Editing, Leadership and Team Building

Adviser Testimonial

"I came to know Daniel as a freshman in my journalism class. He instantly made an impression on me. His passion for writing and learning about a variety of topics allowed him to write effective and thought-provoking stories. Since Daniel made a lasting impression on me, I asked him to be on the newspaper, the Statesman. When Daniel joined the newspaper staff as a sophomore, it was clear that he had a knack for writing and leadership. He looks beyond the obvious and is extremely talented in fact-checking and developing consistently strong stories. He is inquisitive, deliberate, and fact driven. Daniel also has a passion for social change and informing readers on important topics in society. Not only is Daniel a strong journalist, but he also has many other attributes that make him one of the top students I have ever met. He is fantastic at working with other students and serves as a mentor and role model for many."

- Katie Kroeze, Adviser, Lincoln High School Statesman

Staff Member Testimonial

"From the moment we joined staff our freshman year, I knew that Daniel had major plans for our publication. He has a natural curiosity that distinguishes him from other writers. He doesn't want to write stories that are easy; he wants to write stories that are meaningful. I have gotten the pleasure of watching him grow over the last three years, working his way up from staff writer to Editor-in-Chief of our online division. I know that I can turn to Daniel with any kind of question (he truly is the master of AP Style), and he puts in the work to make every aspect of the Statesman better."

- Chloe Houwman, Paper Editor-in-Chief, Lincoln High School Statesman

Editing Philosophy

Though we make edits digitally via Google Docs comments, when possible we try to converse through each story with its author in person. I've found that this process is far more conducive to productive and positive change across all stories. My edits consist of a thorough examination of AP Style, readability, grammar and diction. As the year has progressed, we've had to make fewer and fewer edits per story, since I like to explain why each edit is made, which makes it much easier to learn from previous errors.

Below are pictures of sample edits I've made on various stories along with brief explanations. Because we have so many exceptionally talented writers on staff, most edits are minor grammatical tweaks rather than major suggestions and revisions.

Leadership Philosophy and Team Building

I believe there are three keys to effective leadership. First, communication is cornerstone. I am a direct editor who communicates all my concerns, complements and suggestions as concise as possible. Early in the year, we instilled in our staff the importance of communication on their end too (e.g. letting us know we have to edit a story, asking us any questions, telling us anything they wanted to change, etc.).

The second key is leading by example. Ultimately, though I possess the title "Editor-in-Chief," I really view the whole staff as being my "boss," rather than the other way around. It is part of my job to ensure their success and wellbeing on staff, and to that end I must first ensure those conditions for myself. I try to hear out all staff concerns and inquiries.

The third key is to expect the develop a robust and dedicated but lenient and understanding staff culture. Some days, writing for the Statesman can be a lot of work, but I like to remain reasonably flexible for our staff while also making the fruits of their work all the more enjoyable and satisfying. When we deliver our issues, we grab donuts for all staff members to celebrate our hard work. Similarly, throughout the year, we participate in a multitude of collaboration and team-building activities to bolster the sense of camaraderie that is essential to a functioning newspaper. At the start of the year, for instance, we have members write staff bios about themselves, and we play games to get to know each other better. In sum, I find that creating a welcoming newspaper community that values both hard work and celebratory fun is vital.