Academy Students Learn at PUC's Publication Workshop

Pacific Union College welcomed over 130 Pacific Union Conference academy newspaper, yearbook and video yearbook editors September 7-9 to learn the skills required to produce high quality publications from professors and working professionals in the college’s 20th annual Publication Workshop.

The program offers an in-depth and multi-faceted approach to teaching students publication skills. “In addition to excellent instruction in video, graphic design, communication and writing, student leaders are able to network with each other and form a support group that (hopefully) lasts beyond their time at the workshop,” says program co-director Michelle Rai. “We also have a spiritual component to the workshop, from our Christian instructors to our praise and worship services. Our goal is to show students that they can serve God in any profession and with any communication medium.”

The workshop offered more than 50 different seminars to students and their sponsors. Students chose to follow specialization tracks in journalism or yearbook writing, newspaper or yearbook design, newspaper or yearbook editorship, photography and video yearbook editing. A few course titles included: “Photoshop Tips and Tricks,” “Copy Editing,” “Editorial Writing,” “Hands-On Mood Boards” (inspiring the publication’s theme, color, layout, type and images), “Photo Essence” (how to get the most potential out of your subject), “Photojournalism,” “Team Building” and “Sound and Lighting” (how to get professional looking sound and lighting from a non-professional camera).

Workshop co-director Milbert Mariano says, “We've had countless advisors thank us for the service that the PUC Publication Workshop provides for these schools as we help them and their students navigate the increasingly complicated world of publishing yearbooks, newspapers and video yearbooks.” 

The workshop concluded with a capstone and awards ceremony that recognized outstanding student work in 10 categories including excellence in publishing to excellence in layout and design and excellence in video yearbook editing.