Editing, Leadership & Team Building
As a Section Editor for North Pointe, it is my responsibility to take on several leadership roles. In being someone underclassmen or interns look up to throughout the course, I can deepen their passion and connection to journalism. I strive to inspire the younger generations in the course to love journalism and digital media as much as I do. I want to inspire my fellow journalists in North Pointe to go the extra mile, as their hard work will pay off. I feel unified with my North Pointe team as we continuously bond regardless of how far into the school year we are. We continuously push each other to be out best and work our hardest. I love this team and wouldn't trade them for the world. Scroll to discover what editing, leadership and team bonding look like at North Pointe.
Editing
Part of my section editor responsibilities include initiating the editing process. Once a story is written, those who wrote it log into Basecamp and notify the team. This is referred to as signing up for a first. Then, myself or the other editors pick up stories, meaning we edit their first attempt at the story. Through Basecamp we communicate and work together to create captivating stories for our publication.
"Got it"
First Reads
As briefly explained above, it is my responsibility to initiate the reads process once the stories are ready. I like to think of this process as a rough draft. Rather than taking a story and changing everything, I leave comments in areas that could use a little refurbishing. This method of leaving notes rather than mindlessly changing the story allows those who wrote the story to understand the edits and learn. It helps them become stronger writers in the future.
Communication is Key
Utilizing Basecamp
Basecamp is the key to communication in North Pointe. From links to all the documents, spread-planners, story sign offs, random threads and more, Basecamp has it all. My most used source of Basecamp is the "Ping" feature. It essentially is like a hybrid of texting and emailing, and in North Pointe, is the quickest and most efficient method of contacting any team member. Here I am notifying the writers of the story I edited to keep the process moving as it is ready to be reevaluated.
More Comments
Fixing It Up
Sometimes the process isn't picture perfect. When informed they have fixed up my comments and suggestions, I have to reread the story and see if it needs any more work. In this case, the story still had some trouble spots, but nothing major. I kindly pinged the writers again asking if they could check over a few more comments and to not feel discouraged as all future changes were extremely minor and they always had me if any help was needed.
Signing Off
Ready for a Second Read
Once all of my comments are resolved, my work is done. It is now time for the next person in line to give it a second read. In North Pointe, to add a little life to the reads process, each editor has a goofy nick-name to sign off as signifying the first read is complete. As seen here, my sign off name is yogabbygabby.
Leadership
Initially an intern, I was promoted to a staff reporter and am now a section editor. As an editor, I complete first reads and edits for the stories and have learned skills that I utilize as a leader. I have a newfound sense of patience, empathy and more when approaching any issue. As an editor, I aspire to make everyone in the course feel comfortable through answering their questions and concerns. Through my leadership, I aspire to inspire underclassmen into becoming future leaders in the NP program.
.jpg)
Mentoring
In North Pointe, when I first joined the class I was a mentee assigned to a mentor. My mentor was Farrah, our editor-in-chief at the time, and I am so grateful for everything she taught me. From being timid and not even knowing if this class was for me, she was the best teacher and an even better friend. As a leader in the class, I am now the mentor. I write and assist my mentees in writing their first story and more. I was initially so nervous and didn't think I would be helpful. My mentees are the absolute best. Nick and Kelton continuously amaze me as they grow in this class. They came into journalism knowing the bare minimum regarding writing and now are huge assets to our publication.
Bonding
Although being a mentor means having a lot of responsibilities, I would be lying if I said it wasn't a blast. Above, I am working on story planning with my mentees Kelton and Nick. Story planning happens for each issue and is the brainstorming of potential stories. Kelton and Nick are such joys to work with and I see so much potential in them as they continue in this course.
_HEIC.png)
Teaching
Above I am assisting my mentee Nick. When creating his portfolio, he was unfamiliar with wix and needed assistance on how to change photos. Here I am assisting my mentee. I will always do whatever I can to help others.
Promoting
According to NP tradition, in order to be promoted, the mentor must present their mentee with a motivating and congratulatory speech setting them into the future along with a newspaper hat from the issue they were promoted during and candy. Above is my mentee Nick on his promotion.
Goals
Vision Board
Collectively, the NP editors decided to go into the new year with new goals. Each class had the editors write down their future aspirations for the paper or what we could improve on. Only one or two issues after the board was made, we have made so much improve as a team. I noted creating resources for interns feeling lost in the class. I am so proud of how far we have come and am so excited to see how we will continue to grow our publication.
How to make your quick hits a HIT!
Intern Resource
As sports section editor, it is my responsibility to make those reporting on a story for my section feel as confident and comfortable in their work as possible. I want to give my undivided attention to everyone, but sometimes time doesn't allow. As previously mentioned on the vision board, I envisioned creating a 'cheat sheet' for those reporting on something sports related to use. I called this "How to make your quick hits a HIT!" as it's the section I find myself critiquing and editing most. In this resource, I wanted to capture the significant of quick hits to cover the whole team's goal during the season, rather than being just about the player. Ever since, I have left less comments while editing this section of my pages.
.jpg)
Just Dance!
Ice Breaker
I was so incredibly proud of this idea. As a section editor, leadership is a huge part of my contribution to the team. Part of my responsibility is making sure everyone is confortable around each other and not afraid. After all, isn't there an expression that goes something like "dance like nobody is watching"? I decided to bring that expression to life. What's a better way to break the ice and kill the awkwardness? Definetly dancing around people you barely know. I am so proud of how this idea turned out as people continuously to this day tell me how much fun they had. It was a hit.
PROD Nights
Where the magic happens
The notorious PROD Night: production night for the North Pointe publication. This is where the editor-in-chief, managing editor and section editors along with our lovely advisor Ms. Dunn work 'after hours'. We spend our evenings once, sometimes twice, a month in the journalism room perfecting pages and making the publication perfect. Whenever I explain to someone what a PROD Night is, they always call it crazy and say I must be insane if I like it. However, I am dreading the day I attend my last PROD Night. I have built a new family and bond with my team and enjoy laughing over silly mistakes we make. I wouldn't trade these 'after hours' for anything in the world
Team Building
As previously shown through fun icebreakers, being in North Pointe means being a part of a family. I am so grateful I joined this team. We always have a blast regardless of what team bonding, work or mini lesson is at hand. Keep scrolling to explore what team bonding looks like in North Pointe.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
North Pointe Tradition
Not to brag, but I am quite the pumpkin decorator. I am fortunate enough to have participated in the North Pointe pumpkin decorating contest two times, representing my two years in the course. My sophomore year I made Bob the tomato from Veggie Tales, winning the most edible award. Senior year I made Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc, winning the Disney award. Coming from a reigning pumpkin-decorating champion, this team building experience is a blast and always makes me feel connected on another level with my peers. Working creatively initiates a deeper bond.
ED BOARD Matching Hoodies
Look good. Feel good. Write well.
Don't we look nice. Being a part of the North Pointe team means bonding. I am so incredibly close with each and every person in the picture to the right. To make getting down to business on PROD Nights a little more fun and lighthearted, one of the editors suggested getting hoodies to wear specially for PROD Nights. They turned out so cute and are so cozy. In our matching outfits, as silly as it sounds, we are as bonded as ever.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Distribution Day & Awards
Who doesn't like being rewarded?
A HUGE part of North Pointe is appreciation. This includes appreciating the work of the class as a whole and the work of individual writers who went above and beyond for their contributions each publication. It shows that their hard work does not go unnoticed. During our distribution days, or when we pass the newest issue of the paper around the school, we have a gratitude circle individually showing our appreciation. After the gratitude circle we have a candy awards ceremony followed by the occasional promotion. The candies that can be awarded are Life Savers, for those who's hard work and perseverance was such a huge help it saved the paper, and Milky Ways, for those who's work was "out of this world". The photos to the left show all of these traditions. In one I am receiving a Milky Way since my page design was "out of this world". In another, I am promoting my mentee Nick for all his journalistic achievements with the traditional newspaper hat made from the latest issue and pack of starbursts.