Reflections
Transition Between Sections
As a photo staffer, I focused on capturing photos that told a story and complemented other articles, which really challenged my visual storytelling skills. Then, Junior year, when I switched to being a PR/Social Media staffer, my focus shifted to creating narratives that promote the publication and our online presence and had the opportunity to engage directly with readers. This switch challenged me creatively and required adaptation, since I had to learn an entirely new skill, which broadened my skill set and also showed me firsthand how diverse different sections of a publication is.
Collaboration
Having been on Muse for two years now, I have really learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Especially being able to try two different sections on the publication, Photo and PR/Social, I've been able to experience that producing a publication really is a collective effort involving writers, editors, photographers, designers, etc. Learning to stay organized, communicate effectively, follow deadlines, and support other staffers was incredibly helpful to my success, and is something that I have been working on and feel like I have improved upon this past year. Overall, in learning to collaborate on the publication, I was able to be exposed to diverse perspecitives and explore valuable stories.
Social Media
One of the most valuable things I have learned as a PR/Social staffer this year was how to maintain a professional online presence. Making social media posts, I learned that social media isn't just about posting content, but it's about engaging with an audience, understanding demographics and interests, and maintaining a consistent sense of community. Throughout the year, we faced challenges like no longer being able to adress the student body online, but we overcame this by finding new ways to connect with and reassess our demographics, like addressing parents instead of students themselves. This also taught us the value of adaptability in communications.
Maintaining Trust
One of the most important things I have learned on the publication in general is about our ethical responsibilities, especially when it comes to engaging with the public through PR. When representing the publication online by making social media posts, I needed to be mindful of the messages that the that we conveyed and the impact that they had on readers. This experience emphasized the importance of transparency, honesty, and integrity in building and maintaining trust with our audience—an awareness that has not only shaped my approach to PR and being a staffer on The Muse but also has influenced how I communicate in other areas of my life.