COVID-19'S IMPACT AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects our lives, and  work at the Blueprint was no exception. Along with the two other Editors-in-Chief, we worked together to figure out how to lead our class effectively from behind a screen. To do so, we implemented the practice of update slides and editing groups. At the start of class, we would touch base with our writers by checking in on upcoming articles, discussing what was going on in the community, and giving the staff the space to organically discuss and brainstorm. This helped our staff bond with each other, making our interactions all the more effective. Brainstorming, editing, and sharing work became much more effective when we would not only work together, but we're comfortable doing so. We then made sure we knew what articles were going up and that they were looked over and edited by other members on staff by assigning editing groups. This ensured that there was time allotted during class where articles were being looked over and corrected, and questions could be asked of Editors-in-Chief if needed. 

Furthermore, because the paper had moved completely online at the time, we started the year by revamping our website. We created a focus on multimedia content, such as podcasts and photo galleries. We also added new features to our website to make it more interactive for readers, such as playlists and live sports scores. Finally, we redesigned our website to give it a more modern and polished look.