Zach Kleiman's leadership of the Trinity Preparatory School newspaper is widely recognized for fostering excellence, student ownership, and a professional publication standard. Here's an analysis of his key strategies and actionable takeaways for student journalists and editors:
Core Pillars of Kleiman's Approach
- Empowering Student Ownership: Kleiman prioritizes student agency. Student editors lead sections, make content decisions (with guidance), manage teams, and handle problem-solving. He acts as a coach, facilitating success rather than dictating it.
- Structured Mentorship: He provides consistent, targeted feedback focused on growth, not just correction. This includes structured editing tiers, writing workshops, and emphasizing the "why" behind journalistic practices.
- Systematic Processes: Clear, well-documented workflows for pitching, drafting, editing, design, and production create efficiency and reduce chaos.
Key Strategies & Actionable Tips for Students
1. Build Robust Systems:
- Standardized Pitches: Require detailed pitches (angle, sources, visuals plan, relevance) before assignment approval. This encourages critical thinking and planning.
- Vertical Assignment: Assign reporters to specific "beats" (e.g., academics, arts, sports) for consistent coverage, deeper sourcing, and subject expertise.
- Staggered Deadlines & Workflow: Implement strict internal deadlines for drafts, peer edits, section editor reviews, and final proofing. Use project boards (digital or physical) to track progress visually.
2. Cultivate Strong Editorial Leadership:
- Editor-as-Coach Model: Section editors shouldn't just edit; they should mentor their reporters, providing constructive feedback and helping them develop ideas.
- Regular Editorial Board Meetings: Hold focused meetings for section reports, planning discussions, skill-building exercises, and evaluating past issues. Keep minutes and action items.
- Delegated Responsibility: Empower editors to manage their team's deadlines, quality control, and layout planning. Give them authority (within boundaries) to resolve minor issues.
3. Prioritize Timely & Actionable Feedback:
- Multi-Tier Editing: Utilize peer edits for flow/clarity, section editor edits for substance/sourcing/style, advisor proofing for final polish/journalistic standards.
- "The What If?" Questions: Teach editors and writers to anticipate challenges: "What if this source declines?", "What if the event gets canceled?", "Does this headline match the lead?".
- Feedback on Feedback: Encourage students to ask clarifying questions on edits to understand journalistic reasoning.
4. Foster Professionalism & Ethical Standards:
- Style Guide Adherence: Rigorously apply AP Style and a defined in-house style guide for consistency and credibility.
- Source Verification Protocol: Mandate direct attribution, contact information verification, and diverse sourcing (multiple perspectives).
- Transparency & Conflict Resolution: Have clear processes for handling sensitive topics, potential bias, or disputes within the staff. Emphasize constructive communication.
5. Embrace Technology & Efficiency:
- Dedicated Production Software: Utilize professional publishing or collaboration software suited to student needs.
- Centralized Communication Hub: Use a single platform (e.g., messaging app, project management tool) for announcements, questions, and file sharing to streamline communication.
Actionable Takeaways:
- Document Your Process: Create detailed workflow checklists and style guides.
- Run Staff Training Workshops: Regularly train on interviewing, writing leads, AP Style, design principles, ethical dilemmas.
- Implement a Staged Pitch System: Idea > Outline/Key Sources > First Draft > Edits.
- Establish a Visible Deadline Tracker: Ensure everyone knows when each step is due.
- Empower Editors with Clear Mandates: Define their authority and responsibilities explicitly.
- Conduct Post-Mortem Meetings: After each issue, discuss what worked well and where processes broke down.
Kleiman's success stems from balancing high expectations with structured support and genuine student empowerment. Implementing these disciplined systems, fostering leadership skills, and maintaining a focus on journalistic fundamentals are replicable keys for any successful student publication.
