Judith Lacy's Jottings: Constant decision making key role of an editor

Manawatu Guardian editor Judith Lacy started her journalism career aged 10 as a 2ZB cub reporter on the Dick Weir Sunday morning show.

OPINION:

I'm in a relationship with Netflix. I'm not sure how Netflix feels about me but given how much time I spend with my eyeballs glued to the streaming service it surely must know I'm a fan.

And when I've had enough of this relationship there's no need to involve lawyers or decide who will have the cat - a press of the green button on the remote and poof, it's gone.

I've just finished The Bold Type about three friends who work for a fictional women's magazine based in New York. The editor of Scarlet is Jacqueline Carlyle. Every day at work her hair is immaculate and styled differently, she wears haute couture and heels high enough to rival the Empire State Building.

At first glance we have nothing in common but our job titles. But stay glued a little longer and you'll see Jacqueline (never Jacqui) is having to make countless decisions each day - just like I do as a community newspaper editor. Just like Jacqueline, Judith (never Judy) also has to have a full toolbox she can dive in to at any moment to solve problems that inevitably arise each production week.

With so many moving parts some can stop moving while others move so fast they are on the verge of spinning out of control.

Much has changed since I was last edited a community newspaper - notably the dominance of digital storytelling, but one thing that hasn't is the image the word editor conjures up.

Notably that editors have staff - lots of reporters, photographers and admin assistants I can send here, there and everywhere.

Sorry to disappoint but the only direct staff I have is my cat Maysie, who enjoys sitting on my knee as I work. She's not adverse to hitting a few keys but her writing isn't up to Jacqueline's standard.

But I'm lucky we're part of NZME that contributes to the running of the paper and the production team lay the stories out on the pages and check for errors and polish where polish is required.

It's difficult to find your own mistakes as you will read what you think you have written, rather than what you have.

So what do I do all day besides pushing Maysie off my knee when I'm in my home office?Let's start with those decisions. I decide what stories the Guardian will cover each week, when they will run in the paper and on what page.

I decide what shows the Guardian will review and who will review them. I decide what columns we will have and how often they will run. I decide what photos will go with the stories and how many. I edit contributions and media releases.

So many decisions.

I don't sell ads (I'd be no good at that) and I don't have anything to do with the distribution of the paper.

Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to contribute to a community newspaper. I spoke at a Rotary meeting last week and asked those present how many were like me - never been married and with no children. Not one hand went up.

While these are just two characteristics of what makes up a person, it reinforced the point I was making about the need for diverse voices in the Guardian.

I'm grateful to those who as a hobby contribute to ensuring there are diverse voices in print and online.

I'm grateful to those gardeners who are contributing photos of their flowers each week.

I'm grateful to the woman who contacted me last week to see if I could run a photo she'd taken.

I've got a two-page handout on writing and photo tips I can email you. I'm also taking registrations of interest for a free workshop on working with the Guardian. Email me at judith.lacy@nzme.co.nz