Visual Editors

Boo, the Imperial Ballroom hookup isn’t working again. But it’s cool, yo. We’ll survive.

Anyway, this should be good.

2:04 p.m.

Kelli Sullivan of the Times is starting out, talking about her family.

Now it’s time to talk project-planning.

Big phrase: “Be a conduit for the various disciplines”

• Get graphics on board

U-Haul example: Dry photos, elaborate graphics.
Ocean series: Graphics up top all five days of the project, as a theme.

• Partner early+often with photo editors.

UFC: A page of story with spillover? Nah, photos that frickin’ rule, yo.

Figure out goals.

Examples: Sahara movie one of the biggest bombs ever, Katrina two years later, HIV positive via blood transfusion

• Partner with people who determine space and color

• Don’t let Web version of your project linger

2:12 p.m.

Be ruthless when editing photos and graphics

• Look at every item and weight it against the clutter
• Edit for redundance and propel the story forward
• Remove clutter
• Ask yourself what makes this project better
• Smart play of graphics

2:15 p.m.

Develop multiple versions

• Develop publishable design and push it forward if you have time
• Present a printable version that you feel is space appropriate. You can always adjust when necessary
• Be willing to change styles when it make ssense

2:21 p.m.

Solicit feedback and art direction

• We get too close to the work; be open to ideas
• Show your designs to your colleagues
• Our work can always improve

2:25 p.m.

Maintain your independence

• Partner with various departments but don’t get too attached.
• Maintain your objectivity through independence

Get out of your chair and make things happen

• Be proactive. It’ll buy you more design time
• Read advance budgets and budget things
• Ask about things from editors on the horizon
• Again, be the conduit to those who handle deadlines

Example shown: 125th anniversary project

Alright, that was interesting although not terribly relevant to my own job.

2:31 p.m.

Next is Jenn Crandall of the Washington Post. She shoots both video and photos.

She’s going to show her her product called “onBeing.” They truly show the human spirit.

Hah, this kid in the first video is hilarious. Being seven is so hard.

The second video is a hippie type who’s been pushed to D.C. because of Katrina. This guy has a lot to say abut racial unity. He’s really interesting.

Third video shows a black woman who’s talking about killing her heroes; she’s a comedian. “I want to be the ass-kicking chick.” I take it back; she’s orange, not black.

Fourth video, an older latino man; he’s talking about how he was a priest who tried leaving the church for a woman who didn’t stick around. It’s a painful story for the man.

2:49 p.m.

onBeing’s idea is so simple and amazing. The focus is so on the people. I love it. It’s the coolest thing I’ve seen this entire conference.

She’s very close to the subject matter; she’s trying to pick up the range of human emotion.

The people are by themselves with her. The process is simple, not a big production.

They talk for two hours and she edits it down to 2.5-3 minutes.

How she finds the people: “I tried to think of who I thought was interesting.” “People I met on a street.”

Now they solicit ideas on the site. But she leads the ideas.

Words to expression. Physical pause. “I use those as often as I can.”

“You can come across a fantastic edit, but it just makes no sense at all.”

Equipment: Small studio, one HD video camera, one wireless mic.

Traffic/response: Really good. Wanted it to be evergreen in nature. Comments section: Some people love, some absolutely hate. People get stopped on the street.