Idea File Fall 2023

Editor’s Corner | 5

What Did I Learn? Even though I didn’t fully understand how to do everything, I learned to be honest with my staff. If someone asked me a question and I didn’t know the answer, I said “I don’t know” instead of making up an answer. I embraced my cluelessness while reminding myself that I was not completely clueless, and we worked together to tackle problems. I’ve been around journalism kids my whole life, so I knew the basics, which FSSWXIH Q] GSRƼHIRGI ERH LIPTIH QI to lead more effectively, but I had to get used to the idea that I didn’t know everything. I made sure to communicate with my dad, staffers and other editors. Communication proved key. If a problem occurred, the responsibility JIPP SR QI XS Ƽ\ MX - PIEVRIH XS VIEH XLI room and help the staff with issues instead of letting someone sit and get behind on their work. This required actively watching them because they sometimes felt uncomfortable asking for help. Over time, though faster than I anticipated, they became comfortable approaching me and asking questions. Defining Our Culture From that moment on the living room couch, I knew I wanted to bring back the fun culture I saw in my dad’s classroom my whole life. I wanted to change the way others looked at me and the way we

E ditor-in-chief was not my original title. My adviser sat me down on my living room couch to tell me the EIC quit two weeks before school – my adviser happens to also be my dad. As the assistant editor, I needed to step up. We spent the last two weeks of summer on our MacBooks modifying the former editor’s theme, the look of the book and the ladder. When school started, I still felt unprepared. I grew up in the journalism room with my dad, always imagining myself as the EIC sitting at the computer next to his desk one day. When I actually got there, it turned out to be harder than I thought. 'LEPPIRKIW ERH PIEVRMRK GYVZIW ƼPPIH XLI year, but I made it. Was it a struggle? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Also, yes. What is the best part? I got a trial year, as I like to call it, and now I get a second chance to be the best EIC ever.

did yearbook. I asked everyone a silly question of the day or gave them a sticker when they got to class so I did not come across as a scary monster barking commands. I communicated my expectations. I made sure they knew the end goal for the book, which helped my staff to know what they were working toward from the beginning of the year. Most of all, I made sure they loved coming to yearbook class. My trial year tested my patience and sanity. From a district-wide cyber-attack that shut down the whole network for two weeks to moving more than one XIVEF]XI SJ ƼPIW JVSQ +SSKPI XS ERSXLIV server mid-book, the hurdles grew taller. All of this drove me to make the yearbook one of our best, bring back the culture of fun and connect with my staff. ;LIR [I ƼRMWLIH XLI FSSO - HMHRƅX ORS[ how to measure if I’d accomplished this. Then the book arrived. I sat with a book in my lap, looking at everything we did, everything we survived, and I thought, “Wow, we did it.” The book is great. The staff grew. I developed close relationships. Everybody wants a room full of awards and recognitions for their hard work, but the greatest achievement of being an editor would have to be the lasting relationships created with the adviser, editors and staffs. By Raylee Mallett

4PER JSV 7YGGIWW Outside of the Legacy High School Performing Art Center, Raylee Mallett discusses the plan for the day with her staff at a workshop. Walsworth Yearbooks area sales reps hosted the training event on Sept. 29 on Legacy’s campus. The yearbook staff helped with distributing lunch and guiding students around the campus. Photo courtesy of Raylee Mallet

7XYGO SR =SY As staff members arrive to class, Raylee Mallett gives everyone a sticker. Once a week, Mallett gave out stickers and the staff put them on their IDs, making a collection throughout the entire year. The simple act helped build a sense of camaraderie among the team. Photo courtesy of Raylee Mallet