Ask Mike

Latest Episodes:

Ask Mike | How Do I Make a Diverse, Inclusive Yearbook? Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

In honor of Scholastic Journalism Week and the importance of diversity and inclusion in scholastic journalism, host Mike Taylor, CJE, has a very special episode today! Listen in to hear Mike talk with June Straight, from El Paso, Texas, and Dennis Wade, from Ohio, about diversity and inclusion. This episode is tough, but important for yearbook staffs to listen to.
As a bonus, when yearbooks become more inclusive, they often see a boost in sales!

Ask Mike | How Do I Take My Yearbook Above and Beyond in 2021? Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

How did are they doing it? All over the country, yearbook staffs are stepping up and making amazing yearbooks in the middle of a pandemic that has displaced almost everything about the school year. The yearbook program at Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is one of those who is making the most of their incredible year. Listen in to hear host Mike Taylor, CJE, chat with adviser Michelle Corbett, staff member Kalea Lamphier, and Walsworth sales rep Erin Grunnet about how they’re working to make the best book their yearbook program has ever done. Listen to this special New Year’s Eve episode as we all transition our yearbook coverage from 2020 to 2021! And be sure to stick around to hear the story about how Kalea interviewed iconic journalist Deborah Roberts for her first ever story.

Ask Mike | How Do I Make a Yearbook During COVID-19? Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, host Mike Taylor speaks with two schools in the northeast part of the country, one from New Hampshire and one from Pennsylvania. The adviser and Editor-in-chief from St, Thomas Aquinas in Dover, New Hampshire, share how they're using this opportunity to make a yearbook different from anything they've done before. Two editors from Eastern Lebanon County High School in Pennsylvania share how they're organizing and getting the book done, even though they aren't in the building together.

The East Coast/West Coast Slide Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

Ask Mike | Host Mike Taylor, CJE, begins the new season by interviewing two editors-in-chief as they start their new year. As you may have guessed from the episode title, one resides on the east coast and the other on the west coast.

Neri Verniani, from Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida, and David Dablo from El Camino Real Charter School in Los Angeles, California, share how they're guiding their yearbook staff to create the 2021 yearbook under extraordinary conditions.

Ask Mike | Level Up Update: Visiting Meridian High School Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

Think back to early March. It may seem a lifetime ago, though in reality it was only a couple of weeks. School was still in session. There was no quarantine. No one thought to wear facemasks, and toilet paper could be easily found on the well-stocked shelves of your nearest supermarket. It was during this time that Mike Taylor, CJE, went to visit our Level Up winner, Meridian High School, for their first in-person visit on a cold Thursday afternoon.

Ask Mike | Why Do You Love Yearbook? Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

Happy Valentine’s Day! This is the time of year when the Walsworth Yearbooks Podcast Network celebrates love in all its forms – especially the love of yearbook! In this episode, host Mike Taylor, CJE, interviewed four yearbook staffs about why they love yearbook. He spoke to the staffs of Braden River High School in Bradenton, Florida; Liberty North High School in Liberty, Missouri; Kearney High School in Kearney, Missouri; and Lee’s Summit High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Ask Mike | What are some cool things middle school yearbooks are doing? Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

Some of the work being done by middle school and junior high yearbook staffs is absolutely amazing. That’s why host Mike Taylor sat down with the yearbook staffs of Carl Albert Middle School and Cactus Canyon Junior High to discuss what they’re doing right, what they’re working on, and what will happen when they move on to high school.

Ask Mike | How to I Reach the "Aha!" Moment? An Interview with Colonial Forge Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

When the yearbook editors of Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, attended an Elite Weekend at the beginning of the year, their stress was evident to Mike Taylor. Now, several months later, they've come a long way. Mike sat down with adviser Tiffany Kopcak and two editors to discuss how they reached their "Aha!" moment.

Ask Mike | How can I Improve my Yearbook Photography? Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

Mitchell Franz, of Yoakum, Texas, is a photographer. He started out as a scholastic journalism student and now, at 29 years old, he makes his living from his photography. In this episode, Mitchell and host Mike Taylor discuss the ways yearbook staffs can make their photography better.

Plus, they challenge photographers to take great academic photos. Listen to the episode for details on how to win a $50 gift card from Mike and Mitchell.

Ask Mike | How do I stop my staff from writing bad stories? Oct 10, 2019

Show notes

A great story starts with a great interview. In this episode, host Mike Taylor, CJE, interviews the staffs of Seminole High School, Gainesville High School, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Eastern Lebanon County High School about creating great stories and great spreads. They shared their advice for getting great stories into the yearbook – from checking in with writers to the basics of a good interview.

They talk about writing stories about the whole school, the benefit of being nosy, and teaching newbies to write stories that matter.