What motivated you to nominate yourself for the role? What do you think others would gain from putting themselves forward?
“I’ve wanted to be the Gryphon Editor since before I started University, which is a little bit cringe-worthy, but true! I thought I could make improvements and worthwhile changes to the Gryphon. After being a member and a writer for so long, I could see what needed to change. Being part of something so history-rich is also special.”
“In my opinion, being the Gryphon Editor is the perfect graduate job, especially for someone like me who is not ready to leave the campus behind just yet. I’ve lived near Leeds my entire life and was a University commuter, so having my first ‘big’ job near home is so important to me. I would more than 100% recommend giving it a shot; you will never know until you try!”
What does your day/ month look like as a Gryphon Editor?
“At first glance, you will probably think, ‘hmmph, editing a newspaper? That sounds like a lot of work,’ and you would be right! Taking care of finances, booking one of our many social events (such as cinema trips, awards, and print launch parties), producing the print edition, the list goes on and on. Every day, I work on some form of improvement for The Gryphon, but seeing your creative vision come to life is a feeling out of this world. That feeling makes it all worth it.”
What has been the most exciting thing about being in this role?
“It is the best job in the world, truly. The Gryphon is the team and my baby. It is a reflection of yourself on a page. Being able to do anything (within reason, of course) that you want in the newspaper is humbling and inspiring. There are no boundaries to creativity across our pages.”
“I think the most rewarding experience will be when I leave the role knowing I have made a long-term difference to our newspaper and its future. We have more than tripled our members, and it is only December! We are financially stable, which in the print world is a privilege. I am so proud of our not-so-little team for making a difference.”
Your top 3 tips to anyone who wants to nominate themselves and campaign!
“Just go for it! You will never know what could happen unless you try. It is such an exciting experience to plan and execute a campaign. Speaking to people and convincing them to vote for you can be super scary, but it is so rewarding. I would not have ever dreamt of approaching a stranger, but my confidence has improved tenfold from the experience. Day-to-day, I interview some cool people, which I would have never been able to do if I hadn’t taken the leap to become the Editor!”
“My three tips are:
- Prepare early. I began thinking about my campaign as soon as I decided to run. Campaigning can be stressful, so having an action plan before you start is helpful, rather than leaving everything to the last minute.
- Get a campaign team. If you don’t have help, don’t panic! You don’t have to. A campaign team can be useful in getting tasks done, though. My team took time out of their day to help me paint posters and coasters, which was really helpful.
- Befriend your fellow potential Editors. I was lucky to be running against one of my closest university friends while running for this role. It really helps to understand that you are all in the same boat. Nobody can predict a vote, regardless of how showstopping your campaign may be. It is nice to support one another through the stressful days.”
This article has been edited for clarity before being published.
