MADELYN AUGUSTINE
As Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Prowler Yearbook and News Director of the Catalyst Newspaper, I have the added responsibility of making sure my fellow staff members are getting their work done on time, editing all of their stories or spreads and being available to help them as needed. Having a leadership role on staff also means that I need be seen as a positive example of how to act. To be recognized as a role model, I ensure that I get all of my assignments done well and on time, work hard every day in class and treat my peers with kindness. Before I was named to my leadership positions, I still strived to act as a leader would. Growing up, I always loved to take charge in group projects and was always told that I had natural leadership skills. In high school, I've used these skills to help lead in any necessary situation. Outside of Journalism I am also on our school's Principal Advisory Board, a group of 10 students who meet with our principals quarterly and help them make decisions on upcoming school activities and give them feedback on a range of different things throughout our school, and I am secretary of Senior Class Board. All of this experience has helped me gain different perspectives on what tactics of leading are successful and which are not.
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Located above and to the left are images of notes on how to successfully lead and motive a staff that I have took during sessions at the national conventions in Chicago, Ill. and San Francisco, Calif. Although some of the points seem obvious, I still used them to help me in my positions as Co-Editor-in-Chief and News Director.
Featured above are screenshots of a slideshow, note guide that I put together for the newspaper staff. As the weeks progressed, the quality of stories did not, so all of the newspaper editors had a meeting where we decided to create something that helped outline the basics for each genre of writing. Since I am the News Director I took on the task of creating a guide to the basics of writing a news story. In the guide I also included links to a few different examples of well written, news stories so the staff could see how the basic structure is implemented. In the classroom I think it is important to have an open line of communication, so people feel free to share their ideas and ask questions if they need help. If people aren't afraid to speak up then the entire workroom is able to run smoothly which also helps to create a bond between staffers. This bond ultimately helps everyone work together to achieve the same goal.