

“At one point, the ads were discouraged,” Olman said. “But now, it’s tougher to get ads.”

Increasing technology in schools has created

trends incomparable to any other in the history of student publications.

“The dot com lingo and internet terminology is used more,” Ramirez said. “Back when I went to school, teachers just taught us how to save and word process. Now, students can research on the web.”

Berschback agreed that the technology explosion has had a great affect on student publications.

“Perhaps the biggest change is not in content or design, but in the area of how the pages are coming to life,” Berschback said. “Computers, digital photography, image manipulation in Photoshop, internet page submission, proofing, record keeping, etc. And I am more amazed at how quickly these changes occur . . . much faster than changes in trends.”

Some schools were fortunate to have worked with new technology earlier than others.

“My newspaper and yearbook were completely digital before I even joined the staff my sophomore year of high school,” said Michigan State University student Beth McCoy , a former staff member of both publications at Laingsburg HS. “I noticed when I would read and look at some of our exchange papers that they were gradually becoming more advanced as well.”

Although technology has made high school publications more advanced and efficient, some argue the trend is going in the wrong direction.

“Sadly, I am seeing a decline in good photojournalism, with more snap shot type pictures showing up,” Berschback said. “Most high school students don’t even know what an fstop is, or why it could be important.”

Since the recent University of Wisconsin controversy over a digitally altered photograph on the cover of an admissions booklet, ethical questions have been raised in regards to new technology. The photo showed a digitally added face of a black male in a crowd of white fans at a football game. The admissions office could not find a diverse photo to appeal to Continued on page 14

Stet 2001 MIPA Spartan Literary Magazine Contest Form Please read:

The MIPA Board of Directors has been studying the contests that MIPA sponsors in order to improve them. Several

changes will be taking place over the next two years that we believe will strengthen the contests and benefit your students. Changes will be made in increments. The first measure voted on by the Board at its March meeting was to allow a literary magazine to still be judged if it misses the official postmark deadline. The late postmark deadline will always be one month from the official postmark deadline. When you use the late postmark deadline, your publication may not be back in time for the Spring Conference awards. There will also be an added fee for this service. All Spartan contests will have the same opportunity to use this procedure.

Deadline:

From now on, literary magazines must meet the official postmark deadline of July 15, no matter what year.

Unfortunately, this deadline has changed several times. Now it will not. We will send the literary magazines out to judges soon after we get them from you. The late postmark deadline is Aug. 15. No entries should be sent in after that date.

Directions:

This form is your Literary Magazine entry only. If you choose to use the official postmark deadline, the fee is $12 (payable to MIPA). Staple this form to the back of your magazine. Magazines must have been published after the spring conference last year, which was April 10, 2000. If you choose to use the late postmark deadline, the fee is $24.

Criteria:

One entry per school. A literary magazine emphasizes fiction, poetry, essays, drama, art and photography for its content. Feature articles and reviews may be included occasionally. The subject matter should be original material created by students and within their world of experience. First-hand experiences, situations occurring to friends and family and observations within the writer’s environment are potential topics for fiction. Quality of all forms of material should be the first consideration.

A mixture of serious and light writing may serve the magazine’s purpose better than concentration on one topic. The standards for evaluating this entry will be graphic design, layout, photography, writing, headlines, consistency of content, artwork and typography.

Awards:

Magazines will earn Spartan awards or certificates based on their scores. Awards will be presented at the 2002 spring conference in April. The judges will fill out evaluation forms, which will be returned to the editor and adviser.

Literary Magazine Contest Entry Blank 1. Glue or staple this entry form to the back of your literary magazine. Do not use paper clips or tape.

2. Include the $12 entry fee if you are using the official postmark deadline. (July 15) OR Include the $24 entry fee if you are using the late postmark deadline. (Aug. 15) 3. Mail in an envelope of its own to: Literary Magazine, MIPA office, 305 Communication Arts Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1212.

Name of literary magazine School, city, ZIP

Date of publication

Editor’s name Adviser name I understand that all material submitted by our school represents students’ work. If non-student work or alteration has affected the printed product, notations have been made to indicate those changes.

Adviser signature

E-mail this summer

May 2001

13

Stet

WE HAVE JUST WHAT YOU NEED

Workshops for Publication Advisers • School of Journalism • Michigan State University • July 16–20 & 23–27, 2001 For more information, call (517) 353-6761 or e-mail pell@msu.edu or visit www.mipa.jrn.msu.edu to download the brochure.

Photoshop for Advisers July 16–20

Beginning Newspaper Photography Advising July 23–27 July 23–27

Yearbook Advising July 23–27

Publication Design July 23–27

Radical Writing July 23–27

•JRN 490/890

•JRN 490/890

•JRN 409/892 3 credits Instructor: Betsy Pollard Rau Learn the craft of newspaper advising from an award-winning adviser. Learn the fundamentals of publication management, layout and design, photographic composition, printing and journalistic writing.

•JRN 409/892 3 credits Instructor: Lynn Strause New yearbook advisers or those with little experience will find this class invaluable. You’ll learn the fundamentals of yearbook management, layout and design, working with your yearbook representative, photographic management and journalistic writing.

•JRN 409/892 3 credits Instructor: Nancy Hall Learn the fundamentals of design that apply to any publication.

Explore the world of design for the first time or fine tune your design skills under the watchful eye of a top-notch designer.

•JRN 409/892

3 credits Instructor: David Stedwell Taking this photography class will give you some leverage over those photographers of yours! In this class, you’ll learn how to use a 35mm camera, compose photographs, develop and print film, manage a dark room and teach photography.

2 credits Instructor: David Stedwell Digital photography is here to stay, and here’s your chance to learn how to make it work in your publications. You’ll learn how to use scanners, digital and conventional cameras and Photoshop.

3 credits Instructor: Bobby Hawthorne Learn to teach your students how to interview, report and write stories that will breathe life into the yearbook and newspaper. The author of the very popular book, The Radical Write, will teach this course.

President’s Column, continued

sad day when you decide to leave MIPA. Let’s hope that’s not for a long time.

• Ruth Peng, former Lake Orion High School yearbook adviser. My predecessor. I was so lucky to have you in the building my first few years. I never took our conversations for granted. Your wisdom is extraordinary.

• Sunshine Weber, Livonia Franklin High School yearbook adviser. My wife. I don’t know what I’d do without your love, support and understanding. I know I can sometimes be difficult—but I don’t mean to be. (Don’t

worry. I’m not planning on suggesting our first-born be named MIPA.) As I ponder it now, I realize it all comes back to MIPA. I wouldn’t be the same without MIPA’s influences. I can’t imagine advisers who aren’t part of a journalism organization. That would be like working on an island—no human contact or resources. Like I tell my students during times like these, “It’s all about the experience. Journalism is about the relationships you build and the growth you make as a person.” None of us is immune to its influences—young or old.

Shaping the future, continued

prospective minority students.

“I gradually see more use of cutouts and photo manipulation,” McCoy said. “A general trend of high school papers when they have this kind of technology is to use it even when they shouldn’t.”

Olman said that the ultimate goal of a student publication is to

14

record the events that occurred each year. An advisor and staff must decide to adopt new trends as they come and go.

“A yearbook is a record for the kids,” Olman said. “The choice is between a trend setter book or a more memorable book for the kids.”

THE MIPA SUMMER JOURNALISM WORKSHOP is looking for a strict but caring teacher (not necessarily an adviser) who would like to join the workshop crew this summer as Assistant Student Director for the workshop. This person would work closely with the current Student Director, Stella Kirby, this summer and then take over next summer. For more information, e-mail Betsy Pollard Rau at rau@mindnet.org.

Stet

Michigan student photographers know how to shoot Patrick McAbee won first place in the Portrait category in the the April Monthly Contest. Patrick is from Goodrich High School. His teacher is Kay Goodall.

Second place On-site honors were given to Michael Parr from Grand Ledge HS. His adviser is Patrick Schroeder.

Tracy Schmidt from Northwest HS in Jackson won first place in the Carry In On-site Contest at the Spring Conference. Her adviser is Ron Woodruff.

Dave Goulet from Waterford窶適ettering won third place in the On-site Contest at the Spring Conference. His adviser is Brian Wilson.

ONE THERE’S ONLY

WORKSHOP Michigan Interscholastic Press Association

Summer Journalism Workshop for High School Students Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan July 29 – August 2, 2001 Visit our Web site http://mipa.jrn.msu.edu/

Stet

MIPA/School of Journalism 305 Communication Arts Building Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1212

16

MIPA Calendar July 15, 2001 Official postmark deadline for 2001 spring delivery Yearbook and Literary Magazine July 16–20, 2001 Photoshop Workshop through the MSU School of Journalism. Brochure on Web site: mipa.jrn.msu.edu July 23–27, 2001 Publication Advisers Workshops through the MSU School of Journalism. Brochure on Web site: mipa.jrn.msu.edu July 29–Aug. 2, 2001 MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop for Students. Brochure on Web site: mipa.jrn.msu.edu Aug. 15, 2001 Late postmark deadline for 2001 spring delivery Yearbook and Literary Magazine September 29, 2001 Fresh Start: A One-Day Journalism Workshop for beginning students and advisers Oct. 11, 2001 MIPA Fall Conference at Lansing Center in Lansing Nov. 15, 2001 Fall delivery Yearbook official postmark deadline for 2001 yearbook Dec. 15, 2001 Fall delivery Yearbook late postmark deadline for 2001 yearbook Jan. 31, 2002 Deadline to join MIPA for publications/ productions to be judged in 2001-2002 Feb. 22, 2002 Newspaper (Spartan and Individual Category) and Web Site/Video Production official postmark deadline for 2000-2001 entries March 2, 2002 MIPA Individual Newspaper Category judging at MSU March 22, 2002 Spartan Newspaper, Web and Video Production late postmark deadline for 20002001 entries