For those of you who scour the internet searching for local news, or who are still keeping up with Virginia Tech news, you may have seen some of the recent stories about our forthcoming book, April 16th: Virginia Tech Remembers.
We did finish the book on time, around 7 a.m. on June 1. We were in Shanks 160 most of the night with two coffee pots going and keyboards clicking. Neal Turnage, Omar Maglalang, Courtney Thomas and Roland Lazenby continued to edit and finish up the manuscript working with the publisher to get it just right through much of June. After the big push on June 1 many of us returned home to spend time with family and work for the summer. Roland actually received a copy of the book today. Hopefully we all will be receiving copies shortly. I can’t wait to see it.
After a little over a month of separation most of the crew gathered together to attend the AP Managing Editors seminar titled “Virginia Tech: Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead” on July 24 at the Burke Johnston Student Center on campus.
Editors, reporters, state police, public relations personal and broadcasters, as well as student journalists attended. We, of course, joined as well, missing Omar and Courtney.
There were three panels that discussed various topics, and we were able to comment and ask questions. Roland was the luncheon speaker for the managing editors and was asked to talk about the book and coverage from a Tech point of view. He discussed the coverage that Planet Blacksburg did that week, and the continuous coverage the weeks after. He also spoke about us individually and the book project we all helped with.
The room seemed to take the project in, and most seemed pleased with it. We got approval from many including Dr. Gellar, a psychology professor at VT, and other reporters. Only those who approved spoke up; I don’t know if there were any objections. I was even asked questions in the restroom later from others about how long we were in the room and more about the coverage we did, and the process of the book.
Tuesday night, a story was posted on Pilot-Online about the book, and WSET 13 had a spot on the evening news about it.
We, the students who helped with the project, are trying very hard to be sensitive, while keeping the publicity about the book monitored. We are not trying to promote ourselves or our work. The wound is still very fresh in our community, and if the project helps some people through it, then great. But we are not going to promote the book in the community’s face. Read it or don’t, it is your choice. The book still holds our original intent and that was to remember those we lost, and to document the events of April 16 and after.
The book is scheduled to be released on Aug. 28.
Keep in mind that some stories have already been printed with misinformation. Below are some of the corrections:
The book has 1 author=Roland Lazenby
The rest of the students involved were contributors.
Funds from the book sales will go to the victims, so if you buy it you are helping them. The author gets no royalties. We negotiated as much as we could for the victims’ families.
If there are any questions about what went where, or who gets what, or any other questions, they can be directed to Roland Lazenby.
Neal Turnage, our new executive editor, will be update shortly on the upcoming Planet Blacksburg schedule for Fall 2007.
