Losing Staff Members?
What if you have a really strong News Editor (or any other leadership position for that matter) who is offered a position at a professional paper or a great internship and literally has to leave one day? Do you bite your tongue and celebrate the success as a student newspaper? Do you criticize the person for not giving more notice and bailing out on a year– or semester-long commitment? How does a student newspaper — small or large — deal with such changes? It is the nature of the beast to have a staff somewhat in flux.
About Steve Fox
Career newspaper journalist and full-time faculty member at Ferris State University. Also adviser to student newspaper, The Torch.
4 Responses
This is a great question and one that college papers should be happy to have. If a student is good enough to make it in the “Big Show” then something at the college newspaper is going well.
That being said, best case scenario, the person leaving is able to make a gradual transition, showing a possible interim or permanent replacement the ropes, at least to the extent that they can carry on in that capacity. Simultaneously, the other members of the staff remaining should work together to fill that void.
It wouldn’t be fun and unlikely easy, but the college newspaper has to remember that it is NOT the end; only the beginning for young journalists.
Any time an employee leaves for another opportunity, common courtesy should be the rule. A gradual transition is great, but expecting anything more than two weeks notice is unlikely in this business.
I have heard and seen of examples of people leaving immediately. In fact, I recently heard of a professor from a West Michigan university announcing her departure on Monday, Jan. 11, to teach on the East Coast. It was the first day of class. That is not common courtesy — it threw the whole department into a frenzy. In the long run, they’ll figure out it. They are also unlikely to maintain a strong professional or personal relationship with the person who departed under those circumstances. Maybe she doesn’t care?
I would highly recommend to anyone leaving a position to be cautious not to depart on negative terms, causing unnecessary stress to those you leave behind, and ultimately burning bridges that may be very important at some point.…
This is a great question that relates to not only college newspapers, but most businesses in all industries. Kelsey said the best case scenario is for the person leaving to teach someone else to fill their shoes. This is a good suggestion, but not one that is always viable. Like Fox said, what happens if the person literally has to leave at the end of the week or tomorrow?
The best way to avoid a situation such as this is to always be prepared and always be one step ahead. For a case such as a news editor leaving, he or she should be showing writers or other staff members how to do his or her job from day one. Throughout the semester, the editor can teach the writers a few key responsibilties here and there so that in an emergency or if the editor leaves, certain staff members have the knowledge and ability to step up into the vacant role. The transition will not always be smooth and it may take the effort of the other editors to assist the promoted person, but it’s much better than being left with no replacement at all.
Ben makes a good point. From Day One, others should be learning the roles and duties of the others. They don’t have to be perfect in them, but an understanding of what must take place in all jobs allows for smoother transitions even when they are anticipated, like graduation.
This might help with the high turnover college papers experience anyway.
Would a written “How to be a Section Editor” type manual be beneficial to fill in the procedural blanks?
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