Prioritization System: 

When speaking to colleagues at the university, one aspect comes up time and time again. How do we ensure timely reporting so our reporting is work that is relevant to students. The development and implementation of a prioritization system that can be done at absolutely zero cost, and help alleviate any potential bottle-necking in the editing and publishing process. A simple colour coding system to be added that allows for the EIC to know exactly which stories need to be published immediately and which stories are flexible. 

COLOUR LEGEND: 

🔴– Critical OR breaking. Must be published ASAP. 

🟠- Urgent OR same day. This must be published prior to the end of day. 

🟢- Flexible OR not urgent. This can take a backseat, as other stories take priority. 

This follows similar procedures seen in Newsrooms all over the world, similar to an “in-house” newswire, stories may change their rating depending on what is going on and what is needed in the newsroom. This allows for timely reporting and ensures we have a system in place for the EIC to know exactly what is needed from them at that moment from their team. This also allows the editorial team to think critically about their stories and understand which stories are urgent. 

After the publication of a critical story, it also allows for us to complete a debrief with members involved in the story to understand what worked, what didn’t, and how we can improve in the future. 

Polling Aggregator Model 

A polling aggregator model developed and published on the Gauntlet, is a fantastic way for students to stay up to date in the polls, and develop a healthy understanding on what it means, particularly for who may form the next government, and what that means for them as students. This also creates another potential line of reporting to explain what exactly these numbers mean for students. 

By using a program such as Datawrapper, we can share this data and make it accessible, while also completing the development of a methodology page that can be published on our website, with the help of members of the Political Science department here at the University of Calgary. Two key figures, I would like to collaborate with would be Dr. Paul Fairie, who developed something very similar for The Globe & Mail, and Dr. Jack Lucas. Both figures understand survey data better than anyone within the department and certainly would be happy to help.

This would also coincide with the creation of a new volunteer role, Data Journalist. A role that would allow them to work closely with myself and the news editor. Furthermore, allows for professional development to potentially find employment in the industry as the position is not uncommon in newsrooms. This volunteer position also helps them grow these skills and build out a proud portfolio, and one that I believe can be easily filled by a student a part of the department. 

The ultimate goal of this project would be getting to a point where with historical data (already collected by the Canadian Election Database), that we can begin doing seat projects.

Google Documents Add-on (CP-Style Checker): 

Recently at NASH 88, I had the extreme fortune to connect with Aidan Raynor, the current EIC of the Concordian, in which we had a discussion about ways to ease the editing process on respective section editors. In sharing ideas, we both had an interest in a program that could identify CP-style issues. As we huddled in an empty classroom – Aidan had coded the program himself already, ecstatic that someone else shared an interest in such a program offered to send the code to myself so we can implement the same initiative here at the Gauntlet. 

Yes, computer programs are not infallible, and I cannot stress the importance of ensuring both the editor and EIC are still copy-editing to make sure that this is completed to the best of our abilities. However, this will speed up the process, and allow editors the time and space to ensure this is the best story it possibly can be.

Multi-Media Reporting: 

To ensure we are meeting the moment and preparing the next generation of journalists for where the industry is moving, now more than ever there is a clear need for multi-media journalism. This is a great way to expand our reporting and ensure we are reaching a wider audience. There are two ways we can go about doing this, the first would be “explainers” ; these are approximately 30 to 60 second videos. “Explainers” are a fantastic way for students to learn more about our reporting in short, easily consumable videos. 

The ability to do this would be at a very minimal cost, after examining the average cost of a microphone and a tripod dedicated to smartphones, the complete total would be only a one time cost of approximately $120 – $150 to begin doing this. This is a small cost to reach an untapped market, and help us reach the same standard other student and professional newsrooms are already in. 

With my previous experience with videography, I can train all staff exactly how to do this during the onboarding process. 

For longer form pieces, where we do a sit down interview uploaded to YouTube (paired with an edited written version published to the website and embed the video into the article), we can partner with NUTV to shoot and edit this kind of content. This ensures that we can do this at zero cost, as well as strengthen the tri-media alliance. 

In addition to our multi-media reporting I would like to see our two accounts (@tg.outreach) and (@thegauntlet.sports), be merged together to ensure we are maximizing chances to reach the audiences and we are sending people to one source for all their Gauntlet needs. This ensures sections are not siloed in reaching other audiences, and we remain cohesive in our outreach.

Correspondents & Columnists Program:

The Correspondents & Columnist Program, plays a significant role for our volunteers, as it gives them specific beats to follow, it allows them to train and grow, develop relationships with sources, it allows them to really grow as reporters for us. This will give them the development and skills, as well as, a well seasoned portfolio to set them up for success in becoming an editor for us, or finding work in the field of journalism when this is all said and done. 

Additionally, while the role is not different from our assistant positions we already have, with the increased use of AI in the hiring process, having the ability to put the title on their resume can potentially help with bypassing AI and having real eyes look at our volunteers as real options for their newsrooms. 

Editorial Calendar:

The editorial calendar serves as an important initiative for next year, this will give a full run-down of the editorial theme for the month, when stories and visuals need to be submitted for our print edition, when editing needs to be completed, as well as, submitted to our printers. 

This will be made and readily available as soon as my term begins, this will allow our editors to constantly be planning ahead of time for what is needed from their section and know exactly when they need to submit, ensuring we run as smoothly as possible during that time.