Online Editor

Geoff Campbell Online Editor Recommendations

In April 2011 I began working at the inaugural Online Editor for The Argosy, Mount Allison University’s Independent Newspaper.

In that role I used social media to expand the reader base of the campus newspaper to alumni and other interested parties. My presentation at the staff training session on the paper’s use of social media is available here.

Enhancements to The Argosy’s social media presence led to an increase in the monthly active users of the paper’s Facebook page from 154 on June 1, 2011 to 1,441 on October 26, 2011.

In addition to managing the paper’s website and social media presence and website I provided input to the production manager on content for the Online Preview page of the print version of the paper and wrote a few stories on tech news on campus. These stories included an article on Mount Allison’s website redesign, social media job searching for the class of 2012, and an update on Mount Allison University’s student government’s efforts at updating its web presence.

The Argosy Facebook Insights

Similarly, I was able to increase the average monthly visits from 2,303 in December, 2011 to to 7,435 in March, 2012 by improving the paper’s online outreach. There were no issues posted online in April.

Increased average monthly visits from 2,303 (first full month on record) to 7,435 (last month with regular publishing). There were no issues printed in April.

Throughout the year, I attended two weekly meetings in addition to HR and special meetings in which decisions regarding the diversity of the paperʼs coverage, credibility, and present and future web communication strategies were made. I also helped interview applicants for positions ranging from staff writer and section editor to  advertising and office manager positions. Being a part of the discussion about the  current and future operations with senior staff was an invaluable insight into the internal workings and responses to varies issues and crises that local media face.

My year working at The Argosy provided me into insights into the gray area between advocacy based on personal and student interest, Human Resource relations, conflict resolution, Canadian libel law (broader than in the U.S.), the role of an Ombudsperson, how editors choose what gets top billing, what makes them interested in press releases, what editors look in editors and writers,  journalistic writing, and the multilayered editing hierarchy.

I went above and beyond the basic job duties to provide all the technical support and coverage of the Fall 2011 Atlantic Region Canadian University Press Conference.

Here are three of the presentations given at that conference.

Peter Mansbridge (CBC News Anchor)

William Wolfe-Wylie (Social Media Manager at Sun Media)

Dru Oja Jay (Journalist at The Dominion)

I was also selected to join two section editors to represent The Argosy at the Canadian University Press‘ 74th Annual Conference in Victoria BC.

Work Samples

• [VIDEO] SAC Candidates Debate hosted by The Argosy
• [VIDEO] Peter Mansbridge Journalism Q&A
• [VIDEO] Peter Mansbridge on Social Media for Journalism
• [VIDEO] William Wolfe-Wylie: Expanding beyond the newspaper
• [VIDEO] Journalism as Humanitarian Intervention – Dru Oja Jay
• [ARTICLE] Job Searching for the Class of 2012
• [ARTICLE] Mount Allison SAC Technology Initiatives
• [ARTICLE] Mount Allison University plans website redesign
• [ARTICLE] Getting a job in 2012 – Standing out in a Twitter-stream
• [ARTICLE] Amnesty International campaigner visits campus
• [ARTICLE] Election 2008 Retrospective
• [ARTICLE] British comedy with a satirical bite
• [ARTICLE] Remembrance Day night at the Pub
• [ARTICLE] WesFest returns director to the big screen
• [ARTICLE] Tantramarsh Blues Society
• [ARTICLE] Interview: Dave King of Flogging Molly
• [ARTICLE] Boxer the Horse and the Novaks great warm-ups to an amazing Hey Rosetta! performance
• [ARTICLE] 2009 Polaris Prize Album Reviews
• [ARTICLE] Pat and friends at the Music Hall

The Argosy Staff 2011-2012