Contents

1. 1 What is an "editorial coordinator"?
2. 2 Photo by T. Smith, 2009, with subjects' permission
3. 3 Benefits  
4. 4 Qualifications
5. 5 Unique assignment content
6. 6 How to become an EC
7. 7 How team members are allocated

This page provides information about the Editorial Coordinator role.

UPDATE: Our editorial coordinators have been chosen.  For team and coordinator information please see the Blogs and Websites page.

What is an "editorial coordinator"?

An editorial coordinator (EC) is a student enrolled in COMS 463 who serves as a team's project coordinator the team's website editor. 

The other members of the team are called student authors.  Everyone, including the EC, is a group member. 

The EC is not a manager who will tell others what they should do.  Instead, they are:

• a facilitator and coordinator of group communication. 
  
• a liaison between the team and the community partners
  
• a peer-mentor and encourager, keeping the team morale up and helping people stay on track. 
  

Any member of the group may have leadership-like roles in asking strategic questions, suggesting action items and processes, and encouraging other members.

^{Photo by T. Smith, 2009, with subjects' permission}

Benefits  

• the self-fulfillment that comes from encouraging and empowering others, and bringing a project to completion
  
• peer-leadership development opportunities
• further exercise of existing interpersonal communication and technical communication skills
• a liaison role which provides the opportunity for more interaction with the instructional team regarding project management and community/campus partner needs
• being selected as RC through an application procedure is a bonus to any resume
  

Qualifications

• Respectful. You are not overly controlling and demanding of other team members to do things your way or to be perfect.
  
• Passionate.  Ability to inspire and motivate people, even your equals and those older than you or more skilled than you
• Flexible. You are able to creatively adapt to unexpected twists and turns, such as a team member not pulling their weight, or dropping the course, or becoming ill yourself.
  
• Resourceful and persistent: you won't give up, but will search until an answer is discovered

• Good rhetorical skills and interpersonal communication: you have the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively overall in writing and speech, even if not completely correct in the minor details of language
• Well organized.  You make lists and are able to schedule processes prior to deadlines
• Big-picture perspective.  You keep your eye on the goals, overall processes and audiences' needs, and don't get bogged down too long in the details.
  
• Negotiation and interpersonal problem solving.  You are able to resolve misunderstandings through asking questions, listening, and timely, sensitive communication (of course, sometimes people don't want to resolve problems)
  

• Prior experience in the community, academic or organizational settings in which you coordinated people or led projects: a good track record shows that your internal character and passion is for facilitation, peer leadership, coaching, etc.
• Intermediate skills with computer and internet applications, and you have an aptitude to learn new tools quickly and without pulling your hair out in frustration if you meet a roadblock
• Advanced technological skills related to web development are a definite bonus, but are not required.  You just need to know enough to be able to know where you can look and what you can to try in order to do things with new applications, or to do new things with known applications.
  

Unique assignment content

^{Photo by T. Smith, 2009,
with subjects' permission}

• Proposal: The EC is NOT responsible for editing the whole proposal.  The EC drafts only the proposal appendices, and is responsible for compiling and submitting the complete proposal, whose sections have been previously drafted and copyedited by student authors according to a schedule and system suggested by the instructor, or agreed on by the team.
  
  
• Individual blog: The EC's first assignment is a literature review on communication project management and/or website development. This material helps the EC to obtain knowledge useful for their unique role.
  
  
• Individual website: The EC creates and manages a Google Site (in some ways similar to the Project Management area of this website) that functions as a project management intranet among his/her group members and the instructional team. Some EC-unique content is authored.
  
  
• Team Website: The EC is NOT responsible for copy-editing and proofreading the content, but for large-scale design-editing and development coordination.  The EC initially creates and piece by piece puts together the team website, ensuring that it is not revised and edited in a haphazard fashion that risks the overwriting or loss of material.  They are in charge of implementing the team's overall design and navigation.  Instead of adding the final pieces expected of student authors, they add final, EC-unique content that guides audiences through the site.
  
  
• Public Presentation: The EC is NOT responsible for the final presentation because if they are not one of the 2 people your team has selected to present, they will be more focused on edits to the website.  However, they are expected to at least introduce the presentation and presenters during the first minute. 
  
  
• Class participation: In addition to coordinating their own team, the EC may need to meet occasionally and communicate with members of the Instructional team during class time, and perhaps occasionally outside of class as they are available.  At the end of the term, the EC makes an appointment with the instructor to discuss their own self and peer evaluations, giving their unique perspective on their team's process and coordination efforts.
  

How to become an EC

By the end of the first week of class, students who wish to take this special peer-leadership track through the course will post their brief application letter on Blackboard's discussion board. 

All students will be encouraged to rate the post. 

The instructor will review the ratings, the content of the applications and make the final decision of 5-6 ECs for the course.  Chosen ECs will be signaled online by instructor putting "EC" within the applicants' message subject.

How team members are allocated

^{Photo by K. Bendiksten, April 14, 2009 U of C U Today}

After ECs are designated by the instructor, students will then reply to Dr. Smith confidentially regarding their preferences for EC and team members.

The team selection process is based on preferences as well as diversity.  Information used in team formation may include anything that can help the instructor make good teams.

The instructor will do her best to allocate people to different teams.  Only very special circumstances will convince Dr. Smith to make a change in team members after week 3 of the term.