Cindy Hall Researcher and Reporter, Life We asked Cindy to tell us a bit about her education and work experience that has preceded her occupation in the Life section of USA TODAY. I have a Masters of Library Science from Kent State University. I’ve worked in several public libraries, several law libraries and at Xavier University in Louisiana as a reference librarian as well as the USA TODAY library. I was the researcher for Gannett News Service before coming back to USA TODAY doing Snapshots and research.

Q: Tell me a little bit about your role at USA TODAY. What are your responsibilities regarding Snapshots?

A: Presently I not only am responsible for providing eight Snapshots each week for the Life section but I also help with the weekly best-selling books list - filling in for the books list editor as needed and providing research for reporters and editors. I provide the text for Snapshots, request the graphics, proof the finished graphic and schedule when they run.

Q: What is the most difficult aspect of your job? The most rewarding?

A: Most difficult – keeping a bank of finished Snapshots at least a week if not two

Q: How do you decide what the information will be presented in a Snapshot each day?

A: I look for items that educate or entertain. I look for items that fit within the broad scope of our beats; TV, travel, movies, music and electronics for page 1D and health, medicine, science and relationships for the inside Snapshot.

Q: How is the research provided in the Snapshots acquired?

A: The ideas for the Snapshots come from asking ‘what if’ and then trying to find the answer, from conversations with friends and co-workers and material provided by the source.

Q: Who designs the layout of the snapshots and how do they do it? What guidelines, if any, do they have to follow?

A: The layout is set – always the same size in the lower left-handed corner. The graphic is left up to the artist and graphics editor with an occasional suggestion.

Q: What makes the Snapshot graphics so popular with USA TODAY readers?

A: I think the topic draws the reader to the Snapshot whether it is serious or fun. I hope the reader can take a small bit of information away with him/her. It’s the quick look at a topic that I think the readers like. I do know that the Snapshots are well read from the reader request for more information or when readers call or write to just comment. I also know that they are used in classrooms from the calls and letters from students.

Q: How have the Snapshots changed and improved over the years, and what can be done to improve their effectiveness in the future?

A: Since I’ve been doing Snapshots I’ve seen them go from just a headline with a list of statistics to a block of text with a list of statistics and now there is a mix.