On these late nights I like to take a gander at previous online issues for one specific person… Rusty Shackleford. You, my friend, have made many a lonely night of copying over and transforming text, pictures, and PDF’s to get the paper online EVERY night that much more enjoyable.
From your first comment that made me feel special inside when I got grief from five people for having a picture the size of three pages, you said you “liked them big ole’ pictures.” Ahh the humor and insanity that come from working at night till 12-2 in the morning is made SOO much more enjoyable with your crazy comments that amuse me at random intervals during the semester. To tell you the truth, I don’t think I could have made it through this semester without you. So I raise my glass to you Mr. Shackleford and hope to hear from you soon.
Johnathon T. Hall
Online Editor
Mar 28, 2007
End of an era
As the last month of the semester approaches, it’s hard for me to believe how quickly it has been going by. As it gets closer to the end of the year and graduation, people start asking me what my future plans are, but to me it still feels like I just started my job as photo editor yesterday.
Even though it feels like it has going by so quickly, when I look back on all the work my photographers and I have done this year, it seems like we’ve been doing this forever. It started out tough -- we didn’t have many photographers and it was sometimes difficult to get all the events covered.
Now the photography department is running smoothly. The photographers on staff have been stepping up and taking on assignments whenever they can, making our job as editors a lot more manageable. I can see all the improvements in everyone on the staff’s work including my own, and I am proud to be part of it.
-- Kelly Bobrow
Photo Editor
Kelly, on behalf of the Photo Department, I and the staff wish you well in all your endeavours. Also, you better not forget us when you hit the big time and we are still struggling in school with classes and never-ending photo assignments. I also want to thank everyone for their hard work this semester and hope that they will come back enjoy the next school year at the wonderful Daily Gamecock. Until next time guys and gals...
-- Brandon Davis
Asst. Photo Editor
Even though it feels like it has going by so quickly, when I look back on all the work my photographers and I have done this year, it seems like we’ve been doing this forever. It started out tough -- we didn’t have many photographers and it was sometimes difficult to get all the events covered.
Now the photography department is running smoothly. The photographers on staff have been stepping up and taking on assignments whenever they can, making our job as editors a lot more manageable. I can see all the improvements in everyone on the staff’s work including my own, and I am proud to be part of it.
-- Kelly Bobrow
Photo Editor
Kelly, on behalf of the Photo Department, I and the staff wish you well in all your endeavours. Also, you better not forget us when you hit the big time and we are still struggling in school with classes and never-ending photo assignments. I also want to thank everyone for their hard work this semester and hope that they will come back enjoy the next school year at the wonderful Daily Gamecock. Until next time guys and gals...
-- Brandon Davis
Asst. Photo Editor
Mar 27, 2007
Flipping the pages
It’s hard to believe I’ve only got a little more than a month left here at The Daily Gamecock.
I’ve been associated with the paper in one way or another since I came to USC in 2004. I started out as a Viewpoints columnist, wrote for Sports, contributed to The Mix and served as managing editor during the paper’s first semester as a daily. Now, I’m in the middle of my second stint as copy desk chief.
But I didn’t plan to come back to the paper this semester. I was so burned out from my hellacious fall schedule (40 hours each week at the Carolina Reporter, 20 hours interning on the copy desk at The State, and 15-20 hours as managing editor here at The Daily Gamecock). I still don’t know how I survived working for three newspapers. After it was over, all I wanted was a quiet, laidback semester before graduating in the May.
Someone asked me if I wanted to apply to be editor in chief in the spring. No way, I said. I just want to sleep. Would I consider coming back as managing editor or copy desk chief? Nope. I don’t think so.
But then – after the semester was over – I started to miss it. I had too much free time and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was used to an overdose of journalism, and I couldn’t wait to get back to third floor of the Russell House to get my fix.
I just enjoy working at this paper. It’s fun to see the other staff members – everyone from copy editors to section editors – getting better and improving their craft. I love being a part of that process.
I’m really proud to work here, and I’m sure I’ll shed a few tears when it’s finally time to say goodbye.
But not yet -- we’ve still got a few more papers to put out, and I plan to enjoy each and every one of them.
-- Copy Desk
Aaron Kidd
I’ve been associated with the paper in one way or another since I came to USC in 2004. I started out as a Viewpoints columnist, wrote for Sports, contributed to The Mix and served as managing editor during the paper’s first semester as a daily. Now, I’m in the middle of my second stint as copy desk chief.
But I didn’t plan to come back to the paper this semester. I was so burned out from my hellacious fall schedule (40 hours each week at the Carolina Reporter, 20 hours interning on the copy desk at The State, and 15-20 hours as managing editor here at The Daily Gamecock). I still don’t know how I survived working for three newspapers. After it was over, all I wanted was a quiet, laidback semester before graduating in the May.
Someone asked me if I wanted to apply to be editor in chief in the spring. No way, I said. I just want to sleep. Would I consider coming back as managing editor or copy desk chief? Nope. I don’t think so.
But then – after the semester was over – I started to miss it. I had too much free time and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was used to an overdose of journalism, and I couldn’t wait to get back to third floor of the Russell House to get my fix.
I just enjoy working at this paper. It’s fun to see the other staff members – everyone from copy editors to section editors – getting better and improving their craft. I love being a part of that process.
I’m really proud to work here, and I’m sure I’ll shed a few tears when it’s finally time to say goodbye.
But not yet -- we’ve still got a few more papers to put out, and I plan to enjoy each and every one of them.
-- Copy Desk
Aaron Kidd
Mar 26, 2007
I need a vacation.
Well, it’s that point in the semester where I’ve decided I need a vacay. Bad. A columnist not turning columns in has to be a No. 1 on my top ten list of “Things I Hate About Being the Viewpoints Editor.” Other things make the list, but they’re not as appropriate to put on the blog. Har har, since when has The Daily Gamecock had issues with appropriateness? Just kidding guys, just kidding.
I’m tired of lame letters to the editor that complain about the liberalness of our paper. Um, excuse me? Perhaps because we have a slightly more open-minded vision than the rest of the student body … but we’re not all liberals up here. Trust me. Besides, have you READ Viewpoints? Sometimes, it almost pains me to think of the letters to the editor I’ll receive after one of my conservative columnists goes off on ANOTHER Iraq/political rant.
Only, speaking as a slightly liberal person, I adore those very same columnists. The reason? They’re making people think with their comments. They’re USING their voices to try to CHANGE something. Unlike the people writing grammatically incorrect letters to the editor that don’t really have opinions other than “This person sucks. Their opinion is wrong.” Argh.
Other than that … got to love being an editor! Can’t you just tell?
Viewpoints, out.
-- Viewpoints
Alexis Arnone, Viewpoints editor
“If I had to choose between her or the sun, I’d be one nocturnal son of a gun.”
I’m tired of lame letters to the editor that complain about the liberalness of our paper. Um, excuse me? Perhaps because we have a slightly more open-minded vision than the rest of the student body … but we’re not all liberals up here. Trust me. Besides, have you READ Viewpoints? Sometimes, it almost pains me to think of the letters to the editor I’ll receive after one of my conservative columnists goes off on ANOTHER Iraq/political rant.
Only, speaking as a slightly liberal person, I adore those very same columnists. The reason? They’re making people think with their comments. They’re USING their voices to try to CHANGE something. Unlike the people writing grammatically incorrect letters to the editor that don’t really have opinions other than “This person sucks. Their opinion is wrong.” Argh.
Other than that … got to love being an editor! Can’t you just tell?
Viewpoints, out.
-- Viewpoints
Alexis Arnone, Viewpoints editor
“If I had to choose between her or the sun, I’d be one nocturnal son of a gun.”
Mar 25, 2007
Why, God, Why?
Our newsroom has been infected with pollen. Allergies. Headaches. Sniffles. Runny noses.
It leaves us asking, “Please, God, why do we need plants to make oxygen?” We come into work, and it seems like people have some kind of virus that is making them go crazy, as if they are going to die sometime soon. And now it’s starting to affect our work. People run out of rooms with tears in their eyes, runny noses and awful noises emitting from their mouths. But that doesn’t stop news.
We’re in the process of planning (very carefully) our April Fools Issue. (That’s right look out for it). Although, we’re having a lot of fun trying to make fun of ourselves as best we can, we’re trying not to cross too many lines. We’ve discovered that like our allergies, our readers are very sensitive. Letters flow in from people that misunderstood something we printed. It seems ironic that in a field based on communicating, so many miscommunications take place.
All that we ask, is that before you jump to a conclusion about us, compare us to spring allergies. Consider that we are necessary to this university and that sometimes we might irritate you, but maybe we didn’t mean to.
Liz White
editor in chief
with help from Johnathon Hall, the online guy
It leaves us asking, “Please, God, why do we need plants to make oxygen?” We come into work, and it seems like people have some kind of virus that is making them go crazy, as if they are going to die sometime soon. And now it’s starting to affect our work. People run out of rooms with tears in their eyes, runny noses and awful noises emitting from their mouths. But that doesn’t stop news.
We’re in the process of planning (very carefully) our April Fools Issue. (That’s right look out for it). Although, we’re having a lot of fun trying to make fun of ourselves as best we can, we’re trying not to cross too many lines. We’ve discovered that like our allergies, our readers are very sensitive. Letters flow in from people that misunderstood something we printed. It seems ironic that in a field based on communicating, so many miscommunications take place.
All that we ask, is that before you jump to a conclusion about us, compare us to spring allergies. Consider that we are necessary to this university and that sometimes we might irritate you, but maybe we didn’t mean to.
Liz White
editor in chief
with help from Johnathon Hall, the online guy
Mar 22, 2007
The threes of late night
There are certain strange things that happen to people when they stay up into the wee hours of the morning every day. First of all, you get tired during the daytime hours when you’re supposed to be awake. This can interfere with classes and can be embarrassing. I won’t discuss how I know this. Secondly, you drink a lot of caffeine. My personal favorites: triple shot espressos from Starbucks, a HOT perfect man from Cool Beans! and Red Bull (sugar free). Thirdly, and most importantly, you start to go kind of crazy, notice simple and strange things and laugh at anything -- even jokes that aren’t jokes. Or funny.
During the day, you have an 80 percent chance of catching a staffer sleeping on one of our two sofas and possibly Riley sleeping on the floor. Amanda, the girl at Starbucks, knows me and probably other staffers by name. We go down in groups to get our caffeine dosage around 11 p.m. So, while we have all three signs that we stay up too late in the newsroom, it’s the third that sometimes affects us in very strange ways.
I feel the need to share the most recent “crazy” things with you because they aren’t quite important or interesting enough to make a story, but I really want to tell more people than the guys at SGTV.
So strange thing No. 1: there’s a stone -- a very hot stone -- on the Russell House Patio while walking between the RH and the library. One cold night, a couple of staffers left the paper late to find some freezing kids lying across the walkway. When asked what they were doing, they replied that they were cold and wanted to get warm on the hot rock. Night after night now, on rainy, freezing and warm nights me and my late-night staffers will stop to check the rock. It’s always hot. On rainy days, its dry while the rest of the stones are wet.
Strange thing No.2: If you clap your hand over the center stone in the circle by the RH patio, it will sound sort of like an eagle. I was shown this by John Cooper, SGTV’s station manager, another late night a couple of months later. I’m not sure how someone discovered that clapping your hands over that stones makes a funny sound, why anyone would care or how it happens at all, but like I said, strange things happen late at night.
Even stranger, we can make a paper on nights like these. Sometimes we giggle uncontrollably over headlines that sound kind of dirty and sometimes we guzzle cups of coffee for enough energy to laugh. But that’s the nature of our wonderful jobs. Late nights with no sleep, coffee and very strange experiences.
-- Liz White
Editor in chief
During the day, you have an 80 percent chance of catching a staffer sleeping on one of our two sofas and possibly Riley sleeping on the floor. Amanda, the girl at Starbucks, knows me and probably other staffers by name. We go down in groups to get our caffeine dosage around 11 p.m. So, while we have all three signs that we stay up too late in the newsroom, it’s the third that sometimes affects us in very strange ways.
I feel the need to share the most recent “crazy” things with you because they aren’t quite important or interesting enough to make a story, but I really want to tell more people than the guys at SGTV.
So strange thing No. 1: there’s a stone -- a very hot stone -- on the Russell House Patio while walking between the RH and the library. One cold night, a couple of staffers left the paper late to find some freezing kids lying across the walkway. When asked what they were doing, they replied that they were cold and wanted to get warm on the hot rock. Night after night now, on rainy, freezing and warm nights me and my late-night staffers will stop to check the rock. It’s always hot. On rainy days, its dry while the rest of the stones are wet.
Strange thing No.2: If you clap your hand over the center stone in the circle by the RH patio, it will sound sort of like an eagle. I was shown this by John Cooper, SGTV’s station manager, another late night a couple of months later. I’m not sure how someone discovered that clapping your hands over that stones makes a funny sound, why anyone would care or how it happens at all, but like I said, strange things happen late at night.
Even stranger, we can make a paper on nights like these. Sometimes we giggle uncontrollably over headlines that sound kind of dirty and sometimes we guzzle cups of coffee for enough energy to laugh. But that’s the nature of our wonderful jobs. Late nights with no sleep, coffee and very strange experiences.
-- Liz White
Editor in chief
Mar 21, 2007
A hard, 12-hour stretch
When USC baseball stars Lonnie Chisenhall and Nick Fuller became guests of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, I wasn’t really surprised.
It was just a matter of time before the baseball team had a run in with the law. Ray Tanner, Steve Spurrier and Dave Odom all seem to have eyes for upstanding players. But in less than six months all three have seen some of their prized recruits in legal hot water.
What truly was devastating, even to the most experienced journalist, was Tanner’s reaction to his players shortcomings.
Normally a calm, composed customer, Tanner found himself holding back tears, speechless and even in need of a moment to gather his thoughts as he addressed the media on Tuesday.
I’ve been working for newspapers since I was 15. I’ve tried to maintain a professional attitude about every situation relating to my job.
But as Ray Tanner cried for the lost causes that were Chisenhall and Fuller, I just wanted to hug the guy.
Tanner didn’t deserve this. He has been nothing but an ambassador for the university and has been a beacon of success in an athletics department that has known very little.
When I came back from spring break, I was a refreshed journalist ready to jump back into school and work. Though I didn’t see this kind of thing coming from these guys, it really can take the wind out of your sails to see something like this happen.
Coach, keep your head up. Get back to winning that national title USC fans are dreaming about. And know no matter how professional I act, if you ever need that hug, I’m here.
--Alex Riley
Sports Editor and official softy of The Daily Gamecock
It was just a matter of time before the baseball team had a run in with the law. Ray Tanner, Steve Spurrier and Dave Odom all seem to have eyes for upstanding players. But in less than six months all three have seen some of their prized recruits in legal hot water.
What truly was devastating, even to the most experienced journalist, was Tanner’s reaction to his players shortcomings.
Normally a calm, composed customer, Tanner found himself holding back tears, speechless and even in need of a moment to gather his thoughts as he addressed the media on Tuesday.
I’ve been working for newspapers since I was 15. I’ve tried to maintain a professional attitude about every situation relating to my job.
But as Ray Tanner cried for the lost causes that were Chisenhall and Fuller, I just wanted to hug the guy.
Tanner didn’t deserve this. He has been nothing but an ambassador for the university and has been a beacon of success in an athletics department that has known very little.
When I came back from spring break, I was a refreshed journalist ready to jump back into school and work. Though I didn’t see this kind of thing coming from these guys, it really can take the wind out of your sails to see something like this happen.
Coach, keep your head up. Get back to winning that national title USC fans are dreaming about. And know no matter how professional I act, if you ever need that hug, I’m here.
--Alex Riley
Sports Editor and official softy of The Daily Gamecock
Mar 20, 2007
Fashion extravaganza
Stefano Gabbana – the taller, darker, more handsome half of the mega-superstar fashion duo Dolce & Gabbana – said once that fashion is “all a game, with new rules every season.” That’s why when I give fashion advice I normally advocate the purchase of more classic staples instead of trendy new pieces that will go out of fashion within four month’s time.
But that’s not the case this Wednesday with The Daily Gamecock’s first ever fashion extravaganza: “The Ides of March.” We worked hard to tell the story of the life and death of Julius Caesar with gorgeous girls and pretty dresses, while at the same time creating a feasible fashion preview for the Carolina Cup. The concept is a little high fashion (and more than a little complicated), but we figured that since this is the first time we’ve ever done something like this, we should probably go big or go home.
This special section is the result of weeks of preparation, last minute bare knuckle polishing, several thousands of dollars worth of advertising sold, and the efforts of six beautiful women who nearly froze during the shoot (because of weather not nerves). But we made it happen.
All of that work shouldn’t go to waste, so please don’t throw away the tab as soon as you pick up the paper in the morning. At least look at the cover. The cover is amazing.
So I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks, to all the people who made this dream of mine a reality, and to all the people who take the time to look at all the pretty pictures.
-- Justin Fenner
The Mix editor and Dr. Style
But that’s not the case this Wednesday with The Daily Gamecock’s first ever fashion extravaganza: “The Ides of March.” We worked hard to tell the story of the life and death of Julius Caesar with gorgeous girls and pretty dresses, while at the same time creating a feasible fashion preview for the Carolina Cup. The concept is a little high fashion (and more than a little complicated), but we figured that since this is the first time we’ve ever done something like this, we should probably go big or go home.
This special section is the result of weeks of preparation, last minute bare knuckle polishing, several thousands of dollars worth of advertising sold, and the efforts of six beautiful women who nearly froze during the shoot (because of weather not nerves). But we made it happen.
All of that work shouldn’t go to waste, so please don’t throw away the tab as soon as you pick up the paper in the morning. At least look at the cover. The cover is amazing.
So I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks, to all the people who made this dream of mine a reality, and to all the people who take the time to look at all the pretty pictures.
-- Justin Fenner
The Mix editor and Dr. Style
The former chief speaks
Another week and another set of papers, all with varying degrees of taste, style, importance and relevance. If ever a paper could divide opinions, it is The Daily Gamecock – all because it does the whole media thing.
A small number of students are reporting on what’s going on, and everyone thinks they are the top story, or alternately not the top story. You take your pick.
But that’s why the job is vital and the newspaper ticks along – normal students work hard every day to report on sports, the city, politics or student organizations. Events are covered and are stories told with passion, exhaustion and effort.
Working at the paper is awesome, even if everyone once in a while complains about it.
Being an alum of The Daily Gamecock, I miss the nights in the newsroom following whatever game is on, trying to figure out the point of columns or arguing about fashion (not really). Students here are hardworking and smart, good friends and comrades in a never-ending fight against the oxford comma. From an hour editing to two hours getting coffee to survive the later evening, each group of workers complaining about everyone else and finally getting the paper sent, the sense of accomplishment is immense.
You never realize how much you relied upon that comradeship and effort until it is no longer relevant.
People complain about The Daily Gamecock, yet it is read by tens of thousands of people around the world. It is just part of the fabric of the university, and USC would be unthinkable without it. Students, faculty and parents would have little to complain about if they didn’t know the things that the hardworking kids at the paper find out about.
Long live The Daily Gamecock, and may it attract the same amount of divided opinion forevermore.
-- Aaron Brazier
Former editor in chief (Summer 2006) and viewpoints editor
A small number of students are reporting on what’s going on, and everyone thinks they are the top story, or alternately not the top story. You take your pick.
But that’s why the job is vital and the newspaper ticks along – normal students work hard every day to report on sports, the city, politics or student organizations. Events are covered and are stories told with passion, exhaustion and effort.
Working at the paper is awesome, even if everyone once in a while complains about it.
Being an alum of The Daily Gamecock, I miss the nights in the newsroom following whatever game is on, trying to figure out the point of columns or arguing about fashion (not really). Students here are hardworking and smart, good friends and comrades in a never-ending fight against the oxford comma. From an hour editing to two hours getting coffee to survive the later evening, each group of workers complaining about everyone else and finally getting the paper sent, the sense of accomplishment is immense.
You never realize how much you relied upon that comradeship and effort until it is no longer relevant.
People complain about The Daily Gamecock, yet it is read by tens of thousands of people around the world. It is just part of the fabric of the university, and USC would be unthinkable without it. Students, faculty and parents would have little to complain about if they didn’t know the things that the hardworking kids at the paper find out about.
Long live The Daily Gamecock, and may it attract the same amount of divided opinion forevermore.
-- Aaron Brazier
Former editor in chief (Summer 2006) and viewpoints editor
Mar 8, 2007
What a relief
Whew. Big Sigh. Breathe in. Breathe Out.
It is finally spring break and time to relax -- a full week without newspapers. Whew. After working pretty much every night this week, writing four editorials -- as opposed to the usual three -- and studying for my many exams and quizzes, I can join in the celebrations with everyone else.
As much as we love making newspapers for everyone, we can’t wait to get out of here. Along with putting up with classes where professors seem to pile on ALL the work into one week, we’re also up here until 1 a.m. every night.
Take last night for example: I left here around 1:30 a.m. and went home to cram for my Economics exam. (I’m blonde and anything with numbers goes right over my head, so this was not fun for me). About 4 a.m. my weariness set it. I took a “nap” until 7 a.m. and got up to study some more. I’ve been running around all day, between classes and a student leader lunch where I represented The Daily Gamecock, then back to class. I’ve had one hour all day to do nothing. That’s when I checked my e-mail, phone messages and got ready for tonight’s paper.
Whew. Just thinking about it makes me tired. So now we’re a good two hours into production with only a few more left, and I can’t wait for spring break to start.
Then next Sunday, when most people are returning to campus or getting over the St. Paddy’s hangover, we’ll be back for more hectic, busy, stressful nights at The Daily Gamecock. No matter what happens in Key West, you will see a new issue on the stands on March 19.
Until then, keep safe, we don’t want to print any terrible news about any of our students next week.
-- Liz White
Editor in chief
It is finally spring break and time to relax -- a full week without newspapers. Whew. After working pretty much every night this week, writing four editorials -- as opposed to the usual three -- and studying for my many exams and quizzes, I can join in the celebrations with everyone else.
As much as we love making newspapers for everyone, we can’t wait to get out of here. Along with putting up with classes where professors seem to pile on ALL the work into one week, we’re also up here until 1 a.m. every night.
Take last night for example: I left here around 1:30 a.m. and went home to cram for my Economics exam. (I’m blonde and anything with numbers goes right over my head, so this was not fun for me). About 4 a.m. my weariness set it. I took a “nap” until 7 a.m. and got up to study some more. I’ve been running around all day, between classes and a student leader lunch where I represented The Daily Gamecock, then back to class. I’ve had one hour all day to do nothing. That’s when I checked my e-mail, phone messages and got ready for tonight’s paper.
Whew. Just thinking about it makes me tired. So now we’re a good two hours into production with only a few more left, and I can’t wait for spring break to start.
Then next Sunday, when most people are returning to campus or getting over the St. Paddy’s hangover, we’ll be back for more hectic, busy, stressful nights at The Daily Gamecock. No matter what happens in Key West, you will see a new issue on the stands on March 19.
Until then, keep safe, we don’t want to print any terrible news about any of our students next week.
-- Liz White
Editor in chief
Mar 7, 2007
Picture This
Between covering basketball games, political candidates, campus events, concerts and a fashion shoot, it has been a busy couple of weeks for us photographers. People around campus probably wouldn’t recognize us if we were seen without our cameras by our sides.
We just photographed the paper’s first fashion shoot this weekend for The Mix, and it was really exciting to see the whole thing come together. It involved a lot of hard work and everyone involved was tired by the time it was over, but it was worth it once we looked back and got to see the positive results at the end of the day.
Sometimes it gets stressful when it seems like every section needs an event covered at the same time, but we’ve been having a lot of fun. Our new photographers have been working really hard, especially these past few weeks, and we couldn’t do it without them. They put up with getting calls at the last minute and going to events that don’t run in the paper.
I’m proud of everyone’s work and I think our pictures have seen a lot of improvement lately. I can’t wait for the rest of the semester!
--Kelly Bobrow
Photo Editor
We just photographed the paper’s first fashion shoot this weekend for The Mix, and it was really exciting to see the whole thing come together. It involved a lot of hard work and everyone involved was tired by the time it was over, but it was worth it once we looked back and got to see the positive results at the end of the day.
Sometimes it gets stressful when it seems like every section needs an event covered at the same time, but we’ve been having a lot of fun. Our new photographers have been working really hard, especially these past few weeks, and we couldn’t do it without them. They put up with getting calls at the last minute and going to events that don’t run in the paper.
I’m proud of everyone’s work and I think our pictures have seen a lot of improvement lately. I can’t wait for the rest of the semester!
--Kelly Bobrow
Photo Editor
Ready to break
Hello out there to all you avid viewers of The Daily Gamecock blog! This is Viewpoints for your reading pleasure today. Let's see ... things have finally begun rolling smoothly! Just kidding, they've actually been pretty smooth all year. I'm impressed. I haven't heard too many complaints from staffers, but then again, I'm only up there three days a week.
Viewpoints has been good to me, except for the occasional staffer who doesn't quite know what an argument is, or how to approach it. BUT, we've all been there. I'm there almost every Monday afternoon when I'm trying to write my column off the cuff before 5 p.m. (Deadlines are for wusses.) SHAMELESS PLUG: write for Viewpoints. Now.
I can say that for all the "blood, sweat and tears" that we've been putting into this newspaper...I'm ready for some spring break! Of course, I'll be working the entire time and fake baking my way through, but three less nights at the Russell House and zero days/nights down in the Coliseum (a.k.a. the J-school, the dungeon, Satan's hangout, etc.) for a little time in the cancer box is fine with me!
As a senior, it gives me high hopes that my beautimous section will be taken care of next semester. Also as a senior, I can say this, vehemently: 65 DAYS UNTIL I HAVE MY DEGREE, SUCKAS!
What? It's been five years in the making.
Tune in again in two weeks for another dose of your Daily Gamecock Viewpoints section. (Man, for the Op-Ed page you'd think this would have been a little more opinionated.)
-- Viewpoints, out.
(Alexis Arnone, Viewpoints Editor. "Where's my baby y'all?")
Viewpoints has been good to me, except for the occasional staffer who doesn't quite know what an argument is, or how to approach it. BUT, we've all been there. I'm there almost every Monday afternoon when I'm trying to write my column off the cuff before 5 p.m. (Deadlines are for wusses.) SHAMELESS PLUG: write for Viewpoints. Now.
I can say that for all the "blood, sweat and tears" that we've been putting into this newspaper...I'm ready for some spring break! Of course, I'll be working the entire time and fake baking my way through, but three less nights at the Russell House and zero days/nights down in the Coliseum (a.k.a. the J-school, the dungeon, Satan's hangout, etc.) for a little time in the cancer box is fine with me!
As a senior, it gives me high hopes that my beautimous section will be taken care of next semester. Also as a senior, I can say this, vehemently: 65 DAYS UNTIL I HAVE MY DEGREE, SUCKAS!
What? It's been five years in the making.
Tune in again in two weeks for another dose of your Daily Gamecock Viewpoints section. (Man, for the Op-Ed page you'd think this would have been a little more opinionated.)
-- Viewpoints, out.
(Alexis Arnone, Viewpoints Editor. "Where's my baby y'all?")
Mar 6, 2007
Not so blind ambition
Right, like I’m going to tell you “what it’s like” working for The Daily Gamecock.
The beauty of this newspaper is that while everybody contributes to it, I wouldn’t say anybody works FOR it -- we work TOWARD it.
There are certain style rules that are to be followed when writing headlines, but at no point does somebody see a thought in progress and stifle it because of some corporate master. There’s plenty of room to breathe at The Daily Gamecock (pre-deadline), and headlines are ideally the crowns of the copy editors’ efforts. Oh sure, with enough attention to detail anybody can tighten a story’s grammar and shepherd all of the spellings inside the AP Corral. But topping all that off with a five-word (give or take) statement that’s both informative and witty brings a certain sense of achievement …
… that has yet to be delivered. I’ll get back to you when that perfect headline gets nailed.
The Viewpoints section allows any opinion on its page, so long as it’s long enough and qualifies as an opinion. Several of the copy editors here edited enough stories in the first semester to feel compelled to write material later on, myself included. Combined with copy editing, some staffers can follow a story from conception to editing to trimming it on the page. Then a year goes by and the copy editor winds up on the editorial staff, backed up by a new crop of fresh faces.
The process is much like a relay race, with the staff passing its rolled-up newspaper of a baton at different intervals, with different runners tripping or sprinting at various intervals. What we share in common is a desire to make a solid newspaper worth reading that transcends whatever differences in method between us. The record time in this performance race isn’t set in stone until every person on campus is curious for the next issue.
And should we ever reach that perfect performance, we’ll charge a dime per copy and become millionaires overnight.
-- Copy desk
Thomas Maluck
Copy editor/columnist/critic
The beauty of this newspaper is that while everybody contributes to it, I wouldn’t say anybody works FOR it -- we work TOWARD it.
There are certain style rules that are to be followed when writing headlines, but at no point does somebody see a thought in progress and stifle it because of some corporate master. There’s plenty of room to breathe at The Daily Gamecock (pre-deadline), and headlines are ideally the crowns of the copy editors’ efforts. Oh sure, with enough attention to detail anybody can tighten a story’s grammar and shepherd all of the spellings inside the AP Corral. But topping all that off with a five-word (give or take) statement that’s both informative and witty brings a certain sense of achievement …
… that has yet to be delivered. I’ll get back to you when that perfect headline gets nailed.
The Viewpoints section allows any opinion on its page, so long as it’s long enough and qualifies as an opinion. Several of the copy editors here edited enough stories in the first semester to feel compelled to write material later on, myself included. Combined with copy editing, some staffers can follow a story from conception to editing to trimming it on the page. Then a year goes by and the copy editor winds up on the editorial staff, backed up by a new crop of fresh faces.
The process is much like a relay race, with the staff passing its rolled-up newspaper of a baton at different intervals, with different runners tripping or sprinting at various intervals. What we share in common is a desire to make a solid newspaper worth reading that transcends whatever differences in method between us. The record time in this performance race isn’t set in stone until every person on campus is curious for the next issue.
And should we ever reach that perfect performance, we’ll charge a dime per copy and become millionaires overnight.
-- Copy desk
Thomas Maluck
Copy editor/columnist/critic
Mar 4, 2007
New Kids on the Block
The Metro is the newest section of The Daily Gamecock.
As the “newbies,” we’re still trying to figure out where we fit in the paper.
You’d think it would be easy to find news in South Carolina’s capital, but it’s not. Much of what happens in the city doesn’t affect students at all, except that it’s happening in the city they happen to live in, so they don’t care about it, and we try not to run stuff students don’t care about.
So it’s hard to come up with stories. I’m sure it’ll get easier as we get more established and figure out what we want to run, but right now it’s a pain.
Here’s a question we get a lot: “How do you find content to print every day?” In response, some staff members might say: “We don’t” and that we more or less don’t have real content most of the time. But I don’t think that’s true. We try not to make it true, anyway.
How we get content most of the time is through people -- people telling us stuff they want to see. We rely so much on people giving us tips and calling us and telling us what’s going on. That’s why it’s hard to start a new section, because people don’t call you when you’re the new kids on the block, and they have no idea what you’re about.
So this is more or less the semester where we’ll decide what we want to do and how we want to do it. This is both really exciting and really nerve-wracking because the precedent we set will be there for future Metro sections.
I just hope we get it right.
-- Metro
Gina Vasselli
Asst. Metro Editor
As the “newbies,” we’re still trying to figure out where we fit in the paper.
You’d think it would be easy to find news in South Carolina’s capital, but it’s not. Much of what happens in the city doesn’t affect students at all, except that it’s happening in the city they happen to live in, so they don’t care about it, and we try not to run stuff students don’t care about.
So it’s hard to come up with stories. I’m sure it’ll get easier as we get more established and figure out what we want to run, but right now it’s a pain.
Here’s a question we get a lot: “How do you find content to print every day?” In response, some staff members might say: “We don’t” and that we more or less don’t have real content most of the time. But I don’t think that’s true. We try not to make it true, anyway.
How we get content most of the time is through people -- people telling us stuff they want to see. We rely so much on people giving us tips and calling us and telling us what’s going on. That’s why it’s hard to start a new section, because people don’t call you when you’re the new kids on the block, and they have no idea what you’re about.
So this is more or less the semester where we’ll decide what we want to do and how we want to do it. This is both really exciting and really nerve-wracking because the precedent we set will be there for future Metro sections.
I just hope we get it right.
-- Metro
Gina Vasselli
Asst. Metro Editor
Mar 1, 2007
Outsider's POV
Greetings to all of you out there in blog-land. This is the official “unofficial Daily Gamecock staffer.” I am writing to inform the public from an outside perspective of how awesome The Daily Gamecock really is. First, I’d like you all to know that just because my roommate may be the editor, I don’t have any bias. I choose, on a fairly regular basis, to head up to the Gamecock newsroom at odd hours of the night, sometimes laden with cookies or cupcakes, to visit the wonderful editors, designers and writers.
The staff is awesome, and has always included me as their “extra” or “groupie.” They are always up there, writing articles, placing pictures and even catching the latest episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” or “24.” They come in each afternoon and stay late in the night. I usually hear my roomie coming in between 12 and 2 a.m. The dedication of these staffers is amazing. They give up their afternoons and evenings every Sunday through Thursday. That means no 25-cent wing night at D’s, afternoon shopping trip or even an after-class nap to get a boost for a late night studying.
However, the staffers are always having a great time each time I visit. They are chatting while getting their work done. They have no problem making me feel welcome, except when I forget that they have work to get done! So if you want to visit, I don’t suggest heading up their right before the 12 a.m. deadline, when the editors and copy editors are getting the last articles completed and sections sent in. That’s when their ugly sides may start to show. But overall, I want everyone to know that I enjoy heading up to the newsroom. I love being able to see how the paper is created, and I never knew how much work really goes into those sheets of paper I read every day before class. So the next time you pick up your issue of The Daily Gamecock, I recommend taking the time to see who wrote your article, or appreciate the photos taken, because they all come from the hard work of students just like you, who work every night after a full day of classes. Lastly, I want to say that all the staffers rock my socks! Great job, and I know what a hard job you have! Thanks!
-- Official Groupie
Kelly Enright
The staff is awesome, and has always included me as their “extra” or “groupie.” They are always up there, writing articles, placing pictures and even catching the latest episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” or “24.” They come in each afternoon and stay late in the night. I usually hear my roomie coming in between 12 and 2 a.m. The dedication of these staffers is amazing. They give up their afternoons and evenings every Sunday through Thursday. That means no 25-cent wing night at D’s, afternoon shopping trip or even an after-class nap to get a boost for a late night studying.
However, the staffers are always having a great time each time I visit. They are chatting while getting their work done. They have no problem making me feel welcome, except when I forget that they have work to get done! So if you want to visit, I don’t suggest heading up their right before the 12 a.m. deadline, when the editors and copy editors are getting the last articles completed and sections sent in. That’s when their ugly sides may start to show. But overall, I want everyone to know that I enjoy heading up to the newsroom. I love being able to see how the paper is created, and I never knew how much work really goes into those sheets of paper I read every day before class. So the next time you pick up your issue of The Daily Gamecock, I recommend taking the time to see who wrote your article, or appreciate the photos taken, because they all come from the hard work of students just like you, who work every night after a full day of classes. Lastly, I want to say that all the staffers rock my socks! Great job, and I know what a hard job you have! Thanks!
-- Official Groupie
Kelly Enright
For promotional use only
So here's the thing -- I know my section depends on the hours and hours many Ad/PR firms log trying to produce promotional materials for their bands and television shows and whatnot, but we really do tire of getting those things up here.
Companies -- and campus organizations -- treat my section like it's free advertising, like all they have to do is send me a CD or a poorly-written press release to get some free coverage of their events.
But I don't work like that -- no newspaper does.
We here at The Mix, decide what to cover based on what we think students would like to hear about most.
Which is exactly why we've added the official positions of Movie Reviewer (the unsinkable Tyler Mobley) and Food Reviewer (the unstoppable Rebecca Wilson).
It's a decision that we make many times each week for the benefit of Joe Student, and we're willing to take the criticism for making what some may view as the wrong decisions.
What we're not willing to take are direct criticisms of the stories and reviews we work so hard to produce -- I challenge any civilian to get on the phone with their favorite band or actor and not freak out to the point of not being able to speak, then write a flawless article about that conversation.
And, again, we don't like the promo materials.
The staff is tired of the bad CDs we often get, and instead of getting passes to see movies before they come out, we're sent what are called digital press kits.
They're DVDs that include all of the trailers and a few press photos, nothing the average person with an Internet connection and some time couldn't find online in about five minutes.
Granted, we need these things to do our jobs, but they don't get us any more excited about doing our jobs than we already were.
We aren't asking for our palms to be greased, but we would like to have something spark our interests every once in a while.
-- The Mix
Justin Fenner
Mix editor
Companies -- and campus organizations -- treat my section like it's free advertising, like all they have to do is send me a CD or a poorly-written press release to get some free coverage of their events.
But I don't work like that -- no newspaper does.
We here at The Mix, decide what to cover based on what we think students would like to hear about most.
Which is exactly why we've added the official positions of Movie Reviewer (the unsinkable Tyler Mobley) and Food Reviewer (the unstoppable Rebecca Wilson).
It's a decision that we make many times each week for the benefit of Joe Student, and we're willing to take the criticism for making what some may view as the wrong decisions.
What we're not willing to take are direct criticisms of the stories and reviews we work so hard to produce -- I challenge any civilian to get on the phone with their favorite band or actor and not freak out to the point of not being able to speak, then write a flawless article about that conversation.
And, again, we don't like the promo materials.
The staff is tired of the bad CDs we often get, and instead of getting passes to see movies before they come out, we're sent what are called digital press kits.
They're DVDs that include all of the trailers and a few press photos, nothing the average person with an Internet connection and some time couldn't find online in about five minutes.
Granted, we need these things to do our jobs, but they don't get us any more excited about doing our jobs than we already were.
We aren't asking for our palms to be greased, but we would like to have something spark our interests every once in a while.
-- The Mix
Justin Fenner
Mix editor
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