I’m Janieve Schnabel, the opinion editor for the Vanguard. I’m in production today, and it hasn’t gone smoothly.
For those who don’t know, production is what we call the time we spend editing and preparing the layout for the paper before we publish. It’s a relatively simple process as long as everyone works as a team. I’ll get into more detail at a later time.
Today, however, has been a challenge. To be fair, we are still in the throes of the first week of classes, so it’s easy to understand if there are a few complications. This morning was hectic, as everyone was in and out trying to figure out how to balance work and class. Quotes for a story were retracted. There were issues with my computer. It seemed like the start to a terrible day.
I’m happy to report, though, that things have calmed down for us now. As I write this, I am relaxing on a couch in the office watching CNN. There’s a pot of coffee brewing, and I’m contemplating starting a homework assignment. In a few minutes, I’ll get the first page of my section to edit, though, so this might not be the best of ideas. You can never guarantee how long things will take in the newsroom.
The newsroom itself is a comfortable place, despite the occasional hiccup with the heating and cooling systems. There’s an old feel to it, in a way. The desks and furniture are well worn, and there are rows of filing cabinets along the wall. Stepping into this room, it’s easy to get away from the distractions present everywhere else on campus. It’s a place where the staff can escape from the rest of the world and just write.
Even on a day so filled with stress and unanticipated problems, it is still easy to relax here in the Vanguard office. It always feels like you have a net of support. Kevin, the sports editor, took a moment out of his own busy schedule to share with me a passage he thought I would like from a book he was reading. Erick, the A&C editor, let me vent to him about my frustrations with the computers and offered one of his characteristic quips about office life.
Very few of you will ever see the Vanguard in the same way we do. Nevertheless, I hope that this blog helps you develop some understanding of what it is like for us to be a part of it.
Opinion, signing off.