LVM garners national honors
Campus Times
March 19, 1999
Results from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) contest recently
showed that La Verne Magazine (Volume 22, Nos. 1 and 2) left a positive
impact on its judges.
The magazines submitted from last year's publication received five marks
of distinction, the highest possible, and left judges congratulating both
the staff and "all who were part of the production of Vol. 22,"
said a summary statement.
Dr. George Keeler, professor of journalism and chief adviser of magazine,
explained that last year La Verne Magazine was named sweepstakes
winner at the state level, which made it the best university magazine in
the state of California. Now, at the national level, La Verne Magazine
carried a consistency with its already-high expectations.
"We have an excellent publication, " Dr. Keeler said. "We
are an excellent department. We believe in challenging our students and
telling them that this is their first job."
The dedication the staff members are required to have toward the magazine
is expected without question.
"I tell my students [that] when they graduate and get a job, it'll
be like a vacation," Dr. Keeler said, "because of the demands
we put on them."
But Dr. Keeler believes that "hard work does pay off."
Erin Grycel, a junior diversified major who is currently editor in chief
of the magazine, understands that hard work is required in order for the
publication to be successful.
Grycel took fewer credits than her usual semester load so that she could
provide total devotion to her position as editor in chief and to her staff.
La Verne Magazine is not a publication distributed only on campus.
Copies of the magazine are also in numerous public and educational libraries.
"The magazine is taken very seriously by other colleges,"
Dr. Keeler said. "Honnold Library at the Claremont Colleges has a subscription.
Los Angeles County and Cal Poly's [Pomona] library subscribe too."
"Since this magazine goes out into the community, it makes you
really feel like you are part of the public press," Grycel said. "There's
also more stress in knowing that it isn't going to just be on the college
campus."
Grycel does feel confident that this year's magazine will do just as
well in ACP's next contest.
"We have a really good staff," she said. "One of the
staff members this semester was editor in chief [for the magazine] at Citrus
College."
Craving a democratic attitude among this year's staff, Grycel wants
everyone to work together, instead of her dictating to the staff.
The ability to work together and remain individual are qualities crucial
to being a staff writer for the La Verne Magazine.
"It's as much a priority to be on our publication as it is to be
on a sports team," said Dr. Keeler, in regard to the responsibilities
the staff faces.
Grycel was told of Dr. Keeler's dedication as magazine adviser and said,
"This magazine is George's baby."
In response to her comment, Dr. Keeler agreed and said, "I gave
birth to the magazine. I was the first editor in 1976, so I've watched it
grow.
"I've become what it could be. I feel like I'm a proud parent of
a 23-year-old daughter."
Dr. Keeler does not take all the credit for the magazine's success;
in fact, he is thankful to Gary Colby, professor of photography and photo
adviser, "for bringing the art side together."
"He also makes a large contribution to what the themes will be,"
Dr. Keeler said.
As for entering La Verne Magazine into contests such as ACP's,
Dr. Keeler said, "We don't do this for the competition. Our readers
come first.
"I have this goal that La Verne Magazine is a friend welcomed
at someone's house," he said. "Seeing it on a coffee table is
a goal, because you have to really like something to invite it into your
home."
Colby, on the other hand, does not like contests. "I prefer not
to be in them," he said. "But it's like getting a salary ... we
have to get paid and we have to be recognized.
"It's just that so much of what we do, is done with so much soul,"
he said. "It's horrible when you put a photograph in and you put yourself
into it and then it loses to a picture of a cat playing with a piece of
yarn."
As for the comment sheets from judges, Dr. Keeler said, "For me
to say it's good is one thing, but for one to say (from the outside) that
it's good is completely different."
Also recognized by the ACP was the Campus Times (1997-98) newspaper,
which received First Class with three marks of distinction at this national
level.
