...the end is near...hopefully!

Okay, so it has been awhile since we last talked but I assure you it is because we have been hard at work trying to pull this magazine together.

The semester is coming to a close so we are doing our VERY best to bring the magazine to a close as well. The staff will be turning in their final layouts by the end of this week and they in turn will be placed into the quickly becoming Spring 2010 AgriLeader. WHOOP!

Lisa and I have been spending many late nights along with Cody and Parker in the office eating, talking, laughing, stressing, and most importantly working together to build something we and everyone who picks up this magazine can be proud of.

We are going to do our best to keep updating everyone as we come to final stages of this semester and this magazine and we CANNOT WAIT to see it hit the racks next semester!

As always --- Thanks and Gig 'Em
Lindsey and Lisa

AgriLeader Crunch Time!!

Howdy!

It is crunch time in the Agrileader office which means a lot of junk food and a very dark sky outside our window as we work!

We are awaiting the final e-zine layouts that the writers will turn in within the next few days.

Dead days won't be so dead around here with the editors in-house trying to get stuff done ahead of finals.

We have an exciting e-zine coming up... As I mentioned earlier, this is our second-ever e-zine and if things go according to plan, it will include even more interactivity.

Gotta get back to work as we get closer to our deadline.
-Cody Lillich
2009 E-Zine Co-Editor

Newest Update 11/4/2009

Howdy!

Lisa and Lindsey here coming to you live from the AgriLeader office! We have many new updates from the print magazine for you as things are getting busier and busier yet!

- Last week we edited and returned the first drafts of their first stories. After discussing each story with its respective writer, we feel that we have given them good advice to continue writing and editing their stories. We are super excited to see the second drafts of those stories!

- We have also been editing their first drafts of their second stories and will be returning them this afternoon in lab. 

- Speaking of lab...the rough drafts of their layouts are due along with their ad contracts. They have been speaking with employers about purchasing ads for the past couple of weeks and we are looking forward to seeing how many they have collected! We will be working with them all afternoon to complete their layouts!

We will continue to update you so you can follow our semester!

Thanks and Gig 'Em!

Lindsey and Lisa

***E-zine going strong***

Whoa, what a whirlwind past couple of weeks it has been!

The e-zine is underconstruction as we speak...students have turned in the first draft of both stories, Cody and I are hard at work on layout and design and I'm super excited to see the final product.

The staff will begin working on layout in lab this week and I can't wait to see what they come up with...although most don't have previous experience with InDesign they seem eager to learn and pick up on things pretty quick!

After reading through the first set of stories I'm very hopeful that we will have a great e-zine to present at the end of the semester. I plan on doing some cool things with videos, music and internet links.

Check back soon for more updates!

Parker Penny
AgriLeader e-zine editor, Spring 2010

Print UPDATE 10/14/09

Howdy All,

Lisa and Lindsey here just stopping by to give a quick update on the way things are going in class.  With this weeks lesson focused on layout designs, and photography it was more fun than work. 

In class we discussed the art of taking good pictures. Chris gave several examples on how to make a boring picture a "grab your attention" picture. I think we all learned a little something from the lesson. Leading lines, rule of thirds, and angles angles angles. I can't wait to see the pictures for some of the stories; Lindsey and I will be on the look out for the potential cover photo. 

In lab we played around with layout designs. Our writers were able to show how much creativity and experience they had working with Adobe InDesign. I was thrilled to see how we worked as a team. The trial layouts looked great, which made Lindsey and I anxious to see layouts for their stories.

While on the topic of stories, we will hopefully be receiving the first rough drafts by no later than Friday. Although our weekend, will be filled with reading, editing, and commenting, Lindsey and I can't wait to get a taste of what the Spring 2010 AgriLeader will hold.

Until Next Week!

Thanks and Gig 'Em  

AgriLeader Update: 10/14

Howdy,

Just an update for our blog readers, this week is all about photography and design. Our writers learned about how to take photos that would look appealing for the magazine. We learned about taking different angles and how to draw attention to certain photos.

In our lab section, our writers were able to start trying layout design. They tried a sample layout in InDesign, laying out a two-page spread with a headline, byline, three photos and captions. This will help them in the long run when they design their own pages for the magazine, which will be happening soon!

Speaking of things happening soon, our first drafts come in this week and it will give us a chance to see the direction of the magazine.

Until next time!
-Cody Lillich, Assistant E-Zine Editor

PRINT UPDATE 10/7/09

Howdy! 

Lisa and Lindsey here with more updates for you on the print magazine! Last week all the writers submitted query letters for each of their story ideas. After going to through all the letters, we can't wait to read the first drafts which will be in our hands next week!

In class on Wednesday (09/30/09) everyone had a chance to explain their story ideas as well as get any contact information their fellow writers may have had. There were a few story ideas that jumped off the page to both of us immediately, so we can't wait to hear more about them. 

For example, one of the writers will be doing  a piece on Miss Rodeo Texas who is one of our very own Ag. and Life Sciences family members. Another story we are excited to read is the story about a project that A&M students will be heading up for Amtrak and the National Park Services. They will be producing Podcasts for certain media types that will be recorded for tourist availability on a train trip from New Orleans to Los Angeles. 

As the weeks go on, we plan to drop more story ideas and we would like to hear any feedback that you may have! 

Until next time, 

Thanks and Gig 'Em