Jackson Sun layout designer Brian Goins judges student layouts during his visit to the South Side media class.

Today at South Side High School during fourth period, the Media Concepts class, taught by Mr. Greg Hammond, had a surprise guest.  The surprise guest was Brian Goins, the entertainment designer and editor for the Jackson Sun.  Goins was interviewed by senior, Quineicha Douglas.

Goins has been in designing for thirteen years.  His first job was at a weekly newspaper in Dyersburg, Tennessee.  He later came to the Jackson Sun and has been working as a graphic designer for the past ten years.  His job requires that he writes, edits, and designs.

He has done many things such as: feature pages, graphic illustrations, online content, and interactive graphic, which are flash graphics. 

"I have always liked to draw," said Goins.

Goins said that he never thought that he would be designing for newspapers. When he was in college at the University of Tennessee at Martin, he majored in art, but he didn't know what he was going to do with it. His dream was to design for Disney and Marvel. 

"Drawing is my passion," said Goins.

Sometimes Goins and other co-workers have to stay overnight to finish stories so they can be ready to print in the morning.

"The latest I have stayed at work was until 3 am the next morning," said Goins.

Goins thinks that the hardest job in newspaper is the carrier job because they have to be at work at 2 am.

"They have to come in early because they have to wrap their own newspaper in the plastic for delivery," said Goins. 

Goins said there isn't anything in particular he calls the best part of his job, but he can recall a time when he used to draw Prep Toons.  Prep Toons are drawings of mascot from different local schools that he made into superheroes.  These were published every Friday; a preview story went along with it.  He can also remember when the 2003 Tornado hit downtown Jackson and he had to take pictures for a double-truck, which is a wide spread across a newspaper.

"I can remember the tornado because it was very traumatic and I had to put all my emotions aside to get the job done," said Goins.

Goins has advice for people who take media classes such as the one at South Side.

"If you want to be in the business, you have to be versatile and a good communicator. You have to be able to write and not be afraid to talk to people.  Also, it is important that you stay up on the new technology," said Goins.

"I enjoy my job!  It is very difficult, but I get to draw and they pay me for it," said Goins.

Article by Quineicha Douglas