As the first editor, you've got a real opportunity to set standards that will be followed for years. Read other papers, both student papers and professional ones. Study how they craft stories. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. And don't be afraid to take charge.
Somebody has to.
Sometimes it's deciding which story to do. As the Southern bureau chief, it's my job to decide which stories get written in an eight-state territory and which ones we just can't get to. That's often difficult because it sometimes means disregarding worthy, interesting stories. Sometimes it's just the daily grind of meeting deadlines and making sure a story is accurate, fair and thoroughly researched. Kevin Visit the Ask a Reporter Archive to read how New York Times reporters have answered students' questions, or see how different reporters have answered frequently asked questions.