Promises and Realities of Desktop Publishing

Teaching Publication Design with Desktop Technology

“…"Makeup" or "layout" traditionally has been what printers in the backshop did. As pagination technology has moved this task into the newsroom, newspaper leaders have had the opportunity to take a more "holistic" approach to design, where the lines between who handles the words and who handles the visuals become blurred, according to Thompson and Craig (1991). The design process could have been integrated with reporting, editing, photography, and graphics as all ofthese tasks are done on the same machinery.…”

“…How can visual literacy be taught if the student can't see what he or she is doing? Thompson and Craig (1991), in criticizing desktop technology as a design tool, concede that it "allows for immediate and concrete visual feedback" and quick turnaround time so that students "can see the results of their design decisions and quickly respond to criticism." Two other factors have led me to incorporate computer training in two graduate courses at Medill School of Journalism:…”

“…When a student boots up, the software should behave predictably. Preference settings also solve a problem cited by Thompson and Craig (1991), who said desktop publications may lack quality because software default settings often violate typographic conventions. Preference settings allow the instructor to set new defaults, including: Measurement systems.…”

Teaching TV Advertising Creative Using Digital Video on the Desktop

“…This is especially true, given the very real danger that, if not handled carefully, the technology could get in the way of instruction in concepts and theory. Not long ago, educators were expressing similar concerns and criticisms about desktop publishing as an instructional technology (Garcia 1995, cited in O'Donnell 1995Thompson and Craig 1991). There are several compelling rationales supporting the use of desktop video as an instructional strategy.…”

“…First, desktop video should offer the same assortment of pedagogical benefits that desktop publishing offers in the area of print design and production. Among these benefits are immediate and concrete visual feedback for students, the opportunity to see the consequences of their design decisions, and to quickly respond to criticisms (O'Donnell 1995;Thompson and Craig 1991). O'Donnell's summary statement regarding the instructional value of desktop publishing would seem to apply equally to desktop video: "I believe the ability for them [students] to see their work in finished form makes desktop technology a valuable tool in teaching design" (p. 56).…”