Editing, Leadership, and Team Building
A glance at my journey from staff writer to Editor-in-Chief
What "Editor-in-Chief" means to me
Leadership
As an Editor-in-Chief, it is my responsibility to be a leader in the newsroom and a leader outside of it. Through mentoring first year journalists, overseeing the layout and design of our paper, and managing a staff of writers, I have developed a strong sense of what it means to be a leader and how that applies to my actions. Leadership takes many forms, ranging from helpful feedback on a writer’s work to meeting with members of administration and representing Na Pueo as a whole. Being the Editor-in-Chief is more than just a title, rather a reflection of my commitment to the pillars of being a strong leader.
Receptiveness
Part of being an impactful member of a team is having a receptive attitude with the desire to explore new ideas. Having been an editor for three years and a writer for four, I’ve worked with dozens of writers and had the opportunity to develop my collaboration skills. An effective leader is one who welcomes new ideas with open arms, encourages growth in themself and others, and is consistently willing to receive feedback and apply it to their actions. As an editor, I am constantly looking for ways to improve so I can put my best food forward for my team.
Organization
With dozens of stories to edit, layouts to be designed, and an entire staff to be managed, being an Editor-in-Chief can become overwhelming. However, that is exactly what pushes me to find ways to stay organized and efficient. Many bumps in the road have occurred throughout my time with Na Pueo, but through effective leadership, I aim to lessen the impacts these obstacles have on the paper and staff. Having consistent meetings with the adviser and editing team, discussing ways to improve, and dividing responsibilities evenly among my team are just some of the ways I work to lead an organized and productive paper.
Communication
Communication is an imperative part of working with others, and is a skill I have been developing throughout my years as an editor. Though leadership, receptiveness, and organization are key aspects of a paper alone, communication is the foundation that maintains all of these working parts. As Editor-in-Chief, I prioritize effective communication with all members of the staff and work to maintain a constant line of open communication from both sides. Journalism itself is a form of communication, and a necessary piece in understanding those around us. For this reason, I strive daily to be a communicative and responsive leader of Na Pueo.
Skill building and workshops
Evidence of my work to build a cohesive team that functions both separately and together, while also providing ways to improve on journalistic abilities.
Lessons and presentations
Throughout all four years of my time with Na Pueo, I have created and presented lessons on various journalism skills, such as lead writing or interview etiquette, that help my team develop a strong foundation for writing early on.
Workshops and practice
I create worksheets and practice assignments in which I provide information, guidelines, and clear instruction that allows new writers to practice story writing or other important skills in a hands-on and engaging way. This is an efficient way for the first year journalists to get a feel on writing an article, as well as for editors in refreshing their editing abilities.
Design practice
Designing layouts and understanding the software we use is a key feature of the paper, so I have organized and led practice sessions where students were given a prompt and had to design and create an infographic that adequately conveyed information and was thematically engaging.
Materials and organization
Examples of materials I provide to my editing team and staff that allow us to stay organized and efficient when producing each issue.
Story guide
Guide I provide to writers to help them manage their time and effort while following a step-by-step process that helps them stay on deadline.
Story guide
Communication to team
I communicate with my team, allowing us to stay connected and engaged throughout the process.
Editor's checklist
Throughout each issue, I create and monitor a document with each editing assignment, the status of stories in the editing process, etc, which I encourage the team to keep updated. This increases our communication and efficiency while editing stories and creating the issue.
Templates
Templates I provide to maintain a newsroom standard and streamline the story-writing process.
