What did you think about your trip to SND/Vegas last week?
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KYLE ALCOTT
Graphic artist, Dallas Morning News
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. The best presentation I saw was by Jared Novak and Mike Swartz. It was an introduction to using Actionscript 3 in Flash and what you can do with it. I left energized, thinking that I must learn this. Speaking only for myself, this presentation alone was worth the trip.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. Where do I start? I wouldn’t have gotten so drunk the first night …. I would have networked with more people … and actually gambled. How could I not gamble? Seriously … is there something wrong with me?
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. Give much more attention to online graphics. Perhaps one on bulletproof online graphics that will be sure to attract readers and keep them coming back. Then follow that up with a “how to†presentation. Those not familiar with Flash might not get a lot out of it, but for those familiar with Flash, it would be priceless.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Perhaps I’ll splurge and package it with a vacation, but in these times, I would never ask or expect my paper to send me.
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ALLISENCE CHANG
Intern, Arizona Republic
Graduated Michigan State in spring 2008
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. The most interesting thing was Ze Frank’s talks. It’s amazing what he does for a living.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. If I could go back, I would be a little braver and talk to more strangers.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. I would recommend hosting the conference close to where everything else is in the city. Although the Red Rock was lovely, it was so far away from the strip it made it impossible to get to for a lot of people.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. You bet! I can’t wait for Buenos Aires. It’s such an amazing city and I can’t wait to go back there next year. Besides, I’ve already told the coordinator how much I want to help, so my future boss better let me go!
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CHRIS COURTNEY
Design director, Chicago RedEye
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. The Rob Curley session was awesome. Really opened my eyes as what I should expect out of a small news organization’s website. Also, the morning and evening big sessions were fantastic. Wish I could have made it to more during the day, but the Karl Gude session on sketchup was pretty cool as well.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. Not fly out right after my session… Finish my session prep before I got to Vegas. I missed a lot of sessions just wrapping my prep and getting ready to leave town. Sigh.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. The students want a ‘how to get a job’ session. Too many high-level things for the kids (so they say). Just because we taught them how to get a gig in ’06 doesn’t mean the ’08 kids couldn’t use it.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. I’ll definitely be in Buenos Aires. This time at least a week, maybe 2.
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RICHARD CURTIS
Managing editor for visuals, USA Today
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. Most interesting … renewing friendships and making new friends. That’s always the case at the SND Workshop. Most entertaining seminar: Karl Gude!
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. Spend an extra day.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. Invite Bill Gaspard to participate in the planning process.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Probably not.
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KYLE ELLIS
Student, Ball State University
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. Watching two fellow Ball State students land gigs in “The Intern” was really cool… I also had a great time hanging out with students from other schools like Bridget O’Donnell, Allie Ghaman and Colin Bridge…. Learning from professionals during critiques….I really enjoyed Stephanie Grace Lim and Jonathan Berlin’s sessions… Getting to experience the Las Vegas Strip was also a highlight… I could talk about SND|Vegas for hours!
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. I would go back and make it a point to approach more professionals. I would have loved to been critiqued by more people because I think that presents an awesome learning opportunity. How often can a student be in the same room as so many of the “best of the best” at one time?!?!
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. I would really encourage future site hosts to consider the cost of their city and how that might impact attendees. Las Vegas, although a great site and city, was really expensive… especially for a student!
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Unless I land a job at a paper that can afford to send me I’ll be sitting Buenos Aires out. =(
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ASHLEY FOGLE
Student, Bowling Green State University
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. I loved Stephanie Grace Lim’s session. It was entertaining and educational. I was engaged. Totally awesome. Also, the custom deck of cards was totally sweet, I bought a pack and am still trying to figure out how I’m going to display them.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. I wish I would have been more confidant in my portfolio and therefore networked with more people. I didn’t really get to do as much between Boston and Vegas as I had planned to, and I think my confidence took a hit. But I have a list of things I want to accomplish before Buenos Aires, so hopefully it won’t happen again.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. The best sessions are the ones that get everyone involved. Stephanie’s session was my fave because I was engaged and entertained while learning. It’s like a class; students want to go to classes that are more hands on rather than ones that are a big lecture. So, future hosts, make sure there are useful and engaging sessions.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Yes I will be in Buenos Aires. Don’t know how I’m going to afford it on my college income, but I’ll be there.
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ALLIE GHAMAN
Student, University of Michigan
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. The most interesting lecture I attended was Jody Sugrue’s motion design session. I had never really given much thought to this entire field of design work, and was really blown away by her creativity and presentation.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. Not gotten sick!
Hmm, very little. I really felt like the whole conference was structured to help you maximize your time.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. It would have helped to have the different conference rooms better labeled. I get lost very easily and finding some of the smaller rooms was a bit difficult for me.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. With some luck, a paid internship and a nearby hostel, absolutely! Actually, I really do want to go and it will take some work, but I intend to be there.
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MICHAEL HIGDON
Student, University of Nevada
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. Went to the Las Vegas Sun and got a personal tour with Rob Curley. The future of journalism (though I feel it’s missing a few pieces) is in the Greenspun Media Complex.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. I would network more. I spent too much time doing other things with people I know instead of putting myself out there to get noticed and to talk with people I don’t know.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. Be like Bill Gaspard!
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Only if I get invited for a third free registration, otherwise I’m way too poor for a trip of that magnitude.
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JOEY KIRK
Sports designer, Arizona Republic
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. Contortionists and Robin Leach.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. Definitely spend less time in the casino, and more time mingling.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. Keep the entertainment side. That kept it interesting. (And get me and Luke Knox to tag team a session. We’d love that.)
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Depends on funds and cost of travel.
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BILL OSTENDORF
President, Creative Circle Media Consulting
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. Lots of good sessions. We should partner with other groups more often. The co-conference with APME really brought up the level of programming and attendees. A great idea. This conference was exceptionally well run. Not sure I could pick one that stands out though.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. I might not do the intern thing again. It was very time consuming and I thought too low profile. The announcement of the winners was embarrassing. Rushed. No fanfare. These poor kids put their heart into this and it was treated really like nothing important. The selection process was better this time and I enjoyed meeting and picking the interns and working with the editors from the other hiring companies. But we need to bring back a little higher profile for this process and make it more educational. It’s also embarrassing that SND got the name of our firm wrong, both in the program and at the announcement. It’s not like we’re new kids on the block and accuracy counts. But I’m very happy with the intern, so maybe I would have done it anyway.
I also sure wish I could have stayed an extra day to explore Vegas and our hotel, which was the best ever SND hotel. But too much work to do. . .
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. SND doesn’t do much for the vendors. It’s an afterthought.
We seem to have dropped ad design — even classified design — and we never talk about ad design on the web. Those are all important issues I think we should consider again.
It was the 30th anniversary of the SND workshop and the 20th anniversary of the Quick Course. I think we should have done more with that.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Sadly, I doubt it.
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CAITY PELLICCIA
Student, University of North Carolina
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. The most interesting thing I did in Vegas was The Intern competition. It was a fun, exciting, and nerve-wracking experience. All the papers involved were equally amazing, so when I was picked as a finalist, I had a really hard decision choosing my top three. I ended up winning an internship at the Dallas Morning News (which was my first choice, but shhh, don’t tell anyone). I’m very excited to be joining Rob Schneider and his team in the summer.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. I wouldn’t have booked my flight to leave Tuesday. A lot of awesome workshops were offered that afternoon, and SND reserved Cherry, the nightclub located in our hotel, for us.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. I feel that the student workshop should have included topics that were helpful for students, especially graduating seniors. I felt that the majority of the sessions, while they were extremely interested, weren’t helpful for me as a graduating senior in college. If the workshop had included a resume-building or interview skills workshop, that would have been a big help. I also think that the student portfolio review should have been a little longer.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. I hope so! Maybe I will be working for a paper who will pay for me to go. I enjoyed SND Vegas so much that the extra expense might be worth it.
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JI QI
Graphic artist, The Associated Press
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. The most interesting thing? Might have been the rain. It rained Monday when I had lunch at the pool with Shazna Nessa, the director of the AP’s multimedia and graphics department, John Grimwade, and two of Shazna’s friends from NYT, Nico and Chris.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. My flight was delayed more than five hours, so I missed most of Sunday’s sessions. I hate Delta Airlines!
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. Is it possible to put audio or video of every session online? We talked a lot about multimedia; why can SND not do it? Though I was in Vegas, I couldn’t attend nearly 60 sessions in two or three days. I hated to choose when two sessions held at the same time both sounded interesting.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. No.
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SARAH SLOBIN
Graphics director, Fortune magazine
Q. What was the most interesting thing you did or saw in Vegas this week?
A. Ze Frank was a lot of fun. Also, the newness of the city of Vegas. We were driving and we ran out of road. They just hadn’t finished.
Q. If you could go back in time to last week, what would you do differently in Vegas?
A. Brought a scooter. That place was huge.
Q. What advice would you have for future SND site hosts?
A. Provide SND travel guides — maps with recommendations for seeing the city.
Q. Will you be in Buenos Aires next September?
A. Hope to be, yes.
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Read Stephanie Yiu’s list of favorite things about SND/Vegas by 21 attendees at SND/Update.
Read our SND/Boston follow-up here.
