- Your publications staff is only as good as you lead them to be.\n - On most student media staffs, the student EIC becomes a trainer and leader for the rest of his/her staff.\n - This is a huge responsibility. Leadership is something I work on daily.\n
It sounds simple, but we know that college students like free food.\nMy editor and I have used this to our advantage.\nWe have pizza at each weekly staff meeting.\nHe cooks dinner for them when they have work nights.\nHe brings breakfast every Monday morning (deadline day).\nI occasionally bring tacos, etc. to editorial board meeting or take them to lunch.\nBut, most importantly, he bakes for them each Friday if they meet their weekly internal deadline.\nHe doesn’t hold it over their heads, they just know that if they meet deadline there will be something waiting for them Friday.\n
We do this during regular staff meeting.\nI present a short course each week on a topic that they’re having problems with.\nFor example, covering Student Senate or writing for the web.\n
The editors need to meet aside from the regular staff meeting to discuss ongoing internal issues.\nWe meet each week after regular meeting.\nWe have an agenda and use an egg timer to keep the meeting from going over an hour.\n
I send the staff first to my editor. If they don’t get a problem resolved with him, then they can come to me.\nI should never be the one they tell about story/deadline problems.\n Be sure those authorities are given the autonomy to do their jobs.\n
Once you are confident that the staffer understands how to do their job, back off and let them do it.\nTell them that you trust them to do the job, and will assume that things are ok unless they come to you with questions.\nEncourage them to do so.\n
Anytime the staff is working, the editor should be working too.\nIt’s just a fact, the editor should work twice as hard as any other staffer.\n
Editors are only as successful as their advisers.\nMy editor knows that he can contact me anytime they’re working in the newsroom and that I will come up anytime I need to.\nHe doesn’t take advantage of this.\n
Run to get a soda at the union, place a game of Taboo in leui of regular staff meeting… whatever it takes. \nRested minds are more productive.\n
As a peer coach, you should never assume that the writer knows something, whether it be a contact for a story or the next step in developing a package.\nGuide them through the entire process until you are confident that they can do it on their own.\n
My editor creates games.\nFor example, instead of griping at staffers who didn’t turn in their copy, he gave $10 to the staffer who had met deadline every weeke.\nInstead of griping at the staff for not reading the Web site, he gave a gift certificate to the staffer who could name three stories on the homepage.\n
This is basic management.\nNever cut down another staffer or their ideas in front of others.\nIf you need to correct a staffer, do so one-on-one and with specific examples.\nFocus on facts, not feelings.\n
Let everyone know what you’re reaching for and that you’ll support one another along the way.\nLet people know what the goals are. They can’t achieve what they don’t know about.\n
It’s wonderful to be friends with your staffers.\nIt’s not ok to gossip with them, especially about other staffers.\nYou always want to avoid the perception of cliques. Having them will break down your newsroom.\nTell story about editors sitting at desk and moving to round circle meeting.\n
Sing little Eeyore song.\nTell “glass half empty” theory.\nNo one wants to work for someone like this.\n
Help the staff understand why you do the things you do.\n“Because I said so” never works well.\n
This doesn’t mean to make the staff hate the adviser. \nWhat it does mean is have the type of adviser who allows you to blame tough decisions on them.\nBe that kind of editor too.\nExplain the chicken and the hen theory.\nBe protective of your staff. Go to bat for them when necessary.\n
It will be much easier to inspire the staff if you know why you’re doing what you’re doing.\nInforming the public, creating a greater democracy, serving the student body… whatever your purpose.\nSteep all of your decisions in this greater purpose.\n
