Newspaper editor encourages aspiring student editors to ‘go into it with everything you’ve got’

By: Soraya Keiser

George Stanley, editor of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reminds student journalists to keep their eyes on the purpose of journalism — to inform and to hold power accountable.

George Stanley sat in his late morning calculus class during his senior year of high school when he was called out into the hallway to receive an envelope from the school office. Inside was the news that he had just won the Wisconsin Associated Press sports writing award. Unbeknownst to Stanley, his school newspaper moderator had nominated him.

“So I thought, well I must be pretty good at that, so I’m gonna keep doing that,” Stanley said.

This was just the start of Stanley’s expansive journalism career. He has covered a wide range of issues, including tribal gambling, newborn screening tests, how the U.S. didn’t follow its own pandemic playbook, etc. Now as the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Stanley continues to hold people in power accountable, inform the public and provide solutions to problems affecting his surrounding communities.

Q: How did you get into journalism? And editing in particular?

A: I always loved writing and reading as a boy. I was a sports writer and editor for my high school paper. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I worked for The Badger Herald and pursued a career in journalism. The great thing I love about journalism is that you are always learning. As an editor, you have to learn how to understand everything. At the Journal Sentinel, I started as a state reporter with specific beats covering environment, DNR and conservation. I became business editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1993 then continued as the business editor for two years when the two papers combined. Continuing to move up the ranks, I became managing editor and until eventually becoming editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2014.

Q: What are your responsibilities as an editor?

A: An editor is the chief executive of the newsroom. I am the point person for everything, and I represent the newsroom within the corporation. This means I shield it from anything that would interfere with our independence. I lead the newsroom and all the other editors. Stories for our front page and digital publication are run past me daily, and I edit all the major projects.

Q: What is a typical day on the job like for you?

A: Oh gosh, there really is no typical day, especially in 2020. We might think we’ve already had more news than in a typical month and then find out at midnight that the President has tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t be coming to Wisconsin tomorrow after all.

As an editor, I’m in a lot of meetings, and right now that means lots of Zoom meetings, Microsoft Teams meetings and phone calls. One minute we’re talking over the day’s news. Next I’ll be in a meeting of Gannett/USA TODAY Network editors where we’ll be talking about election night and how to keep the public informed if results aren’t known for days due to the counting of absentee ballots in certain battleground states. Then I’ll be talking with the guy who is coordinating our move to new office space next month. It is interesting, most of the time.

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of being an editor?

A: In recent years it has been dealing with declining revenue. It is hard to compete with free online advertising. Also, people began using smartphones to get news. Lack of revenue led to staffing cuts, which is the hardest thing to deal with. Now we do our jobs with fewer people. It is more stable now because of online subscription services, but COVID-19 is affecting us too.

Q: What is your favorite part about being an editor?

A: I still love to work with reporters on great stories — seeing the journey from the discovery to the finished product. Earlier this fall, we were working on a really interesting story on how America did not follow its own pandemic playbook (you can find the story here). I especially enjoyed being involved in this story from creating the concept to publishing it.

Q: What advice would you give to students who aspire to become an editor?

A: Go into it with everything you’ve got. Always remember what your purpose is, to inform the public and to make things better. We are there to hold power accountable. We are there to serve. It doesn’t matter whether you work for a small paper or the New York Times; if you are determined, people can see the quality of your work. Introduce yourself to people you admire. Get internships. Remember, you are learning all the time.

Although it can be chaotic at times, Stanley has found fulfillment in his job as editor.

“It’s a great career,” Stanley said. “You can improve peoples’ lives by exposing both problems and highlighting potential solutions. That’s very rewarding work.”

(edited for brevity)