Survival Guide: Managing a small college newspaper staff

Small newspaper, big responsibilites.

This time last year, I, along with the rest of the staff at my college newspaper, boarded a plane to San Diego, Calif., for the 2009 Associated Collegiate Press College Media Conference. Coming from a relatively small weekly newspaper, I was surprised that so many college publications have circulations that rival my hometown paper. The concept of being in college and publishing a daily newspaper was beyond my comprehension.

As a panelist for the “Publishing a College Newspaper in Tough Economic Times” discussion, I was greatly outnumbered by large, advertising-funded newspapers. However, while speaking to other conference attendees, I found that many I spoke with worked at smaller college newspapers, and could relate to the unique challenges that go along with that.

A smaller newspaper means a smaller staff, fewer resources and often the lack of a consistent standard or protocol for the publication of the newspaper. You will often have a smaller pool from which to recruit, meaning you’ll have to spend more time training and working with your section editors and reporters.

As editor of a small college newspaper, you’ll have to take on a variety of roles, and might find yourself reporting, copy editing, doing layout and working with advertisers all in one day. I’m not going to lie to you: It’s going to be rough.

My former faculty adviser would always say that it was miracle every time a newspaper made it to publication. Here are some strategies to help you make that miracle happen without losing your staff or too much of your sanity.

1. Be honest — Having an open line of communication is critical when managing a small newspaper staff. Being open with your staff about what’s going on — good or bad — promotes a sense of camaraderie in tough times. If you’re worried that editors might bail if you tell them that reduced advertising will mean smaller stipends, give them the benefit of the doubt. Your staff members will most likely respect your honesty and it may motivate them to do some extra legwork to get revenue back up.
2. Be passionate – When you put your all into something, it shows. Your staff will be more willing to take on extra duties or work extra hours if they see you doing the same. Passion is invigorating – and contagious, and may be the only thing that will keep your staff together when it’s 5 a.m. and there’s still a hole the size of the Grand Canyon on page two.
3. Delegate – The former editor at my college newspaper did his best to emphasize the importance of delegation, but it can be tough advice to follow. If you’re a perfectionist, trusting others with your precious publication may seem like insanity, but in reality it’s the only way to make it work. Decide where you’re most needed — layout, administrative, copy editing, etc. — and put the rest in the hands of your staff. If you’ve trained them well, they won’t let you down.
4. Check your frustrations – No matter how organized you are or how well-trained your staff is, there are going to be times when it just doesn’t come together. A reporter flaked, an advertiser dropped out and Quark has decided to toy with your already-delicate emotions by crashing every time you try to save. It is crucial during these times that you resist the urge to unleash a holy hell of rage on your staff. Instead, have one or two trusted confidantes that will listen to you rant without repeating what you say to others. They can help save you from an embarrassing (and not to mention morale-crushing) blowout.
5. Ask for help – Some college newspapers have very little support on campus. For campuses without a journalism program, a college newspaper may be considered little more than an extracurricular club. Still, it is important to seek outside resources that can provide advice and be someone in your corner when you encounter problems. Utilize your faculty adviser, annoy your student government liaison and reach out to professors in other departments (a business professor can be a goldmine of budget advice). You may even have to go off-campus to find a mentor, but it’s imperative that you do. While you may have to take on additional roles as the editor of a small college newspaper, it doesn’t mean you have to do it all by yourself.

What are some the unique challenges you’ve face as part of a small college newspaper staff? Any advice I might have missed?

This is the first of hopefully many Survival Guide posts to come. Is there a particular topic you want covered? Leave a comment or send me a message using the contact form in the right sidebar.

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