As Editor-in-Chief of The Spartan Shield, I have had a wonderful opportunity to practice my leadership skills. In the fall semester of 2023, I had a staff of 38 to collaborate with and keep organized.
Preparation
During the summer of 2023, I had the amazing opportunity to learn and report at the Boston University Summer Journalism Institute for three weeks. I knew I wanted to be ready for my new role, and this was a great opportunity for me to learn in more depth about the field of journalism, giving me the practical skills and knowledge I needed to be a good Editor-in-Chief.
I was instructed by acclaimed journalists and author Stephanie Schorow, who made a point of giving hands-on assignments with real-world applications. My time in Boston taught me to recognize mistakes in AP style, notice instances of bias in writing and ask better questions of interview subjects, all of which have proven to be instrumental in my leadership. Additionally, classes at the institute were modeled after a real news room, demonstrating how professionalism could carry over to a classroom environment. |
Communication
As a leader, it's incredibly important that I make sure all of my staff is on the same page about deadlines, expectations and procedures. For most of my communication with my staff, I text in group chats. We have one chat for each class period, so I make sure to always send messages in both.
I also use texts to communicate with individual staff members about their work. Everyone has access to my phone number, and we have established a relationship of open communication, where they know that I am always available to answer questions. This line of communication also means that I can reach out with any questions or concerns.
Having Difficult Conversations
Part of being a good leader is being willing to have tough conversations. Early this year, it was brought to my attention that one member of my staff may have been using AI to write his articles. Upon further inspection, my advisor and I determined that he had written and published two pieces written by AI. I emailed the staff member to inform him on how we would proceed, drawing attention especially to the fact that he failed to uphold our site integrity. |
Team Building
In my mind, a newspaper staff should be like a family; able to work as a team and have fun together. With such a large staff, we are divided across two classes, which makes bonding and team building all the more important
Journalist of the Week
In past years, The Shield has tried to implement a "Journalist of the Week" routine, but it has rarely been done on a constant timeframe. I decided to update the original plans and continue with it, selecting a new staff member to recognize each week. This builds the confidence of my staff and allows them to celebrate one another's accomplishments. Secret Santa One of the best parts about having such a large staff is the fun activities that only work with a big group. To celebrate the holidays, we had a Secret Santa gift exchange between both classes. Pitch Day Snacks Every week on Pitch Day, I bring in some sort of snack or treat for my staff. This helps with the atmosphere in more ways than one— the snacks boost everyone's mood and keep us all on task. |
Honors
The Spartan Shield has been highly accredited in the past year. At the IHSPA State Conference, we were awarded News Team of the Year as well as Yearbook of the year. Shortly afterwards. we were recognized by the mayor of Riverdale, who declared Nov. 14, 2023 to officially be "Spartan Shield Day" in the city. No individual could achieve this success alone, and I believe that my leadership has made an impact on how our staff collaborates and what we are able to accomplish.
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Sharing my Experiences
As I have grown in my journalism and leadership skills, I have also been offered opportunities to share my skills and growth with others.
A Positive Place
A Positive Place club at my school is an organization of students striving to improve our school community and make the world a better place. In December, I was invited to speak and participate in a Q&A about my work with the school board election. The club wanted to not only learn about my specific experience, but get tips on how best to communicate with local officials and other adults in power. Act in Impact Act in impact is a page dedicated to praising student leaders and organizations, showcasing their advocacy and impact. I have been invited to help Act in Impact begin a new series of interviews with student leaders and role models, talking about what it's like to be a leader and how I've built my skills. |