exodus: a success!!!

Being a part of the Exodus magazine staff this semester was an incredible learning experience.  As the 12 weeks come to a close and the magazine is now complete, let’s recap everything that we have learned.  The following list highlights the main issues discussed in this blog on how to create “something from nothing:”

1)   Focused theme – Come up with a solid theme that can be developed clearly and yet still take your reader deep enough to teach them something new.

2)   Great staff – Pick the people you work with on a publication wisely. If you don’t have the privilege of choosing a staff, learn to work through differences and be honest.

3)   Start advertising sales early.  Be persistent, yet always professional.  Try to sell more ads than you think you will need for your publication

4)   Start a blog to record your journey.  Look back on it at the end an enjoy!

5)   Choose the best design software and learn how to use it before you start.

6)   Pick out a good camera.  Look for high resolution and pay attention to composition.  Take note if you need to shoot for specific layouts.

7)   Choose a paper type and quality that will work best for your publication.

8)   Choose a binding type that will compliment your magazine.

9)   Design a user-friendly and comprehensive website that follows along with the theme and design elements of your publication.  Include video slideshows.

10)   Plan a release party that will attract your target audience.  “Free” food and other items are a huge hit.

 

Here is a video of our release party!

 

Photographer, designer, writer, and publicist…

Photographer, designer, writer, and publicist.  Do we really have to be all these things to be a successful journalist today?  I would have to say “yes.”

 After completing Exodus magazine this semester, I have learned that it is incredibly important to be well-versed in all of these areas.  Before we could start designing, writing or taking pictures, we had to sell ads.  Bottom line is this: you don’t sell ads, you can’t publish a magazine.  So first you have to be a business person, ready to go out and sell your product before it’s even created.  Then when your ads are sold you have to start the writing and photographing process.  Once that’s done, you have to start designing and possibly re-write or re-photograph.  And then, once your amazing creation goes to print, you have to figure out how you’re going to get your publication into the hands of your target audience.  See, you really do have to be all of these things.

But what about this last position, publicist.  How do you successfully promote your magazine?  Here’s what our launch party coordinators say on the subject:

As a team, we came up with 5 easy steps on how to accomplish this:

1) Delegate tasks.  There are a lot of things you need to do so make sure you give specific jobs to your teammates.  Put someone in charge of food, decorations, getting the magazine to the event, and even clean-up.

2) Set up in a “traffic” area.  You want to be in a place where everyone can see you and where a lot of people pass by.  Play music so they are attracted to your table

3) Eye time. Promote your event through posters, Facebook events, campus-wide or business-wide emails, and announcements.

4) Have FREE things.  Advertise that you will have free food (like pizza, donuts, coffee or catered food) and possibly pass out teachers. 

5) Online presence.  Make sure your advertise your magazine’s website.  This way people have two ways to view your publication.  They also will remember to check out the website