Editing, Leadership, and Team Building

Editing

Editing & Revision in Social Media Content

I believe in revising your work. During my time as a social media manager, I created "Awareness Wednesdays". Its original purpose was to expose the student body to activities happening at school, ways to get involved, and post volunteering opportunities. However, that quickly changed when COVID became the new reality. It was impossible to cover things that simply weren't happening. Awareness then came to be taken literally.

Knowing the young age group of audience, we felt for each topic it was important to include a definition, an explanation for what the topic is and why it matters. Since everybody loves a good fun fact, we felt it was important to add other 'did you know' information as well.

As the year went on, my skills with design quickly improved. After a couple months we revised all of our weekly posts including the Awareness Wednesday template. We turned the simple template into something with patterns, fun colors, and a bolder font that would attract the eye more.

After talking with students in our audience, we discovered that the modern teenager wants all their information in just one click or swipe. To accomodate for this, we developed a template that organized all of the information into one single picture while still keeping the brighter colors and bolder fonts.

Video Editing

Video Composition

During the process of video editing, I document the audio on paper. First, I transcribe the soundbites I want to use for my video package. Then I order them in the most logical way. Next, I write voiceovers that transition from one sound bite to the next. Once they are written and edited down accordingly, I record them and insert them into my package. Behind each voiceover, I include natural sound and insert natural sound pops. I then match B-roll clips accordingly. I used this process most recently for my news package on the Little Mermaid theater production at my school.

Little Mermaid.mp4

PATV little mermaid package

Contest Editing

Creating news packages on a daily basis using Adobe Premiere Pro from my sophomore to senior year greatly improved my video editing skills.

My improvement was recently recognized on a larger level when I received an Honorable Mention for Video Package Editing in a 2021 JEA contest. This video activity tested my ability to detect issues within news packages. My experience in peer editing others' works and editing my own work helped me win this award.

Margaret Patterson JEA .mp4

Peer Editing

Peer Editing in PATV

Before any student turns in the final edit of their video package, it is reviewed by the class during "preview day". As a class, we provide verbal feedback on the quality, progress, and composition of the project a week before its deadline. It is one of 3 major milestones in the package creation process.

During preview days, the staff watches the student's news package as a class. I then encourage staff members to provide feedback on the video before the leaders. This allows for the staff to recognize mistakes instead of the leaders just pointing them out.

While I was a leader, I took the extra step to write comments on the whiteboard and offered one on one advice on how to execute the class's recommendations. I also reached out to students to schedule time outside of the period to review their packages and provide advice on their edits.

Peer Editing in Journalism

In my journalism class, I further sharpened my skills in peer editing, but this time on paper. Throughout the year I was partnered with both freshmen and juniors to provide feedback on the grammar and composition of their articles. Having the previous experience of participating in preview day in my Television and Production class, I was able to give balancing and encouraging comments. For every criticization with reason, there was a compliment with congratulations.

Leadership

A Leader & Teacher

The 2021 to 2022 school year has been a challenging one. Having the pre exquisite class for PATV taught through hybrid learning, many of the staff felt that they did not receive the proper training for the class. Because of COVID, many never had the opportunity to touch one of our cameras until their first day of the TV and Video Production class. There was a lot of relearning that had to be done. I took upon teaching them as one of my responsibilities. Through student resources, feedback, and dedication, the staff's skills and confidence grew.

From the PATV Staff:

"Everyone on the team feels comfortable to go Maggie with any question or advice on our projects."

-Katie Dorsey '22

"As a leader, Maggie is someone you can count on. She possesses the aspects of a true leader and I have loved learning from her in class."

-Ava Iannucci'21

Leadership in Multimedia Journalism

While I wasn't an appointed leader in my journalism class, I did utilize my leadership skills. When our editor was absent, I would step in to help run the class for the day. As the only other senior in the class, many staff members came to me for opinions and advice. I have peer-edited articles as both a superior and equal in order to assist in the production of Padua 360 stories as well.

Student Resources

Maggie's Annoying Google Slides

I created many student resources during my time as a PATV leader, the most notable being a series nicknamed "Maggie's Annoying Google Slides".

As I discovered weaknesses within the class, I would create a google slide presentation to formally address and teach the topic in a timely manner. However, a one-time presentation wasn't going to be enough to leave a lasting impact, so I asked my advisor to post the presentation on our class page. The students were then able to easily find the slides, have access to the information at any time, and download it for personal use.

These resources proved to be so useful that the journalism class leader used them in her class as well.

PATV Interview Question Guide

before your interview

PATV News Writing

What is Bias?

PATV Script Writing & Responsibities

PATV Email Etiquette

Google Documents

In addition to creating google slides, I created google documents as student resources. I provided editing tips and news package ideas in a simpler and more compact format than google slides. This format gave students the ability to open it easily on their phones or quickly reference it if needed.

2022 package idea list

PATV Check-In :)

An important part of being a successful leader is getting feedback on the well-being of your staff. During the early months of leading PATV, I created a PATV Check-In Google form. Following each live show, I would send them the form to rate their confidence and happiness in each live show job. If anyone rated under a five in one of the two categories, I reached out to them individually to discuss how to make them happier or more confident. The form also asked them if they wanted to possibly participate in the job long-term. This data was used as a foundation for more permanent jobs in the second semester. After each and every person rotated through the jobs and rated a high confidence and happiness level, we ended the continuation of the check-in.

Communication

In the Classroom

Another important aspect of leadership is maintaining open and honest communication between other leaders and staff members. If everyone isn't on the same page then it is impossible to accomplish team goals.

To establish a solid form of communication within the classroom, video package deadlines, job positions for the live show, and daily classroom schedules are posted on the whiteboard in the classroom. Every time students enter the classroom they can be reminded of timelines and know what's happening in class that day.

Beyond the Classroom

One aspect in particular that the class must collaborate on outside the classroom is news writing for our live show. The 2 anchor jobs in the job rotation have the extra responsibility of writing news stories and starting the script the night before. In order to ensure that our anchors are ready for the show the next day and other staff members are aware of their jobs ahead of time, I always send a picture of the job rotation to the class iMessage group chat.

In addition to sending job rotation reminders, I sent our group-chat announcements, updates, messages of encouragement, and just general reminders.

The iMessage group chat proved to be the most effective form of communication since students access their phones more often than their laptops or email inbox.

Team Building

Dating back to the very start of the program, PATV has been described as a family. However, the divided hybrid learning during the 2020-2021 school year caused a noticeable rift between staff members. Now a leader, I made team building one of my top priorities for the 2021-2022 year.

From the PATV Leaders:

"Maggie does everything possible to make others feel special, wanted, and welcome. She encourages others to use their voice and share their opinions."

-Emily Haney '22

"Her team-building skills have helped us to become better. From the beginning of the school year to now, there has been a lot more trust and communication and minimal conflicts. She cares so much not only about the show, but about us as well."

-Meghan Burton '22

Bonding

PATV First Day Activities :)))

First Day Activities

Starting with the first day of school I planned activities to bond staff members. I divided the agenda for the day among my fellow leaders and advisor as well as created an activity to get students talking to one another. The activity involved role-playing as both a reporter and an interviewee with other students. The questions used were deemed impossible to answer but it really got the staff talking. Whether it was sharing an awkward laugh or sharing a full-blown conversation, by the end of our first day of class our team began to bond.

Working as a Team

Teamwork on Screen

Every time PATV goes live, the staff works together. With a total of 11 jobs and only 12 people including the leaders, we are stretched thin every day to create the live show. It requires a lot of collaboration and dedication from the staff. But the time spent together working towards one common goal brings the class closer together.

Celebrating Successes

Parties

Throughout the year, the PATV leaders and I have thrown surprise parties and planned parties for the staff. Whether it be for success in the class, a holiday, or a school event, we celebrated things big and small. The parties have included gift exchanges, snacks, decorations, and some free time to celebrate. While parties may seem unimportant on the surface, they ultimately helped boost morale, motivate the staff, and give them the opportunity to relax. Overall, it also brought the staff closer together and feel more loved and appreciated.

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