As Editor-in-Chief of the print Spartan Shield, final edits on all designs and articles are up to me, a job I do not take lightly. I diligently edit every article month to month to ensure that each news cycle culminates in an edition we can all be proud of. 

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The News Cycle

Each month, the Publications staff goes through a series of steps in order to produce our monthly editions of The Spartan Shield. 

1. Pitch Day
After a new edition goes to print, our staff convenes to assemble the articles and designs for the next month's edition. These are often soft news pieces centered on student activities or national news topics that are relevant to our student body. We also come up with six or seven articles that fall under our Cover Story category, which serves as the inspiration for our cover each month as well. We often bring snacks to share with the staff on pitch days to celebrate finishing our previous edition!

2. Writing 

Next, each staff member goes to work researching, writing and designing their allotted pieces to be completed by a certain due date. I am always available for questions about article topics, offering feedback or giving recommendations for interviews! 

3. Editing 

After the submission due date, the section editors edit the articles in their section for grammar, content, syntax and fluidity. Then, I edit every article (often twice) to ensure no details were missed. 

4. Placing 

For our Print newspaper, seeing everything come together in the final days before send-out is the most rewarding part of the news cycle. We use Adobe InDesign and Photoshop to create our layouts and place our designs and articles in their allotted spots before sending our work to the printers! 

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My Editing Philosophy 

Editing isn’t just about catching mistakes—it’s about helping writers grow. I believe in fixing issues while also taking the time to explain why changes are necessary, so writers can improve with every piece. Positive reinforcement is a big part of my approach, too; pointing out what’s working well is just as important as identifying what needs fixing. Editing is a chance to collaborate, build confidence and ensure that both the story and the writer are stronger by the end of the process.

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I've found that using positive reinforcement not only acknowledges the work of staff members but inspires section editors to provide positive feedback as well. I've found that using positive reinforcement brings the staff closer and acknowledges great work throughout the news cycle, maintaining a positive work environment. 

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Staff Resources

While leading by example is important, so is providing proper guidance for new staff members to be able to fill their roles as editors to the best of their abilities. To ensure the section editors were equipped early on with knowledge of AP Style guidelines and journalistic writing, I created a handbook for each staff member at the beginning of the semester. This handbook, nearly 20 pages long, included vital information to help my staff adjust to journalistic writing and edit their peers' work with respect and accuracy.