Page 20 - Laker Connection Fall 2016

Inspiration, Creativity, , and Collaboration
The Making of a Magazine
By Maritza E. Ferreira
Once the production priorities are established, we begin the editorial process. Content and story angles are discussed. We brainstorm how to communica- te these stories through written and visual content in a way that is compelling and will make our readers want to engage more with the magazine. This includes decisions on story topics, paper, printing, colors, photography and design.
After these details have been planned, stories are assigned to our staff writers or we seek out guest contributors with expertise in a certain area that is well suited for a particular topic. When asked how we decide what stories will
As we began working on this is- sue of the Laker Connection ma- gazine, we thought, what better opportunity to share the creative process of how the magazine is developed?
The Laker Connection is a me- dium through which we have an opportunity to share with internal and external audiences the lear- ning, innovation and accompli- shments happening on our cam- pus every day. It is one way that we demonstrate that dreams are realized here at Clayton State.
Every issue is unique, and the 12 to 18 month process incorpo- rates inspiration, creativity and a whole lot of collaboration among
many individuals throughout our community. And it all begins by identifying a theme. The theme of each magazine is inspired by the amazing work we see and the stories we hear about our students, alumni, faculty and staff. This really is the foundation for the entire process.
To keep the magazine focused and on track, a production sche- dule is developed that maps out key deadlines throughout the process to ensure the magazine is produced and distributed on a timely schedule. Currently, the Laker Connection is published twice a year in the Spring and Fall, and in FY15 had a print dis- tribution of 45,000.
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