This section of the Navigator will be used for news reports of major events around NSA. We currently have a three reporter staff, but if anyone wants to volunteer please write me, J.S.
Many of you may have heard of the Navigator Open House. Some of you may have wondered what the Navigator was, while some of you may have been long anticipating the event. The Reporting Team wanted to interview three people to get different perspectives on the Navigator Open House, but with the rush of the beginning of the year only two interviews were completed. The Reporting Team interviewed David H., one of the many new people on NSA this year, to get a new student’s perspective of the Navigator Open House:
Reporting Team (RT): When you first heard about the Navigator Open House (NOH) did you know what it was about?
David H.: Umm, yes. I was in the DEEP Folder and I noticed the letter requesting help for the Navigator. I then went and found it because it sounded interesting.
RT: Do you think that the Navigator Open House was sufficiently advertised?
DH: Yes, I think that sending that message to that many places was smart.
RT: Was it easy to find the NOH folder?
DH: Yes, it was very easy because it was right out in the open.
RT: Did you use the NOH chat?
DH: Well, yes, and no. I entered it once or twice to see what it was, but I didn't really use it.
RT: Was there a host available when you peeked in?
DH: What does that mean?
RT: Was there someone available to answer questions?
RT: Or were you not there long enough to notice?
DH: oh, then yes there was someone
RT: Did you ever ask any questions about the Navigator in the NOH folder?
DH: Yes
RT: Were they sufficiently answered?
DH: Yes, very much so!
RT: Do you think that the NOH really helped increase awareness of the Navigator?
DH: It did with me, so I would say yes.
RT: Overall, do you think that the NOH was a success?
DH: Hmmmm, yes I would say yes.
I hope this was the opinion of everyone who participated in the Navigator Open House. It appears to have helped everyone get a glimpse of what the Navigator really is.
The reporting team also interviewed Manny Pavlopoulos, the producer of the Navigator:
RT: When you were hosting for the Navigator Open House were there many people in the chat asking questions?
Manny Pavlopoulos: It really depended at what time of day, at some points we had as many as four people asking questions regarding the Navigator. Not all were interested in joining the Navigator, some were just curious.
RT: Were you able to answer all questions that were asked?
MP: There were some questions which were somewhat difficult to answer because of my position in the Navigator Staff, but an answer was soon found by looking back at pre-made Navigator Documents which touched the majority of people's questions.
RT: Most of the questions were pretty basic, then?
MP: I'd say many were basic, like "what would I do in the Navigator?" "How much time would it take away from my day?" "What positions are open that need filling? etc.
RT: As the Producer for the Navigator, how successful do you think the Navigator Open House was in increasing awareness of the school newspaper?
MP: In the area of writers, the Navigator Open House did wonders. Our writer-staff nearly doubled! However in the area of the production team, I can not say that similar results occurred. Only maybe one or two people joined the Production team during the Nav Open house.
RT: Why do you think that is?
MP: Well the Navigator Open house was primarily centered on bringing writers into the Navigator rather than into the more technical area of the Navigator.
RT: I didn't expect that answer, but I suppose it is true.
MP: The production area, consisting of graphics design and HTML are perhaps more complicated areas than writing and they require specific programs rather than just Microsoft word. It goes hand in hand with the other reason.
RT: There are less people in the area of graphic design and HTML.
MP: yes
RT: But I do know, despite the fact there are less people overall with skills in that area, there are still more people out there on NSA with those skills that could work for the production team. Do you think there is any other way that you could increase awareness of the need for more production team members?
MP: Well we have already found a sort of "solution" to the problem by placing "advertisements" in areas of the Student Cafe which we know people who are crazy about computers often go to. Just recently we gained three more HTML coders by doing that.
RT: I have seen some of those ads now that I think about it.
MP: Yup! We throw them around as much as we can.
The Open House seems to have been very successful, bringing in many writers. Though there were not as many volunteering for the Production team, advertising has helped compensate for that. Thanks to all the hosts and those involved in preparing the Open House!
Reporting Team