What follows is a faithful account of the production of Issue 13 aka, the last issue of the year (taking place the evening of May. 7/early morning of May 8.) as witnessed by me, The Pioneer’s Editor in Chief.
4:08 p.m.: I’m in the office for the last issue of the year! My current migraine is being made worse by Production Manager Sean McNulty’s choice of music. The lyrics are quite literally, “You’ll always be a loser.”
4:36 p.m.: I just checked off Feature! Hooray! I tell feature’s Production Associate Jess Faunt congratulations. She says, “It was really anti-climatic.” She proceeds to tell us about how she has a final on Reading Day next week.
4:40 p.m.: Managing Editor Pam London is excited that the Oreos News Editor Sarah Cornett brought are family-sized. Sport’s Production Associate Marianne Kellogg says that family-sized Oreos are a good idea for The Pio because “we’re like a family.”
4:45 p.m.: Pam asks other News Editor Dylan Tull what he’s bringing to the Pio potluck next week since he says he’s bringing a “surprise.” I quickly tell him he can’t bring anything alcoholic because the potluck is being held on the Reid side lawn. He quickly admits that he actually doesn’t know what he’s bringing.
5:09 p.m.: We’re buying pizza for our last production night. We decide on three pepperoni, one cheese, and one mushroom––because I’m obsessed with mushrooms.
5:20 p.m.: Shelly is off to get the pizzas, which means I (Pam) am taking over. Get out of here, Shelly, I got this on lock down.
5:22 p.m.: A&E Editor Hannah Bartman and A&E Editor-elect Linnaea Weld peruse this year’s recently published copy of Waiilatpu, the Whitman yearbook.
5:48 p.m.: Backpage is checked off! An oddly melancholy page at that…
5:56 p.m.: Sean starts talking about how he likes the show “My Strange Addiction,” grossing me out to no end.
5:57 p.m.: Opinion PA Abby and I have now achieved our proudest moment of the year: we have every piece of we need for Voices From the Community.
6:10 p.m.: I’m (Shelly) back! Let the fun begin! Also, I just stole Pam’s office chair and she is not happy.
6:11 p.m.: Marianne is done with her layout! I ask her, “How does it feel?” She says she feels happy she doesn’t have to do layout during Finals week.
7:13 p.m.: Shelly, Sports Editor Quin and I give Skye fashion advice.
7:22 p.m.: Last year’s EIC Rachel Alexander pops in for a visit! She brought cookies!
7:54 p.m.: Chief Copy Editor Karah Kemmerly comes in to the newsroom and immediately starts reminiscing about how this is her last time at production night ever.
8:13 p.m.: Sean comes back from dinner. Hooray! We’re getting closer to finishing!
8:34 p.m.: Dylan is about to write his last caption for the news page… ever… this year. Big deal.
8:44 p.m.: Abby leaves and the last PA left in the newsroom (for the year)…is Sean. Sean is sad.
9:01 p.m.: Opinion Editor Kyle Seasly heads out the door with the message, “if it turns into a party in here let me know.” It’s always a party in here, Kyle.
9:18 p.m.: Copy editing is in full gear and Shelly, Karah and I are analyzing Beyonce lyrics.
10:41 p.m.: PDFing commences.
11:08 p.m.: THAT’S A WRAP!
Thanks everyone for a great year!
Love, The Pioneer
