Editing, Leadership, and Team-Building
I've had a lot of editing experience as Digital Editor as well as during my time as Webmaster. As someone who is technically a new editor this year, I've tried my best to step up as a leader as well as an editor. Additionally, one of my favorite parts of the entire journalism program is when I get to bond with other editors and staffers.
Ultimate Content Spreadsheet
Left and below: PLAN IT OUT: The ODYSSEY Media Group Ultimate Content Spreadsheet plans content during Winter Break. The UCS was passed down to me by my former editors, and I have continued to utilize it to plan posts on the website and keep track of edits on beats and choice stories. “A prominent goal I had this year was to avoid ‘story purgatory,’” Shaikun said. “When a story is in limbo just waiting on edits, it hurts that staffer and our website. The Ultimate Content Spreadsheet helps my staff stay organized and productive.” Images courtesy of Anna Shaikun
Editor's Synthesis
Right: DON'T PANIC: The cover of Anna Shaikun’s Webmaster synthesis displays the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” motto, “Don’t Panic!” I wrote two comprehensive reflections on my time as Webmaster and Digital Editor, including tips and important reminders, to inform my successors. “I’m graduating at the end of this year, and I’ve had a unique path through the ODYSSEY,” Shaikun said. “I want to make sure the knowledge and experience I’ve accumulated doesn’t just dissolve once I leave.” Art free use of wired.com
Editor's Journals
A portion of Anna Shaikun’s Editor’s Journal is displayed. I’ve written these journals on a monthly basis since junior year to communicate my current state and that of my staff to my adviser. “While I was initially terrified of the thought of leading a staff, I’ve gradually become more comfortable with my position as Digital Editor,” Shaikun wrote in an Editor’s Journal. “I know that I have a lot of techniques to refine, but I think the whole Digital Staff has shown great improvement since the beginning of the month.” Document by Anna Shaikun
Web Editing
Below: EDITED IT: The front page of odysseynewsmagazine.com is displayed. As both Digital Editor-in-Chief and Digital Editor, I have been the final editor for all web stories before they were posted, including some where I have been “first eyes” as well as “last eyes.” “It’s my responsibility to make sure every single story on the website comes out clean, and it’s something I take very seriously,” Shaikun said. “Other than a lack of content, the worst thing to have on your website is poorly edited copy.”
Leadership Seminars
Anna Shaikun works alongside a group of editors to solve a puzzle during a Leadership Seminar. ODYSSEY Media Group adviser David Ragsdale has facilitated monthly Leadership Seminars that included presentations, discussions and problem-solving brainstorms, and portfolio work. “I’ve learned about leadership and editing techniques at these seminars, as well as how to deal with Ragsdale,” Shaikun said. “They’ve really helped me become a better editor.” Photos by Aza Khan
Web Editing
Left: NEW NSPA: Anna Shaikun recieves a National Scholastic Press Association Best in Show award alongside former ODYSSEY Media Group Digital Junior Copy Editor Riley Ramsey (left) and former OMG Webmaster Maya Shrivastav (right). In 2023, I was inducted into the inaugural group of recipients of the NSPA Leadership Award In Student Journalism. “Being among the first to receive an award is always something special,” Shaikun said. “It makes me beyond happy that several editors on our staff were recognized for their hard work.” Photo by Aza Khan
Section Goals & Values
Right: DIGITEAM GOALS: At the beginning of the year, editors lead a conversation with their staffers to decide upon a set of goals and values to lead them into the first semester and beyond, as well as metrics to measure them by. I came up with a large portion of our values and designed the graphic myself. "It's really important to me to have these goals and values to lead us throughout the year," Shaikun said. "Each August, our staff constructs our goals and values, and we formally reexamine them in January." Graphic by Anna Shaikun
Supervising Digital Staff
Left: DIGITAL LOVE: Anna Shaikun poses with former members of the Digital Staff during the ODYSSEY’s 2022 Valentine’s Day celebration. While the Digital Staff has always been a small section of the room, heading the web team has presented its unique challenges and rewards. “Even though we’re only five people this year, we’re responsible for the upkeep and editing of an entire website and collection of social media pages,” Shaikun said. “My team ranges from Beat Editor to Webmaster to Broadcast Staffer, and supervising people with such vastly different jobs can be challenging. However, I’m always so proud of their wide range of accomplishments.” Photo by Aza Khan
Content Redelivery
Right: WRITE IT RIGHT: Anna Shaikun’s content redelivery presentation for “Write it Tight, Write it Right” is shown. I have presented on topics from multimedia to profiles to concise writing, occasionally repackaging presentations from journalistic conferences for my own staffers. “I’ve done content redelivery and created my own content, and presented both by myself and with a partner,” Shaikun said. “Public speaking has always come naturally to me, and I love teaching my staffers new things, especially when we can have a little fun with it.” Presentation by Anna Shaikun and Anna Tenner
Click on the picture for the link!
Spearheading TOP
Left: TIP-TOP SHAPE: The 2023-24 Digital and Visual Staffers’ Team On-Site Production package is shown. As product manager, I edited and designed the package in addition to my own contributed content. “For our TOP project, the ODYSSEY did a collection of scenes on new teachers in the building,” Shaikun said. “Between managing photo reshoots and realizing that Adobe Spark is no longer supported on WordPress, the project was a challenge. However, I’m glad that I was able to find an alternative means of publishing it, allowing our new teachers to feel seen.” Package by Anna Shaikun
Mentoring at GSPA
Right: JOURNALISM JUNIOR: Anna Shaikun speaks at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association conference next to her conference mentee, Journalism I student Ammanuel Arnold. At GSPA conferences, I have guided younger students to pursue sessions they were passionate about and taught them journalistic skills. “I’ve had one mentee who was passionate about photography, another who enjoyed social media, and so on,” Shaikun said. “I love mentoring kids at GSPA because it’s based in Athens, so it’s local. The kids can dip their toe in the water of journalistic conferences without the pressures of competitions and being away from home.” Photo by Aza Khan
NSPA Conferences
Above: STL TO BOS: A collection of photos depict Anna Shaikun at two National High School Journalism Conventions. While attending NHSJC my junior and senior years, I had the opportunity to bond with my fellow editors and learn about other publications. “The best parts of NHSJC were genuinely just going out to eat with the staff and doing little activities together,” Shaikun said. “I found out that some members of the litmag staff did yearbook with me in middle school, and I made some inside jokes with people I wouldn’t normally interact with. NHSJC reminded me that these people are family.” Photos by Lucas Donnelly, Aza Khan, and Anna Shaikun
SIPA Conferences
Above: SUCCESS AT SIPA: A collection of photos depict Anna Shaikun at two Southern Interscholastic Press Association conferences. SIPA was a deeply emotional opportunity to form bonds with staffers and honor our seniors. “On one hand, it was incredibly fun. I went to the conference dance with my Webmaster, a News Staffer, and a Journalism I student, all of whom ended up working for me,” Shaikun said. “It was also somber at times – we have a ‘crying circle’ at the end of the conference where all the seniors give a reflection on their time in ODYSSEY. It’s their last big field trip of their ODYSSEY careers, which means a lot to everyone. This year, it’s our turn.” Photos by Aza Khan and Maya Clement
Above: FRIENDSGIVING: The ODYSSEY Media Group poses for a photo during their Friendsgiving event. Although personal difficulties and COVID-19 affected Friendsgiving on multiple occasions, I was thankful for the opportunities we did have. “Friendsgiving always reminds me of a quote from this literary analysis book I read – ‘If you’re breaking bread, you’re not breaking heads.’ Essentially, you only want to eat with people that you care about,” Shaikun said. “It’s a little wild – everyone’s talking to three other people at once and people are laughing like someone just told the funniest joke in the world. I love it.” Photo by Aza Khan
Above: GUESS WHO: Anna Shaikun guesses her gift-giver at the ODYSSEY Media Group Secret Holiday Gift-Giver event. In tandem with the Creative Writing Project presentation, Secret Holiday Gift-Giver offered staffers a chance to bond with their randomly chosen recipient. “I would read my chosen creative writing piece at the front of the room, then cover my eyes, and the other person puts the gift on the podium,” Shaikun said. “Then, I guess who gave it to me, and the next person presents their piece. It’s a little silly, but it’s a big celebration and brings us together.” Photo by Aza Khan