Out of Practice

I took the job as business manager for our student newspaper because I wanted a break from the high stress, deadline driven newsroom atmosphere. I got to relax for a few weeks...then I did something stupid.

I had an idea!

My philosophy for ideas has always been if it is such a good idea and you came up with it then you get to do it. It really is a deterent for people coming in with the grandiose ideas and dropping them on the boss to deal with. UNfortunately I have to play by my own rules, less I be deemed a hypocrit.

I had been brainstorming ways to improve the visibility of the Voyager and garner a stronger readership base. I realized that many students do not realize that we have a student newspaper until they are juniors or at least been here a couple of years. I thought hey why don't we get them hooked on us during orientation and then again for the returning students during Welcome Week. My big plan was to create a special section for the Voyager to give students that come to New Student Orientation. This section would contain cool things about what UWF and Pensacola has to offer.

I am so out of practice!! I have been a manager and editor for way too long. As the editor in chief, what you primarily do is manage the staff, do PR work, and direct the weekly news content of the paper (more like put your stamp of approval on it). Well I had section editors that bring me story ideas and writers that do the same. I would take those add my ideas (the ones that I got from being in contact with some of the movers and shakers on campus) and come up with a budget for the week. When all you do is news there is really not a lot of planning or organizing that can be done. Either the news happens or it doesn't.

This is not the case when you are involved with special sections or publications. I have not had to plan a special section from concept to completion since I worked at the Floridan. Normally I could rely on my editor to lend some assistance, however, she is a newbie at this as well. I will have to coordinate with 6-10 different departments across campus to get the cooperation and content that I need for this New Student Guide. I have virtually no staff during the summer so I will bear the weight of most of the writing and editing, as well as the page design.

I know that it sounds like whining but really it is not. I am actually kind of excited about it. I love doing this and will love the positive impact that it will have on the Voyager and UWF.

I do expect you guys to remind me of this post when I do start whining about the deadlines and being overworked (because we all know that eventually I will). Remind me that it was my good idea that got me here in the first place :-)

Remember that's what friends do...tell you to shut up when your whining gets to loud. :-P