From Managing Editor to Editor in Chief: How to handle more responsibility

By Natalia Chancafe

Editor in Chief

I have been with the Manhattan Globe for two years now and boy has it changed! But I have changed with it. 

I started as the Managing Editor in 2022 when the team was shrinking and someone was desperately needed. I was not technically qualified for this position as I took it on because I am known to take on more than I can handle. This was my first time ever taking a newspaper-related writing class so I had no idea what to do. I simply did research and told myself I would try my very best and just drop the position if needed. But I knew my fear of letting people down would not let me.

Now it is 2024 and I am the new Editor in Chief of the Globe and have a pretty big responsibility on this team. At the same time, I am an intern at CNBC, an SI Leader at New York Tech, and a Social Media Ambassador for the NYC Campus. Needless to say, my plate is very full this semester. 

So how do I handle it all? The short answer is I don't ACTUALLY know. But the long answer follows:

Do what you love to do

The main reason I do so much is because I love what I do. If you haven't noticed, everything I do relates to my career and major. As a major in communications and media production, I have a strong passion for all things media, writing, video, and whatever else you could possibly think of that is related. 

This is why I took on an internship for a huge newsgroup. I love working on a digital and social media team as I see it as a way to be creative with my career. I spend most days designing graphics, editing videos, or collaborating with others on how we can grow the brand CNBC through the digital and social media space.

This is the same reason I took on a social media ambassador role and even an SI leader position which is similar to being a TA for a class. The course is communications-related and I have the privilege of assisting students who need an extra hand in understanding the world of Communications. 

I became the Editor in Chief because this team noticed my passion for the Manhattan Globe. It is easy to be responsible for a team of such talented and creative students when you love it so much! 

At the end of the day, it is easy to have a full plate of tasks and assignments when you genuinely love what you do. If you don't love it, why are you doing it? That is when it becomes challenging to handle time management and due dates. Of course, take this with a grain of salt as I am very early on in my career and could be completely wrong! But I have a feeling that if you stick to what you love, you will succeed a little easier.