Unveiled - Humboldt Magazine - Humboldt State University

THE LUMBERJACK ON DEADLINE
It’s 5 p.m. on Tuesday in the office of the student-run
newspaper The Lumberjack. Layouts, headlines and
photos still need to be finalized, and work can sometimes
creep into the wee hours. “On election night [in 2008] we
stayed until 3 a.m. Some said it was the best issue we’ve
ever done,” says editor Sara Wilmot.
1 Headlines, story leads, photos and layouts were
all under discussion just hours before deadline. “Don’t
be afraid to take risks,” one reporter encouraged.
2 Bagels, Cheetos and hot dogs were the fuel of
choice when we stopped by. There was also vigorous
debate on best doughnut flavors. Lemon won.
3 The newsroom is one big Apple museum with
multiple generations of iMacs in use.
4 Past issues of the newspaper hang on the wall
for inspiration, review—and self-critiquing.
5 The whiteboard serves as the hub of the action,
where story ideas are recorded, organized and
approved — or not.
6 Risk is on hand in case students need to switch
gears and try their hand at world domination.
7 A thesaurus and AP Style Book are a writer’s best
friends when it comes to finding the right word and
avoiding grammar casualties.
8 Papers are delivered to newsstands around Arcata by
11 a.m. each Wednesday. Leftovers are dutifully recycled.
9 High tech meets low tech: Post-it notes prove
indispensible for organizing information.
10 Reporters dread the editor’s red pen marking
corrections on their copy.
Finally, the editor announces, “That’s it, guys. Everything
is final and edited.” A cheer goes up from the newsroom,
but there’s one more step —updating the website, which
recently got a new design: thejackonline.org
12 HUMBOLDT MAGAZINE | FALL 2009