Today’s visit to The
Arizona Republic was interesting. I’d been anticipating this field trip since I
received the agenda for the institute. Up, up, and up we followed
our guide through the inner workings of the newspaper. Until we reached the top
floor and were ushered into the 11 o’clock budget meeting. Our guide was very
worried about getting to this meeting on time. The feelings he conveyed about
this meeting bordered on anxiety. I didn’t know what to expect. Would there be
chains and whips awaiting an unprepared journalist? What I witnessed was an
open exchange of ideas between coworkers. A genuine respect for each other (and
their editor). I saw efficiency in the form of a live document being created on
Google Docs, which included their ideas and updates. I also heard several
interesting ideas that I might use in my school’s newspaper. These include the
weekend round up, a review of local restaurants, MLB standings, and explaining
a procedure that confounds the audience (such as securing an appointment with
your guidance counselor). It was interesting to see it in action. I feel much
more confident in being able to run a meeting like this with my students.
Claudia Solorzano
Wharton High School
Tampa, FL
Claudia, I couldn't agree more. I needed to see the organization and the running of the budget meeting to realize how to run a an effective and efficient staff meeting. My biggest worry is that I have two sections of Photojournalism and they never meet together. I have a couple of kids who will be in both sections, thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered about an afterschool staff meeting, but that probably work. Editorial staff breakfast meetings will probably be a go, though.
Karen L. Swortzel
Alleghany High School
Covington, Va.