Claire Portfolio 2021

CLAIRE PORTFOLIO!

EDITING AS EIC

This year has been an experience unlike any other in the newspaper. To be honest, it might be different from every year I’ve even seen as far as being editor in chief goes. In my first year in the class, I saw a well-staffed, well-run paper function as normal. The editors in chief, Logan and Avianna, were there to assist and make executive decisions; however, each editor had taken the proper coursework and understood the programs they were using (to a degree.) Then, during the pandemic, everything went haywire. Editor in chief went from a title to the reason Max was pulling out his hair, and without you we were simply trying to make do. Now, a year after 2020, we’ve reached a sort of middle ground.

I’m lucky to have your guidance, Philip’s design eye, and our own mini Adamson (Cooper), yet the staff is lacking knowledge.

We’re having to build a paper from scratch it seems. I’ve learned, more than anything, to be patient. We’re working with only a few people who really know how this publication is supposed to be run, and it’s nobody’s fault. We’re having to simultaneously produce the paper and teach the basic skills required to produce it. I spend the entire class period running back and forth, listening for a “Claire!” to attend to, assisting editors with their stories, guiding staff writers, and making the quick decisions required for the job. So while this year is unlike any other, I’m hoping to leave the class confident in what I’m leaving

behind.

A majority of the common mistakes I’m seeing aren’t really anybody’s fault. The entire staff lacks knowledge of InDesign and proper journalistic technique, but I know people are trying to catch up quickly. The largest folly of the editors this year is probably attitude. I’m not seeing a lot of personal responsibility or ownership for their pages. Stories aren’t getting properly edited in some cases, and staff writers can sometimes feel on their own for help. I think the solution to this is already underway. With a few issues of the paper under our belt, and the further division of work between Philip and I, I truly believe these problems will lessen next semester.

MY DICTATORSHIP I’m very grateful that we are a close knit team this year.

While that comes with a slew of other issues, I do think we’re building bonds unlike many years I’ve seen before. I try to keep a relationship with all of the editors and writers, and offer my support to anyone I see struggling. Where I’m failing the most is time management, which is affecting how I can lead the paper. If I’m scrambling to finish something else entirely while in the class, I’m not available to help the team as much as I’d like. Once again, with my new position focused entirely on writing I’ll think I’ll be of more use.

I get frustrated easily, and can be semi-abrasive I think. I lack patience in favor of making jokes and incompetence puts me in a Hulk-like rage capable of smashing a table. I would not be a good teacher. Despite all of this, I do try to build a rapport with each editor and writer. I truly believe most of the staff and I have a mutual respect for each other, and can get over our own egos and personalities to help each other. I’ve clashed many times with some of the boys, yet will be over to their com-

puters in a second to help them with anything they need. Putting the newspaper first, like a professional job, helps us keep things running smoothly.

I love being a leader. Maybe it’s my ego, maybe it’s a need to be in charge, or maybe I truly believe I’m capable of leading well. Who knows? I do not, and I’d rather not unpack that.

To create an award winning publication, every step of the process must have and show complete care. We do this excellently with our ideas and topics we shoes to cover in the paper, as well as our actual design. I see people most passionate about these issues, and can tell we put more effort into brainstorming and designing than anywhere else. I find we struggle most in the middle. Brainstorming and design are the very beginning and very end of producing the paper, and it feels like a fire is under us to get it out on time. The editing and writing, however, is the bulk of it. Naturally we lose steam, and people begin to get distracted by whatever else is going on at the time. My focus on writing and editing next semester could help this, but I also think maybe the new implementation of weekly grades will improve this.

I like this little wolf analogy. I like to imagine little wolves with all of our distinct characteristics, one has pink hair for Hailey, a pair of glasses for Hudson, and a little hat for Philip.

The editors in chief are the last wolves because they must oversee the overall state of the pack. Each group is important, and to keep watch of all of them trailing behind is necessary. I see this echoed in the way that you, Cooper, and I always stay a minute after class ends. We’ll discuss what needs to be done and quickly recap the day, just checking in with each other once everyone is gone. I appreciate and enjoy watching over this specific wolf pack, and I’m honestly sad we’re halfway through.