May 9, 2013 edition of the Cooper Point Journal
Evergreen’s student newspaper The Cooper Point Journal has a new look both in print and online. In print, the tabloid has a crisp look and feel, enhanced by full color on the front and back covers and a middle spread. (The “Best Of” issue, May 9, 2013, was full color!) Longtime readers will not be unpleasantly startled; it’s still the CPJ, but sharper, easier on the eyes (a boon for aging Greeners), nicer to the touch and a bit more …. maybe “professional” is the word. Chime in and let us know what you think. The PDF version is still available for download on line.
The Cooper Point Journal on-line is a whole new experience, and a good one. Using a new hosting service and build on a Word Press platform the web site was entirely conceived of, designed and launched by the student staff members. The masthead contains the familiar type styles, logo and black/white reverse, while directly below is a horizontal navigation bar linking readers to the major sections of the paper. Under that is a crawl bar – like puppies, always fun – highlighting top stories and ending, at far right, in three familiar “chicklets” for rss feed, Facebook and Twitter. Clean, easy to cozy up to and navigate, familiar yet professional. We love it. Way to go, CPJ team.
What prompted this year of improvement? A previous year of experimentation. In fall 2011, the CPJ ceased print publication, opting for a fully web-based version. It was an an attempt to stay on top of the evolving world of journalism. Alas, readers were not prepared to make the move and the paper’s readership took a dive.
CPJ Business Manager (2012-13), Kelli Tokos ’13 picks up the story, starting in the fall of 2012:
“Melkorka Licea [’13], was this year’s CPJ Editor-in-Chief and it was her vision to bring back the print version and improve the web-based edition. Between our efforts and those of the staff members, we had one of the most successful years to date. We won honorable mention at the College Media Association National Conference for “Best Newspaper for a College Under 5,000 Students.”
“Pretty much everything, except the office space, is new this year,” Kelli summed up.
Both Kelli and Melkorka put down the paper, donned caps and gowns, and graduated on June 15. The CPJ will be in new hands starting in September, but the students who delivered big changes this year have handed off a much improved publication.
CPJ alumni: Please share your thoughts, memories, and comments about the latest chapter in the CPJ story.