Editors lead.
Editors teach.
Editors save.
Editors inspire.
Editors challenge.
Editors support.
Editors collaborate.
Editors guide.
Editors give hope.
Editors give advice.
Editors give deadlines.
Editors give assignments.
Editors give limits.
Editors give freedom.
Editors give ideas.
Editors give praise.
Editors give criticism.
-- Chip Scanlan, Poynter writing coach, on ASNE awards

JOUR 415- Front editorship
Course meets: MW 1 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. a.m. in CF
Adviser: Carolyn Nielsen
Office: CF 216 x3244
Office hours: MW 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Welcome to The Western Front! You are in for a lot of hard work, fun and learning the ropes in the best possible way—by doing the job. To be successful you have to be dedicated, organized and communicative both with reporters and other editors.

I expect you all to exhibit professional behavior, positive leadership and exemplary ethics. I expect you to respect one another, the reporting staff and the newsroom space, which is to be kept clean. The newsroom is a university office and you are university employees held to professional standards of conduct and work habits.

I am here to provide guidance whenever needed, but the editors will control the content and direction of the newspaper. The editor in chief sets policy and procedures.

I want you all to be proud of the work you do together. Remember that this is a class, so you are not expected how to know how to do everything already. I’m here to help and I hope you will support and guide one another. This job can be time consuming and frustrating, but it’s also thrilling and empowering and full of creative opportunities that make it worthwhile.

Job performance: 500 points possible. Fifty points per week possible for doing your job—meeting deadlines, staying organized, assigning and editing stories or shooting photos, etc.

Editor reports: 125 points. Four 25-point reports plus a letter to your successor. These are two- to three-page, typed, double-spaced critiques on your section or the job for which you are responsible. Give the original to the chief and a copy to the adviser for grading. Subject to usual deductions for errors. Late work will receive half credit if it is submitted up to 24 hours late. After that, you will get a zero. They are due on Fridays by 5 p.m. You may e-mail them to me at Carolyn.nielsen@wwu.edu.

1. A critique of your section or area of responsibility. Include examples of things you have done well, challenges you have overcome and things you would like to improve.

2. Cite any problems with reporters, other editors or your adviser. Be constructive in your criticism. Feel free to offer ideas for improvement or ways to enhance communication.

3. A critique of the paper as a whole. What is working? What needs to be changed? Cite examples of things you feel work well or should be changed. Offer suggestions.

Editor reports due:
Oct. 13
Oct. 17
Nov. 10
Nov. 24
Dec. 1 (Letter to your successor)

Editor-led workshop: 50 points. You will be graded on the quality of your presentation, use of examples and clarity. Editor-led workshops are on Mondays from 1-1:20.

Professional points: 25 points. Adviser evaluates maturity in leadership and communication within the newsroom, at staff meetings and when the editor interacts with the community in his or her capacity as an employee of The Western Front.

Grading scale percentages:
94-100 = A
90-93 = A-
87-89 = B+
84-86 = B
80-83 = B-
77-79 = C+
74-76 = C
70-73 = C-
67-69 = D+
64-66 = D
60-63 = D-
59-0 = F