EDITING CLASS
publication editing class
At Westside, we have what is called Modular Scheduling. We have 10 class periods a day and each of the five days is a different schedule. Because of this, as editors, we often have a hard time meeting with each other to discuss how we can collaborate between publications. As editors, we are required to enroll in Publication Editing. The class meets twice a week to talk all things editing.
To the left is my schedule for the semester. Circled are my journalism classes(Yearbook, Wired, and Pub-Ed). While I may be in the J Hallway two, sometimes three, times a day, I do not get a lot of time to work on my personal work. I spend the majority of class time helping other students. Pub Ed gives me an opportunity to work on my own work as well as communicating with other editors.
EDITING PROCESS
Step one - keeping things updated
When a yearbook spread is "finished", staff members highlight their name in neon green, signaling to the editors and advisor that it is ready to be checked. We also encourage staff to text our group-chat and tell us in person, just to make sure nothing gets accidentally ignored.
STEP two - A FRESH SET OF EYES
Once we are informed that a spread is ready for editing, we print it out on paper. Our advisor focuses on editing the copy, primarily the stories, rather than the design. After writing his suggestions, he passes the printed pages to other staff members who weren't involved with the original spread. These staff members review the design aspects of the spread. Typically, our more experienced staff, who have a better understanding of design, are the ones editing this part.
Once the design edits are made, the pages are returned to the original staff member who worked on the spread. If the staff member is newer, I go over the changes with them and explain the reasoning behind each edit. This helps them learn what to focus on for future projects. I believe it’s important to explain the edits rather than simply making the changes ourselves, as it gives the creator a better understanding of the process and helps them improve.
Making Our Voices Heard Yearbook spread, printed with written edits. The edits on this page are focused around copy. As the owner of this spread, I made a note to pay more attention to my copy when creating a spread.
step 3 - student editors
As one of 3 editors, I am the last person to edit/lookover spreads before they are submitted. First, our copy editor goes through all copy on the page and fixes any errors she finds that were not previously changed with our paper editing exercises. I then go in and make sure all spreads have optimal and equal spacing between photos, copy boxes, graphics and anything else on the page. I also make sure color schemes and fonts are consistent and fit the aesthetic of the page. I make note of errors that are commonly made and relay that information to the entire class and, if needed, a specific staff member. I make sure to talk with staff about what they can improve on we find ways to have their ideas show rather than have me edit so much it becomes my spread rather than theirs. After I make final edits, our advisor scans through and submits for printing.
Before edits- Changes are annotated on the spread to clarify what needed to be changed.
After edits - Edits are annotate to show what was changed and why.
Before edits
After edits. I made story right aligned and moved captions around for better flow. I also changed some captions from being side by side to top and bottom for a clear distinction for which caption goes to which photo.
" I don't have anything to do!"
It is easy to think you are done with yearbook for the day if you finish your spread. However, there is always something staff members can be working on. Any time there are small things we need like a photo or quote, we put it on the "I don't have anything to do" list. Because of our split sections, I am not able to easily give someone a task when they say they "have nothing to do". This list allows for the entire staff to be up to date on what we need so we can be as productive as possible.
left to submit lists
When we are close to a deadline, I go through the entire book and list every unsubmitted spread. I make note of the topic, staff member assigned to it, and what all needs to be done. I then highlight the status of each page to make note of where our attention needs to be. This list serves as a reminder for staff to get their work done as well as give other staff members the chance to help out when they can.
LEADERSHIP
COMMUNICATION
As stated earlier, we have split sections in our Shield classes. I am the only editor in my section of about 13 people, nine of which are new staff members. Because of this, it is hard for me to talk to everyone in a 40 minute mod. I talk frequently with the other editors to make sure we are on the same page about what staff members are working on what assignment and how we can help one another succeed. While communication between editors is simple, it is a little harder to talk to a staff of 20 individually in one day. Given this, we have a group chat where we relay summaries of each class and remind staff members of happenings in the class. We post the same information on our Google Classroom however, our staff has shared that they see texts more than the GC notifications.
I also talk with our staff on the daily, checking in with the progress of each spread. I almost always have some sort of group announcement to make regarding all things yearbook. Whether it be reminders about deadlines or planning work nights, I talk to the group as a whole. I also talk with everyone individually about their progress and ask if they need help with anything.
TEAM BUILDING & BONDING
WORK NIGHTS & FOOD DAYS
In both Wired and Shield, we often have food days to celebrate meeting deadlines or simply to brighten things up. It really helps our publications take a break and use the mod for fun and relaxation before jumping back in to the chaos that is Journalism.
We hold bi-monthly work nights where Shield staff members work on a multitude of things. Staff members look over each other's pages because, we all know a fresh set of eyes is never a bad thing. The Shield class is separated into two different sections that meet during different mods. Because of this, I do not get the opportunity to meet with the other section and vice versa. My class has a majority of new-comers where as the other section holds our veteran staff. The splitting of sections makes it hard to communicate and get to know one another and work nights are a great way to simultaneously get work done and bond with each other.
Yearbook Food Day
Yearbook Work Night
JEA/NSPA NATIONAL JOURNALISM CONVENTIONS
NHSPA FALL CONVENTIONS
MAHONEY WORKSHOP
I have been lucky enough to attend 4 National Conventions throughout my time at Westside. In November of my Sophomore year, we attended the JEA/NSPA Fall Convention in St. Louis. The following Spring, we attended the JEA/NSPA Convention in San Fransisco. In November of my Junior year, I was able to attend the JEA/NSPA Fall Convention in Boston as well as the CSPA Columbia Crown Awards in March. Attending these conventions has opened my eyes to a world of journalism I would have never imagined. Most recently, when attending the Crown Awards in New York, I was able to attend a session hosted by a woman whose life was put on the line for the sake of Journalism. She was a journalist who endangered herself by reporting on the war in Russia and Ukraine. She talked about the threats she received on the daily and how she was able to persevere and keep fighting. Her story inspired me to never stop asking questions. Whether it be in a possible future journalism career or simply in my day to day life, her story stuck with me. These conventions also serve as a bonding opportunity for the students who go. I have gained new friendships and strengthened old ones every time we go on trips like this. Early mornings catching flights and late nights trying to stay quiet in the hotel paired with fun quiz bowl competitions and friendship bracelet making, the JEA/NSPA Conventions have been some of the best moments of my time in school. I also have been able to attend NHSPA Fall Conventions at UNL for 3 years in a row as well as the Mahoney Yearbook Workshops the last 3 years.
2022 St. Louis JEA/NSPA Mizzou Tiger
2023 San Fransisco JEA/NSPA
2023 Boston JEA/NSPA Quiz Bowl
2024 Columbia, New York Crown Awards
VALA'S BONDING
Every year, the Journalism Department goes to Vala's Pumpkin Patch for a bonding night! It is a great way for the 5 publications to get together and also allows new and old staff members to bond and talk outside of the classroom.
2023 Bonding - Some of the Shield, Wired, Sports J, Lance and WTV staff!
2023 Bonding - Some of the Wired, Shield, WTV and Sports J Edtiors
2023 Bonding
STAFF members OF THE MONTH
Each month, in our Publication Editing Class, we decide staff members from each publication to be the designated 'Staff Member of the Month". We then award the student in class with a trophy and candy. We have a wall in our Journalism IMC (room for working outside of the classroom) where we display a photo of the winner each month. This gives us an opportunity to recognize other staff members for the great work they do.
JOURNALISM BANQUET AND AWARDS
At the end of each year, we hold a banquet and hand out awards, both state/nationally recognized and self made superlatives. Families are invited as well and we begin the night with snacks and drinks before settling in for awards. Editors are in charge of making awards for their publications, both funny and serious. We also share results from different competitions such as Nebraska Press Womens, UNO, JEA/NSPA and others. Having staff and their families in attendance allows us all to celebrate our accomplishments and share the amazing successes of the department as a whole. We give recognition to the hard earned awards and, when applicable, perform a 'passing of the torch' where we name the new editors for the following year.
A fellow staff member and I holding the 'Shield Staff Member of the Year" plaque after both earning that title.
Fellow Wired Editor, Alex Ingvoldstad, and I pose with our awards at the end of the night.
