My Time as A&E Editor at Skidmore News ... A Retrospective
By Eric Shapiro - 5/14/2010 - Independent Study Paper Spring 2010 - Professor Victor Cahn
I was sitting in the hot seat, my foot tapping out an anxious rhythm on the newsroom floor. It was election time, and I was running against a formidable opponent: myself. The other would-be A&E editor had been disqualified on the grounds of corruption in student government. The only thing standing between the position and me was my fear of public speaking and the lingering reservations about taking on such a big commitment. My friend, who would end up dropping out of Skidmore after suffering a nervous breakdown, in part due to the stresses associated with his duties as News Editor, had convinced me that devoting several nights a week to a non-mandatory extra-curricular activity would be fine.
A part of me hoped I would not be elected so that I wouldn’t have to worry about the extra responsibilities. As it turned out, the Skidmore News Editorial Board was desperate to fill positions in order to provide for a functioning paper when several of its current members were going abroad. It felt as if they were trying to convert me to some journalistic religion. They soothed my doubts with their insistence that layout would be a piece of cake once I got the hang of the In Design program, that writers would usually send me their articles on time and that I would have plenty of time to continue writing reviews, which was my main interest.
When an email later that day congratulated me on my victory, I can’t say I was surprised. I still wasn’t convinced that I had made the right decision, but my imminent winter vacation allowed me to put Skidmore News out of my mind. When the next semester commenced and it was time for layout night #1, all of my doubts flooded back. After a brief lesson on how to lay out a newspaper page, it was time to get started. I discovered soon after sitting down at the computer that I had no knack for design. I could not wrap my head around the overwhelming number of commands, fonts, stylistic rules and odd In Design quirks that seemed to thwart my every move.
Overwhelmed by the unenviable responsibility of assisting the almost entirely new editorial staff, the co-editors in chief were not on hand to answer questions. Several times at the beginning of the semester they had to redo my atrociously designed pages from scratch. I was further challenged by my writers’ inability to get their articles in on time and conform to stylistic guidelines, some of which I didn’t understand myself. After spending every Monday frantically searching the school website for events to pitch, oftentimes memorizing details of potential stories no one would take, sending me their articles somewhere near on time seemed like the least they could do. Alas, most weeks I was forced to do the bulk of my editing on Wednesday evening, shortly before commencing layout.
I quickly began to dread Wednesday layout nights for their pressure and inevitable lack of seep. These factors, combined with what I saw as a lack of appreciation on the part of my editors-in-chief stemming from my difficulty with layout, made my attitude towards newspaper less than positive. There was also the fact that my other duties usually took precedence over writing my own reviews and articles. I considered quitting.
However, several factors persuaded me to stay. First, slaving away several nights a week to get my section done allowed me an opportunity to get to know my fellow editors. I felt a sense of loyalty and responsibility toward the paper, much like I imagine I will toward my co-workers when I get a job after college. I did not get along well with everyone, but we shared what I hope was a mutual respect toward one another. We learned to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses. My weakness was clearly layout, but I received praise for the quality of my editing and writing. I also developed a deep concern for the quality of my section. What began as a nuisance and source of anxiety became a point of pride.
One thing that really made me realize how much I cared about newspaper was my reaction when people insulted it. As a freshman, I often joined the chorus of voices criticizing Skidmore News. In retrospect, my derision for the paper was not based in reality, but was rather the result of a few anecdotes I had heard from those who had written for it and a few changes that had been made to my articles in past semesters. However, as an editor I developed an appreciation for the hard work and talent that goes into publishing a weekly paper. My loyalty to Skid News manifested itself in my impassioned defense of our journalistic integrity. At times when specific complaints were valid, I called attention to the overall lack of errors considering the small staff and a limited amount of time. I learned from experience how difficult it is to balance what could be a full-time job with my studies and will no longer stand for uninformed, ungrateful people who take Skidmore News for granted and demean the small, devoted staff who voluntarily use their free time to contribute to the college community.
During my stint as A&E editor, I developed skills in all different areas. Although my layout abilities still leave much to be desired, at least now I can say I have basic proficiency in Adobe InDesign. I am certainly better at using the program now than I ever thought possible, which I view as an accomplishment in and of itself. At the very least, it will come in handy on job applications. I am also a much better editor than I was before. I did not expect that editing other people’s articles could be so different than doing so for my own writing. A major challenge for me at the beginning of the semester was maintaining the style and voice of others’ writing while simultaneously correcting their often numerous mistakes and departures from AP (Associated Press) style. Now, it is almost second nature. Communicating with staff writers via email also forced me to be patient, organized and punctual, which aren’t traits many people would associate with me. I have also become more comfortable with public speaking from having to pitch articles at weekly meetings. While I am still not at ease talking in front of groups, I am now able to project a minimal level of calm and say what I want to say in a concise manner.
As you may have already gleaned from reading the bulk of this essay, writing reviews was not at the forefront of my Skidmore News endeavors, at least compared to last semester when I had a bi-weekly column. Nevertheless, a lack of content for my section some weeks gave me the opportunity to hone my skills as a critic. In addition to learning from experience and your advice (I wish our schedules had allowed us to meet more often), I incorporated what I was learning concurrently in Professor Wolff’s class, Writing About Drama. I reviewed two campus productions, as well as works from several different artistic mediums, including film, literature, music and video games. Even though I was not able to devote as much time as I would have liked to reviews, I can honestly say I am proud of most of what I have written.
I am happy that I can say I left my mark on the paper in several respects. First, I shifted the focus of A&E from what I saw as bland coverage of arts events on campus to a more review-focused slant. While point-by-point description works in the context of news coverage, the arts are more conducive to less formal, more opinionated writing. I clashed with my superiors on several instances over the direction in which I took A&E, but ultimately I was able to have my way because far more writers were interested in writing reviews than just coverage. To be fair, I feel my section would have been strongest had it featured a wider range of articles, particularly interviews with student and visiting artists, but with the limited time and reporters at my disposal, I did the best I could. I am particularly proud of having introduced a new feature called “About to Drop,” which previews future releases in the art world. Consistent with my overall approach to A&E, I used it as an opportunity to move beyond dry exposition into stylistically engaging, analytical, lively and humorous prose.
Also, with some help from my father, who knows more about web design and technology than I ever will, I maintained a blog, which I consistently updated every week. From a practical standpoint, it is great to have all my writing in one space so I can refer others to it. On a more meaningful level, it allowed me to track my progression as a writer over the course of the semester. My biggest problem was and still is my tendency to be longwinded, to “tread water” rather than just getting to the point. Seeing as the latter is an element of good journalism, this is something I will continue to be mindful of in the future.
My tenure as A&E editor caused me no end of stress, but ultimately I am glad I did it. The skills I developed over the course of the semester, from In Design to working as a member of a team, will prove invaluable to me as a prospective journalist. I did not run for re-election because I was unwilling to make a definitive commitment before seeing my grades, but I have no doubt that there would be many benefits to doing so, chief among them being that next semester I would have a co-editor. Regardless, I am certain I will look back on my time as a member of the Skidmore News editorial board as a pivotal point in my development as a writer.
I was sitting in the hot seat, my foot tapping out an anxious rhythm on the newsroom floor. It was election time, and I was running against a formidable opponent: myself. The other would-be A&E editor had been disqualified on the grounds of corruption in student government. The only thing standing between the position and me was my fear of public speaking and the lingering reservations about taking on such a big commitment. My friend, who would end up dropping out of Skidmore after suffering a nervous breakdown, in part due to the stresses associated with his duties as News Editor, had convinced me that devoting several nights a week to a non-mandatory extra-curricular activity would be fine.
A part of me hoped I would not be elected so that I wouldn’t have to worry about the extra responsibilities. As it turned out, the Skidmore News Editorial Board was desperate to fill positions in order to provide for a functioning paper when several of its current members were going abroad. It felt as if they were trying to convert me to some journalistic religion. They soothed my doubts with their insistence that layout would be a piece of cake once I got the hang of the In Design program, that writers would usually send me their articles on time and that I would have plenty of time to continue writing reviews, which was my main interest.
When an email later that day congratulated me on my victory, I can’t say I was surprised. I still wasn’t convinced that I had made the right decision, but my imminent winter vacation allowed me to put Skidmore News out of my mind. When the next semester commenced and it was time for layout night #1, all of my doubts flooded back. After a brief lesson on how to lay out a newspaper page, it was time to get started. I discovered soon after sitting down at the computer that I had no knack for design. I could not wrap my head around the overwhelming number of commands, fonts, stylistic rules and odd In Design quirks that seemed to thwart my every move.
Overwhelmed by the unenviable responsibility of assisting the almost entirely new editorial staff, the co-editors in chief were not on hand to answer questions. Several times at the beginning of the semester they had to redo my atrociously designed pages from scratch. I was further challenged by my writers’ inability to get their articles in on time and conform to stylistic guidelines, some of which I didn’t understand myself. After spending every Monday frantically searching the school website for events to pitch, oftentimes memorizing details of potential stories no one would take, sending me their articles somewhere near on time seemed like the least they could do. Alas, most weeks I was forced to do the bulk of my editing on Wednesday evening, shortly before commencing layout.
I quickly began to dread Wednesday layout nights for their pressure and inevitable lack of seep. These factors, combined with what I saw as a lack of appreciation on the part of my editors-in-chief stemming from my difficulty with layout, made my attitude towards newspaper less than positive. There was also the fact that my other duties usually took precedence over writing my own reviews and articles. I considered quitting.
However, several factors persuaded me to stay. First, slaving away several nights a week to get my section done allowed me an opportunity to get to know my fellow editors. I felt a sense of loyalty and responsibility toward the paper, much like I imagine I will toward my co-workers when I get a job after college. I did not get along well with everyone, but we shared what I hope was a mutual respect toward one another. We learned to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses. My weakness was clearly layout, but I received praise for the quality of my editing and writing. I also developed a deep concern for the quality of my section. What began as a nuisance and source of anxiety became a point of pride.
One thing that really made me realize how much I cared about newspaper was my reaction when people insulted it. As a freshman, I often joined the chorus of voices criticizing Skidmore News. In retrospect, my derision for the paper was not based in reality, but was rather the result of a few anecdotes I had heard from those who had written for it and a few changes that had been made to my articles in past semesters. However, as an editor I developed an appreciation for the hard work and talent that goes into publishing a weekly paper. My loyalty to Skid News manifested itself in my impassioned defense of our journalistic integrity. At times when specific complaints were valid, I called attention to the overall lack of errors considering the small staff and a limited amount of time. I learned from experience how difficult it is to balance what could be a full-time job with my studies and will no longer stand for uninformed, ungrateful people who take Skidmore News for granted and demean the small, devoted staff who voluntarily use their free time to contribute to the college community.
During my stint as A&E editor, I developed skills in all different areas. Although my layout abilities still leave much to be desired, at least now I can say I have basic proficiency in Adobe InDesign. I am certainly better at using the program now than I ever thought possible, which I view as an accomplishment in and of itself. At the very least, it will come in handy on job applications. I am also a much better editor than I was before. I did not expect that editing other people’s articles could be so different than doing so for my own writing. A major challenge for me at the beginning of the semester was maintaining the style and voice of others’ writing while simultaneously correcting their often numerous mistakes and departures from AP (Associated Press) style. Now, it is almost second nature. Communicating with staff writers via email also forced me to be patient, organized and punctual, which aren’t traits many people would associate with me. I have also become more comfortable with public speaking from having to pitch articles at weekly meetings. While I am still not at ease talking in front of groups, I am now able to project a minimal level of calm and say what I want to say in a concise manner.
As you may have already gleaned from reading the bulk of this essay, writing reviews was not at the forefront of my Skidmore News endeavors, at least compared to last semester when I had a bi-weekly column. Nevertheless, a lack of content for my section some weeks gave me the opportunity to hone my skills as a critic. In addition to learning from experience and your advice (I wish our schedules had allowed us to meet more often), I incorporated what I was learning concurrently in Professor Wolff’s class, Writing About Drama. I reviewed two campus productions, as well as works from several different artistic mediums, including film, literature, music and video games. Even though I was not able to devote as much time as I would have liked to reviews, I can honestly say I am proud of most of what I have written.
I am happy that I can say I left my mark on the paper in several respects. First, I shifted the focus of A&E from what I saw as bland coverage of arts events on campus to a more review-focused slant. While point-by-point description works in the context of news coverage, the arts are more conducive to less formal, more opinionated writing. I clashed with my superiors on several instances over the direction in which I took A&E, but ultimately I was able to have my way because far more writers were interested in writing reviews than just coverage. To be fair, I feel my section would have been strongest had it featured a wider range of articles, particularly interviews with student and visiting artists, but with the limited time and reporters at my disposal, I did the best I could. I am particularly proud of having introduced a new feature called “About to Drop,” which previews future releases in the art world. Consistent with my overall approach to A&E, I used it as an opportunity to move beyond dry exposition into stylistically engaging, analytical, lively and humorous prose.
Also, with some help from my father, who knows more about web design and technology than I ever will, I maintained a blog, which I consistently updated every week. From a practical standpoint, it is great to have all my writing in one space so I can refer others to it. On a more meaningful level, it allowed me to track my progression as a writer over the course of the semester. My biggest problem was and still is my tendency to be longwinded, to “tread water” rather than just getting to the point. Seeing as the latter is an element of good journalism, this is something I will continue to be mindful of in the future.
My tenure as A&E editor caused me no end of stress, but ultimately I am glad I did it. The skills I developed over the course of the semester, from In Design to working as a member of a team, will prove invaluable to me as a prospective journalist. I did not run for re-election because I was unwilling to make a definitive commitment before seeing my grades, but I have no doubt that there would be many benefits to doing so, chief among them being that next semester I would have a co-editor. Regardless, I am certain I will look back on my time as a member of the Skidmore News editorial board as a pivotal point in my development as a writer.