First day at Highland

Cutter's Log - Stardate 8002.02.80
Current Song - Stormy (Classics IV)

Tuesday evening was my first day as a Highland Cougar. It feels weird that I'm not at Sauk anymore, albeit this is a temporary move. My Journalism class is from 5:00 to 6:15 PM. The drive is okay, but there's too much straight line.

I feel that this year's Chronicle staff will be a great one. We return six of nine from last year's staff, and have five newcomers, one of which was EIC at Freeport High, and another is a transfer from Sauk Valley who served as assistant editor-in-chief over there (I'm talking like a coach, aren't I?). Of course, I am that transfer. The paper is very serious about being successful, and has a lot more resources and talent than the Voyager had. Their monthly issues are 18-20 pages, and mostly consist of features. As usual, I remained quiet during the first day, but only to get a feel of the writing staff I will be working with.

Looking back on the Voyager, we tried to mix in hard news with features, but the problem was how fresh the stories were by distribution. That was embarassing. In fact, one day Brian suggested that we do away with the print edition and go strictly on-line. About a year later, with the recent trend of journalism funk, I think that would have been the way to go. We would have been one of the only JUCOs in our division that took that step. It would have been a breakthrough. Now, of course, there is no paper at SVCC.

The Chronicle doesn't have an online edition, and during this semester I would like to suggest that one be made. After all, that IS the trend.

The deadlines were already made. That's a sigh of relief. However, there are specialized deadlines. One is for a story idea, another for the rough draft, another for the final copy, another is for layout, and another for sendoff. That means there's no room for game articles, since the content will NOT be fresh at distribution. This is done over the course of a month. In the real world this can be done no later than three hours.

I am so used to the daily publication. The challenge for me is to lay back and remind myself that these are students who are just beginning. Plus, the stories I'll be writing are going to be of a feature fashion. I guess that's the missing link of my writing quest.

Now you'll know what I may have in store on NISB.

I have been dubbed the unofficial Sports Editor, since there wasn't any sports writers AT ALL in the recent past. That will be decided officially on Thursday. I'm sure that will be a no brainer.

I would like a 4-6 page sports section.
Cougar Capsules - A "quick shots" type feature on Highland Athletics.
Schedules with results for each sport and event. This will be updated at design.
If there is a game article to be done, there will also be agate.
A sports photo gallery.
Recruiting roll call.
Q&A!!!!

Plus whatever the rest of the staff suggests. Also, I might have a writer or two I have to take under my sportswriting wing. One of my former pupils is interning for the Valapraiso, IN newspaper.

Best of luck to this year's staff!!!!!

I bought four new cassettes for my twice-weekly drives to and fro. They were only $0.50 each at Goodwill (the only place I guessed would sell these). I got Eric Clapton Unplugged, Elton John's Greatest Hits, Red Hot Chili Peppers singles Under the Bridge and Give it Away, and the Duran Duran single Ordinary World.

One Conference Call down, three to go! I just sent in the NIC-10 preview to Edgy tonight.