Three years ago, I took over Spectator leadership quite unexpectedly after the previously decided upon editors stepped down. I didn’t really want to do it, and saw myself as more of a placeholder figure until a more committed and serious person stepped up, but I wanted the newspaper to continue to exist. I don’t really like going to meetings, I don’t like having to call or lead them, I don’t like harassing people to send me their articles, and I don’t really like having to put the text in the website and correct grammar. Despite this, I do believe that I have grown a lot through being a part of the Spectator, and there are aspects of it that I do enjoy.
Though I often struggle with procrastination and the responsibility of a leadership position, I have had the opportunity to begin learning how to handle conflict in a reasonable way, enforce expectations, effectively communicate, and many other things. One aspect of editing the newspaper that I enjoy is getting to learn so much information. I doubt that I would take the time to read the entirety of each edition if it were not part of my job; I appreciate the regular opportunity to learn new and interesting information on so many different topics as a bonus from my contribution to the Spectator.
I have thought a lot about what I would do differently if I found myself in this position again. First of all, I should’ve planned more. Only this year has the editor team started using a calendar and roughly planning due dates for articles, and even then, that practice did not make it through the whole year. I think a more scheduled calendar would’ve relieved stress, decreased miscommunication, and led to a more successful and cohesive group if implemented sooner.
Though a voluntary commitment secondary to schoolwork and personal needs, the Spectator does still deserve some urgency when it comes to following through with planned content. Along with a more detailed (or at least existing) list of expectations, I think some protocol for missed deadlines or difficult interviews would improve the newspaper and the motivation of writers. I have found, through my own behavior, that the article submission deadline and publication deadline create two prime situations for procrastination, which doubles the length of the procrastination and pushes publication back significantly. This could also be improved with better scheduling and communication within the group.
The common thread through all of this is that I wish I had been more organized. A calendar, a set way of submitting work, any attempt to gain access to the Spectator email account, and countless other smaller and less significant things would’ve greatly improved the quality of the Spectator's content, as well as communication within the club.
Overall, I view the Stuart Hall Spectator as a kind of horrible child that I have been trying to raise, in the way that I really dislike it sometimes, but I’m still proud of the group’s accomplishments, and I want the Spectator to flourish and continue. Based on this reflection, my advice to underclassmen is to learn how to endure and adapt to hard things, and to find some sort of meaning in classes or groups that you find tedious, because it will make your work feel more worthwhile, or at least bearable.
Sage Kizer