BY CHERYL PONTIUS
Judge's edited issue: Vol. 10, No. 3
Positive comments:
• Very close with second-place publication. The difference was the editorial page – in-depth editorial, good columns, letters to the editor.
• Nice clean pages
• Good use of news briefs/teasers
• Good mix of reviews
• Good writing and editing
• Good attempt to bring election to student level
• Page 5 of Issue No. 3 – good use of varied column width, headline on Boys’ Soccer
• Nice mix of art, info graphics, photography
• Varied content, good mix
• Nameplate works well
• Good sports leads
Constructive criticism comments:
• Photo quality – Page 1 of Issue No. 3 – heads are way too small, photos are dark; Page 6 of same issue – try not to cut off feet (especially of runners); some blurred, out-of-focus shots. Also, be sure to include photo credit.
• Watch passive voice – look at a sentence and decide how to reword it to make it active.
• Headlines – in most instances, headline weight, size don’t alter. So what you get on a page is the same size headline – you need a dominant per page. Try some freehand headlines (like the soccer one) and be sure one stands out per page.

Division I Hoosier Star Award
Brown County High School
Talonadviser / Greg Mosley
Editor: Megan Gushwa

• Page design is almost completely horizontal – headlines run across full page, no variation. Try some mix of layout – horizontal and vertical.
• Watch editorializing or opinion creeping into news/feature story. Example: Page 13 of Issue No. 3 – The money will effect (should be affect) all departments and the staff is very excited. Who said the staff is excited.
Comments: Makings of a fine publication – good writing, leads, great mix of coverage. Definitely tied into the school.