Editing, Leadership, and Team Building

Editing on The Oracle

Editing work from a staff of nearly 50 people is no easy feat, but we’re so lucky to have a large staff because we can expand our coverage and include more diverse perspectives. Our editing process would not be possible without Trello and the Deadline Doc.

Trello

For the 2024-2025 school year, stories endured a thorough seven step process to ensure quality and timely coverage.

  1. Stories are either pitched to a section editor or assigned by an editor to a reporter in the Story Pitch column. Frequently editors and reporters also communicate via text for more direct questions about deadlines or story requirements.

  2. Once approved, and in progress, the reporter moves their card into Reporting/Drafting. This is where the story will live before edits are made. Writers and multimedia journalists add a checklist to keep track of their progress in regards to interviews, photos, research, and first drafts.

  3. Third, the reporter will move the card into the Section Editor column to notify their editor that the story is ready. For written stories, most editors will give feedback directly in Wordpress. For most multimedia stories, feedback will be given in the Trello card. As the multimedia editor, this was a great way to keep track of specific, recurring edits. Once done giving feedback, the editor will tag back the reporter and move the card into Editing/ Fact-checking. Depending on how many rounds of edits are needed for the story, the section editor and reporter will continue this process until it’s ready for the AEiC.

  4. When ready, the section editor will tag the Assistant-Editor-in-Chief to look at the story and give their feedback as well. The card will return to Editing/Fact-checking for the reporter to complete the edits.

  5. Once the AEiC feels the story is ready, they will tag the EiC to give the story a final look. Then, after the EiC’s edits are completed, they will tag the adviser for a final look. The adviser gives feedback directly in Trello so editors can also make note of any AP Style errors or general mistakes they might have missed.

  6. Finally, the reporter will complete the Adviser’s feedback, notify the EiC, and the piece will be published! The EiC will tag the Outreach Editor to add the story to the newsletter and post on social media.

Editing Multimedia though Trello

For multimedia stories, students will attach or email their projects to Trello and tag me (as the section editor) for initial rounds of feedback. This system has its pros and cons: I can give detailed lists of edits and keep track of a story's progress but I can’t see their Adobe files first-hand. In the beginning of the year I made it a priority to meet with every multimedia student who needed clarity on how to work Adobe Express, Audition, and Premier Rush, so that they had a good foundation. I continued to meet and give edits in person for certain stories that required a hands-on explanation. In my remote Trello feedback, I aimed to be as clear and concise as possible.

Additionally, for podcasts, feedback was frequently given on Google Docs in comment form. To avoid directly correcting work and emphasize coaching, I would use both comments and the suggesting feature to guide the reporter in writing a script.

The Deadline Doc

The deadline doc is a second resource to manage and track the progress of stories in production. Stories are only added to the deadline doc after approval from a section editor, so it entails the most accurate and updated information. Boxes are color coded to see where in the production cycle any given story is.

Source Tracking

Finally, to ensure fair and diverse coverage, The Oracle uses a source tracking system where the entire student body and faculty are tracked for how many stories they have been interviewed for.

Leadership on The Oracle

Sometimes leadership looks like leading the class if our adviser is absent or giving edits on a piece, but frequently the most powerful and memorable leadership is that which happens by example. Whether it’s actively demonstrating good (quiet) work ethic during a class period or coaching a student through their edits, leadership comes in many forms. I’m very grateful for my time on The Oracle because it’s taught me how to develop strong conflict resolution skills, give clear and concise feedback, and pick up on subtle signs that a reporter might need a bit of extra support. Even before having the formal title of Multimedia Editor, I was able to practice leadership through peer review and participating in staff meeting activities.

Another crucial component to my own leadership by example is my organizational skills. I’ve shared one habit, which I think has helped many reporters to stay on top of their deadlines. Everyday, I set aside 30-45 minutes after school (or during a free period) to check Trello, the Deadline Doc, email, and texts to ensure that I’m keeping up on edits and my own work. Alongside this habit, I try to consistently demonstrate proactive communication by using the Media Now Tip about communicating important information via three different modes. Especially while leading podcasters and multimedia students, staying on top of communicating is vital to consistent and quality production. 

Credit: Gabby Kaplan
Credit: Siena Ferraro
Credit: Zoe Gazzuolo

Team Building on The Oracle

Like leadership, team building also comes in many forms. Some days it’s a brief shoutout to a reporter’s story you loved, and other times, it looks like actively fostering and seeking ways to make our publication stronger. Some of my favorite traditions like replying all to Best of Sno emails, ringing the bell, sharing the love, writing notes on each other's backs, and the editorial induction ceremony keep the passion and love for writing alive. The Oracle is a time commitment for every student involved, but what I love about team building is that it prevents every reporter from feeling burnt out because the whimsy and joy remains year-round.

I’ve organized new team lunches, staff meeting presentations, and one-on-one check-ins to ensure that reporters feel the unity and support of one another while producing thoughtful journalism. On the trip to Philadelphia, I organized a lunch with other editorial board members to discuss which strengths we noted from other schools and could implement into our own board.