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

