Editing, Leadership and Team Building
“Journalism is an act of faith in the future”
-Ann Curry, Journalist
Something to think about…
One of my former coaches once told me, “You can’t lead the pack if there isn’t a pack running behind you.” That is something that has stuck with me ever since, especially when I became the co-editor-in-chief of The Bridge.
Possessing a leadership quality is one of the most valuable assets a journalist can have, especially when working in a newsroom setting. When I picture a good leader in my mind, I see someone who is a servant to their craft and the people around them. Someone who is a model for others due to their success and good practices. Someone who tries to get everyone to tag along with them in their climb to success. And most importantly, someone who thinks about making an impact strong enough to last over time rather than just ‘right now’.
It’s been said, “you’re only as good as the people around you.” By creating solid relationships with professionals while strengthening the program, I have acquired leadership qualities I hope will help me leave my mark as a student journalist at Bridgeland High School and statewide.
Ensuring a story is told in the best way possible is crucial to accurate representation and maximizing impact. I understand how much another viewpoint can help improve my work, so I make sure to apply my absolute attention and knowledge into editing my peers’ work.
Click on an item to see an aspect of my editing process.
Editing
The More You Know
What I’ve learned from editing
How to give constructive criticism in a productive and positive way
Learning and using AP Style when making corrections
To take note of my peers’ writing and applying those skills to my own work
Leadership
Daily Checklist For Reporters and Editors
After the first beat cycle, all but three reporters failed to meet the extended deadline. I realized something in the production process was unclear for the staff, so I decided to bring everyone together to talk about the issue. I found a majority of the staff felt they needed some way to pace themselves to get their work done punctually rather than just leaving it up to them. So, I took it upon myself to incorporate a daily checklist for reporters and editors along with important dates/updates to know to tackle this issue. I update a Google Slide daily, and I display it on the journalism room’s Promethean board as soon as I walk into class every day. After doing this consistently, we diminished the missed deadline rate and increased productivity.
This is an example of what the checklist looks like to our staff every day.
CFISD Student-Athlete Leadership Team
This summer, I was one of six athletes nominated from my school to attend the Cy-Fair ISD’s Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. I participated in leadership training and engaged in discussions led by industry leaders with nominees from other schools about how they lead in their communities. I also listened to credible speakers on their perspectives of leadership. After the conference, every school reconvened and decided on how they were going to apply their learnings to fix issues in their respective communities. Since the school year began, Bridgeland’s SALT team has met consistently to brainstorm new initiatives and meets with the other SALT teams at the district level every few months. The original nominees for the conference assumed officer positions after reaching out to every sport at the school to bring in representatives. The SALT team has grown in size and prominence and has future outreach plans in the works after a successful holiday toy drive. Playing a part in impacting the school and the area around it has helped me grow as a leader by uniting vision with action, and it has helped me grow as an athlete and all-around person.
Speaking on stage at the CFISD Student-Athlete Leadership Conference.
The Bridgeland SALT team’s officers attend a district meeting.
Spearheading discussion at the first Bridgeland SALT meeting with new representatives.
Softball athletes who were nominated to attend the conference personally met Olympian and all-time softball great Cat Osterman, a speaker at the event.
Story Promotion Instagram Templates
Bridgeland Student Media was locked out of Instagram heading into this school year. We were forced to create a new account and rebuild our following and social media presence. But when one door closes, another one opens. My co-editor-in-chief and I decided that due to the fresh slate we were presented with, we could implement more cohesiveness into the way we post. We also noticed the only social media promotion of new stories on The Bridge occurred on the Instagram story, which disappears after 24 hours and exists in a space some users choose not to look at. After looking at some accounts of professional publications like The Texas Tribune, we noticed they promoted each of their new stories with a consistent template, which presented us with a solution to both concerns. We quickly opened Canva and designed our own social media template for every staffer to fill out after completing their story, and we post them all in an Instagram carousel.
Pictured is the template all staffers are required to use and then how one of our staffers tailored it to their story.
The More You Know
What I’ve learned from leadership
Coordination and organization skills
To create good, consistent habits that rub off on others
To be approachable, relatable and dependable to truly spearhead a program
Team Building
Staff Parties
The Bridge graduated a lot of seniors in 2022 who were integral to the staff’s chemistry. So, building comfort between everyone this year has been a huge goal of mine. My co-editor-in-chief and I decided rewarding reporters and editors would be crucial to achieving that. We use a class day to socialize instead of work every once in a while in order to let them step away from their computer and enjoy everyone’s company instead. Although small, these parties give the staff bursts of energy needed after a long cycle of work and foster stronger relationships amongst staffers.
Pictured is our Halloween party where we held a cookie decorating contest, enjoyed spooky treats while listening to Halloween music and played “Just Dance”.
The Bridge staff poses for a photo at their Halloween party.
Staff members gather around the center of the newsroom to decorate Halloween cookies for their cookie decorating contest. The winner was determined by taking a poll on the Bridgeland Student Media Instagram.
Section Editor Presentations
Creating a sense of trust between the editors-in-chief and the section editors is vital to the productivity and success of the publication. I wanted them to feel they held their own unique power and understand the vital role they play. So instead of my co-editor-in-chief and I giving lessons on each section to the staff at the beginning of the year, we allowed each section editor to make their own presentations with no stipulations besides informing the staff fully. Each editor got a day to present so they had as much time as needed. Every editor assumed the responsibility, and it was cool to see the passion and perspective all of them showed about their respective section. Turning the control over to them to teach the staff about their section strengthened the way the editing squad functions.
Here is one of the presentations given to the staff by a section editor.
Story Cycle Meetings
Before a new cycle of production begins, my co-EIC and I conduct a meeting with all of the editors on how we can improve as a publication. We discuss the positives and negatives from the previous cycles and what steps can be taken to be more efficient. We also brainstorm new ideas for content, promotion and adjustments to the website. I found having these meetings right before every cycle keeps the staff organized, on the same page and more cohesive as a whole. These meetings allow us to collaborate on bettering the publication.
Click here to see what my notes look like from every meeting and what is discussed.
Middle School Outreach Night
Part of leaving my mark on scholastic journalism is ensuring I help the next generation of journalists after me, which is why both Bridgeland Student Media’s newspaper and yearbook staff decided to create a Middle School Outreach Night. We worked together to invite all middle school students in the area and their parents to Bridgeland to learn more about what the school’s media program has to offer while also providing experiential training and portfolio photos for the students. This event will take place in early March, and I am one of the staffers making the night as successful as possible.
Below is a flyer I created promoting the event.
Words From My Co-EIC
“There are many faces to Haylie Stum– athlete, journalist, student, friend– and she kills it in every role. I’ve been blessed with Haylie’s acquaintance for the past seven years, and she’s shown nothing but drive and determination from the beginning. I vividly recall her becoming a part of a local radio sports show in middle school, and since then, I knew she’d be going places. I can honestly say I've never met someone with the level of self-discipline as her; she juggles so many tasks at once and manages to get it all done with a smile on her face. The respect I have for Haylie and her grind is unparalleled. She doesn’t confine herself to one role and capitalize off that; she could easily write herself off as an amazing athlete and society would be satisfied with that. But instead, Haylie is a phenomenal athlete, journalist, student, friend, and of course, the most amazing co-editor-in-chief I could ask for.”
-Grace Kirkley, Co-Editor-In-Chief alongside Haylie
The Bridge Staff thinks…
“ Haylie is extremely well-organized and brings the staff together in a safe space to share our ideas and opinions while maintaining the integrity of the program. ”
-Ryleigh Wilson, Features and Magazine Editor
“ Haylie teaches me how to navigate and implement my ideas and provides good feedback on how I can improve as a journalist. She offers out-of-the-box ideas when I struggle creatively and boosts my confidence in the newsroom. ”
-Stevie Scheiffele, First-Year Staff Member
“ After having a more difficult time working with my past editors-in-chief, Haylie was a breath of fresh air for me this fall. She is such an exceptional chief and has steered all of us, reporters and editors, to great success regardless of where we are in the writing chain. I’m so glad that she is on our team this year, introducing new angles to sports reporting than what we originally had and leading with humility. She is truly a noteworthy example of what it means to be a journalist. ”
-Carolyn Gilbert, Copy and Magazine Editor
“ I admire her for her creativity; it is inspiring. I know that any ideas I bring to Haylie, she will improve them and make them speak. ”
-Charleigh Thomas, News and Sports Editor
The More You Know
What I’ve learned from team building
To build solid relationships that are both professional and personal
To foster trust between staff members as a whole and individually
To emphasize the importance of collaboration to accomplish goals