NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/10/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-The 2004 Argus, Northwestern State University's art and literary magazine, won third prize in the Best of Show ­ Literary Magazine category during the annual conference of the Associated Collegiate Press/National College Media conference in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this month. Last year, Argus won fourth prize in the category.

The Associated Collegiate Press is a division of the National Scholastic Press Association. A nonprofit educational membership association, it is the largest and oldest national membership organization for college student media in the United States. Convention Best of Show awards are onsite competitions open only to those publications attending each convention. Best of Show entries consist of one copy of a newspaper from the current school year, one copy of a magazine or yearbook from the previous school year or a single broadcast program.

Last year's Argus included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, art and photography submitted by NSU students. The magazine's design was integral in winning the award. Design editor Dan Grissom incorporated a great deal of white space in the publication which had the theme "unveiled."

"The staff and I wanted to reflect all areas of the university. We wanted to bring an elite body of literature to the students," said Argus editor Angelin L. Adams, a graduate student in English from Mandeville, who earned her bachelor's degree at NSU. "We wanted to bring in new writers who hadn't been published before."

Adams, who is editing the 2005 edition of Argus, said she got the idea of using white space from a reviewer who critiqued Argus at the 2003 convention.

"The professor told us not to be afraid to use white space to improve the magazine," said Adams. "One of the best decisions I made was to hire an art major, Dan Grissom, to design the Argus. As the Argus design editor, he worked with me and the rest of the staff in developing a vision for the 2004 edition.

"My duty as an editor is to make the design as inviting as possible to bring people in. I looked at past editions of Argus and each one has been different. Each editor has worked to distinguish that issue from previous ones."

Adams hopes the award will raise the profile of Argus among Northwestern students and encourage more of them to contribute their work.

"It is important for a campus to have a body of art and literature produced by the students," she said. "We have great work being produced here on campus, work that needs to be bound and put on a shelf. And in talking with the writers and artists published, it boosts your confidence as a student to have your name in print."

Argus isn't necessarily looking for submissions that are already edited and prepared for publications. Adams feels an obligation to work with students who want to be published.

"I want to challenge our students to be the best writers they can be instead of just sending acceptance or rejection letters," said Adams. "I work with potential writers and let them know what they need to improve."

Adams was published in the 2003 edition of Argus and said editing Argus has helped her improve as a writer.

'This experience has given me a sharper eye in terms of what I am looking for in literature," said Adams. "I understand literature much better and more aware of what an audience is looking for."

According to Adams, Argus has helped launch writing careers by students who have gone on to be published by both large and small publishing houses.

"In giving undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to get their name in print here at NSU, we are encouraging them to continue writing and publishing after college," said Adams.

The Argus editorial board included Adams, Melissa Ezarik, Kimberly Brammer, Elaine Broussard and Jessica Klug. Julie Kane is the faculty advisor.

The 2005 edition of Argus should be published in the spring.

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