Download PDF - University of Idaho Library

Sporting a new look
W
hat role does a student
newspaper play in the university
community? According to
David Neiwert, the Argonaut's spring
editor and the first male editor since the
spring of 1980, "The student newspaper's
mission is to teach people the newspaper
business, to teach them how to write solid
news stories." And, that was exactly what
the Arg, under the management of
Neiwert, attempted to do.
"The first change we made," claimed
Neiwert, "was to change the paper's
graphics. The fall newspaper used the
graphics done by Sue Thomas in 1976.
We gave the paper a new look by employing
a modular design."
This "new newspaper graphics," used
by the Arg, differs from older graphic
models insomuch as it combines classical,
or traditional, lettering with a modular
(block) design. "The result:' explained
Neiwert, "is a 'neo-modern' look."
Neiwert initiated another important
change when he replaced the paper's
traditional format with a magaz.inelayout.
And, although the Arg's content did not
change much, Neiwert and staff tried to
be thorough in their coverage of all the
campus.
"1 realize that book and movie reviews
are interesting," arqued Neiwert, "but
they come second to coverage of campus
news. In the past the reporters failed to
aggressively go after the story, so many
laid dormant for years. We are trying to
live up to our mission to a higher level
than it has ever been done before. We are
trying to train students for this business
and to produce a provocative and interesling
paper."
Neiwert, however, believed that the
paper changed significantly because of
the Dew production equipment. Vat Pishl,
the Arg's fall editor, and her staff faced
numerous problems, during the semester,
and most of these problems related to the
need for the new production equipment.
Although the computer terminals arrived
on campus around mid-October, John
Pool, Reprographics Director, and Pishl's
staff had to use the old typesetter all
semester, a machine held together by
rubber bands.
An editor of a newspaper has many
responsibilities; she must organize her
staff, edit and write stories, and manage
the paper's books and business. When
these worries are compounded. by fretting
continued t>
Layln' 11 down.
Post.up !"*Iulr_ .Ieady bQllcU and patleaee.
M(l:QQglng EdItor Colleen Bamy cmd AnD F1