2B
Managaing Statement Editor:
Lara Moehlman
Deputy Editors:
Yoshiko Iwai
Brian Kuang
Photo Editor:
Alexis Rankin
Editor in Chief:
Emma Kinery
Design Staff:
Michelle Phillips
Emily Hardie
Erin Tolar
Nicole Doctoroff
Managing Editor:
Rebecca Lerner
Copy Editors:
Elizabeth Dokas
Taylor Grandinetti
Wednesday, September 13, 2017 // The Statement
Personal Statement: Four Months at the Helm
of the News Desk
F
or four months of my life, I served as
boss, editor, reporter, writer and tyrant
all at once: This summer I worked as the
managing news editor of The Michigan
Daily.
It was a position I was surprised to hold for a
number of reasons — the first being I didn’t see
myself pursuing journalism after school.
That’s not to say I don’t enjoy journalism or my
time at the Daily. From it, I’ve become a more
competent writer, I’ve made friends and I learned
more about current events and social issues than
had I simply been sitting in a classroom all summer.
I absolutely love the organized chaos that composes
a newsroom, and having been part of a few different
publications in college and high school, I have met
some of the most intelligent individuals. Though I
have nothing but respect for the field, I still didn’t
see myself as a journalist.
I pictured myself, and still do to an extent, as a
lawyer or working in academia. Some think I’m
crazy for considering a Ph.D. program in sociology,
as these can take more than seven years to complete,
and if I decide to pursue law school immediately
after completing my undergrad, I should be well
on my way to studying for the LSAT right now …
which I’m not.
My dad is a lawyer who teaches a course in
business law, so I’ve always imagined myself, like
him, teaching something that interests me. I enjoy
school, as much as I complain about the workload,
and I see myself continuing in an academic setting.
And in my mind, pursuing journalism as a career
doesn’t fit that mold — especially a managing editor.
I never envisioned myself as a boss. I suppose
I imagined myself in a sort of background role
— no less important, just not at the front. I feel I
contribute thoroughly to group assignments. I’m
a good listener, and I partake in discussions. I’ve
always felt comfortable as an asset to a team I’m not
responsible for. I like the idea of proving myself —
not in a self-deprecating way, but in an aspirational
way — to those above me. It’s a feeling comparable
to my interest in academia.
Therefore, I didn’t see myself assuming a
managerial role.
I was used to being told what stories to write
by higher powers, to attend a protest at which
the Graduate Employees’ Organization would
be rallying in support of a new contract with the
University, to abruptly call state Rep. Adam Zemke
to obtain a last-minute quote for an article on the
night that it is due, to cover a Central Student
Government meeting with 20 minutes’ notice,
semi-quiet place on campus — likely in a stairwell
somewhere — to conduct a phone interview.
However, planning to stay in Ann Arbor for the
summer, I wanted a challenge. I disregarded my
concerns because I wanted to try something new
— and I cannot deny, I have a soft spot for The
Michigan Daily.
Upon embarking on the role, I was quickly
humbled, stressed and, frankly, tired.
It was a learning experience to say the least
because I was unsure of how exactly I would
perform: Would I be aggressive, too easygoing or
plainly ineffective?
I feared that I wouldn’t know how to assign
stories evenly; I feared I wouldn’t know where to
place stories on a page for print publication; I was
terrified I would overlook an important event in
Ann Arbor or on campus — and what would I do if I
couldn’t manage my time well enough?
On my first night in charge, three stories came
in, rather late, from three competent, but very new,
reporters. I don’t think I’ve ever sent as many text
messages as I did on that day to the writers, other
news editors, the editor-in-chief, copy editors and
photographers. It was a late night.
I wish I could say it was all uphill from there,
but it wasn’t. There were many late nights, several
instances of confusion over article deadlines (Yes,
it’s still 5 p.m.), story angles, communicating with
sources and questions about editing.
And there were hundreds — maybe thousands —
more text messages.
In my time as managing news editor, I asked as
many questions as I answered. I communicated
with hundreds of people — reporters, fellow
editors, protesters, professors, students, state
representatives and even my own father, who
kindly explained to me the difference between tax
evasion and tax avoidance. I sent out hundreds of
emails, to the point where I wouldn’t be upset if I
never had to write an email again, and I wrote well
over 50 articles and contributed to dozens more.
Since the summer staff at The Michigan Daily
only meets once a week in the newsroom to
create a print paper, a large part of my job was
done remotely. As my inbox became flooded with
emails I realized my experience would be as much
a learning experience as the academia I hoped to
continue pursuing.
Journalism is raw and fast-paced, but it is still
just as multifaceted as any field of study. It’s like
academia in real-time, if that makes sense.
I learned early on that the staffwould not function
without group chats — several group chats, in fact
— to keep editors and photographers on the same
page as stories went through the editing process.
I learned Ann Arbor City Council meetings
are a lot easier for me to understand than CSG
meetings, and that it’s a bad idea to conduct an
interview while walking in the Arb.
I learned the newsroom at the Daily on a hot
July night is kept at an icy 55 degrees and so it is
important to dress in layers.
And above all, I discovered the collaborative
efforts that I merely wished to be a member of
were very much alive as I served at the top.
Perhaps, it’s these little things that keep me in
the newsroom past 1:00 in the morning debating
the minor details of a tuition hikes with my
editor.
BY JENNIFER MEER, DAILY STAFF REPORTER
statement
THE MICHIGAN DAILY | SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN TOLAR