Mike Taylor named JEA Friend of Scholastic Journalism

If you’ve been involved with yearbook for more than a couple of years, you’ve probably heard and maybe even met Mike Taylor. Advisers and staff members alike are instantly drawn to Taylor and are proud to call him friend. Now friend has become an official title as Taylor was named one of this year’s JEA Friends of Scholastic Journalism.

Taylor, a journalism specialist and national key accounts manager for Walsworth and former award-winning yearbook adviser, is the voice and face behind the WYPN podcast series Ask Mike and the Walsworth webinar series. He leads the efforts of journalism training events like Elite Weekend and Adviser Academy, speaks at numerous workshops across the country and if you’ve ever attended a JEA/NSPA convention, you’ve likely seen him at the Walsworth Yearbooks booth, working with individual staffs on their theme development and implementation. When he’s not traveling the country to work one on one with schools, he can often be heard in his office video conferencing with schools, offering praise and gentle suggestions for improvement.

“I can’t think of anyone more appropriate for the title of friend of scholastic journalism than Mike Taylor,” said Walsworth Yearbooks sales representative Jill Chittum, MJE, who has worked closely with Taylor over the years in her schools. “He lives his life to make being a yearbook adviser and yearbook staff member easier for all. He has such a love and enthusiasm for yearbooks and yearbook people that it really shows in all that he does.”

Chittum’s sentiment is echoed by others who have worked with Taylor, including Tracy de la Feuilliez, CJE, a Walsworth Yearbooks sales rep who, like Chittum, has known and worked closely with Taylor for a number of years.

“Mike is a true rock star to schools all over the country; my staffs adore him,” De la Feuilliez said. “Yearbook students crave his attention, feedback and approval. They want him to be proud of what they create and how they use his suggestions to make them and their publications better. For me, Mike is the ultimate resource. His knowledge and willingness to help is unmatched, along with his energy and enthusiasm for all things scholastic journalism. He is a friend to all and now a Friend of Scholastic Journalism. This honor is so well deserved.”

Taylor’s many contributions can be felt throughout the Walsworth organization and journalism community as a whole.

“Mike is a tremendous asset to our team here at Walsworth,” Walsworth Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kristin Mateski, CJE, said. “Working closely with yearbook advisers and their staffs, he teaches, guides and motivates staffs of all levels. Students can’t help but get excited about all the possibilities ahead for yearbook whenever they spend time with Mike, and he plays a key role in working with most of our national award-winning yearbooks to create their best books. We are so proud of his contributions to scholastic journalism and thrilled to see him formally recognized.”

To read more about Taylor and the other individuals recognized, you can read the blog on the JEA website.