By KIM GREEN
Columbus North High School

You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Yes, it is a recurring theme with me, especially the old part, but it is true.

My newspaper staff has used the Maestro Concept since I began advising here in 1997-98. The editors picked it up at the IHSPA Editors Workshop the summer before I took over. We became a strong proponents of "Maestroing," and The Triangle steadily improved coverage and packaging. In addition, the staff never missed a deadline, producing 12 16-page issues a year. I loved it.

Inspiration came last year as the yearbook staff struggled through another batch of deadlines by scrambling for photos and coming up with last-minute stories, much of the time done by frazzled section editors while others who were "finished" with their jobs sat around. We never missed a deadline, but the effort required late night work sessions and much stress.

The idea came to me when I received the second mailing from IHSPA in late April. Why not Maestro Log next year (finally, after seven years)? I loved it! Once again, IHSPA Editors Workshop came to the rescue! I sent the yearbook tri-editors and the co-editors and managing editor of The Triangle as well as the Bureau Chief to camp at Franklin College in early June. They returned fired up.

Obviously, the most noticeable difference came with the yearbook. The improved communication among Maestro teams and the leadership required of section editors as Maestros was fun for me to watch evolve. The content of the spreads within sections significantly improved as a result.

The thrill of hearing a staffer tell me "We've already covered that" when I inquire about status and finding everyone on the same page with the same mission was awesome! Most importantly, everyone assumes ownership of the product through the Maestro Concept. That had been the missing link in the past. Photographers no longer felt like second-class citizens because the Maestro sessions required their input and expertise long before the photo assignment. Page designers went beyond the "plug and chug" job description of the past. And section editors -- good heavens! They had time to edit!

The result: this staff has not missed a deadline, we have had no late work sessions, and every deadline has gone to the plant at least a day early with extra pages!

The Triangle brushed up its use of the Maestro concept. The teamwork was phenomenal this year. The public relations staff applied it to various projects with the same results. Everyone tackled their jobs with the enthusiasm that comes with ownership.

And, you guessed it, I love it!

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