Kitoko Chargois is the Editor-in-Chief of the Communiqué, Chatham’s beloved newspaper. A talented writer and photographer, Chargois oversees the publication of the print edition while guiding the organization into new territory online. In Café Rachel, she spoke with us about the challenges and surprises of leadership.
Why did you choose Chatham?
Well, I chose Chatham because of its location. I’ve always really liked Squirrel Hill and I’ve always liked Oakland ever since I first came to Pittsburgh, because those were the first two areas that I knew. And so when I heard that Chatham was located between the two, I knew that I’d found my school.
Where are you from originally?
Originally, I was born in Congo, but before Pittsburgh I lived in Kansas.
What do you love most about being at Chatham?
What I love most is the people. I’ve gotten to know so many people that I otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to know. And also, in high school, I was a little bit of an introvert. I didn’t have too many close-knit friends. But when I came to Chatham, I met so many people. I got introduced to a lot of cultures that before I’d only been exposed to in books, so that’s another plus.
What are you majoring in and how did you choose it?
I’m majoring in Communications with a concentration in Print Journalism, and I’m also doing another major in Visual Arts with a concentration in Photography. And I chose journalism because I’ve always wanted to write stories. I wanted to be a creative writer, but then I joined the yearbook staff in my junior year of high school, and it was great. I loved it. I was doing a lot of things that you do in journalism – I was taking pictures, I was conducting interviews, I was working with layout – so it was a natural transition. I came to Chatham knowing what I wanted to do.
How did you get involved with the Communiqué?
I started writing for the Communiqué soon after I got to Chatham, because I knew that I needed to get involved. If I was going to do journalism, I needed to get serious about it, and it would be the best way to get this experience.
How did you become the Editor-in-Chief?
Well, I wrote for the Communiqué a lot. I was pretty involved, I was taking photographs, and I took Tony [Norman’s] news writing course. While I was taking the course, he asked me if I would be interested in being the editor of the Communiqué, and it was really scary. I didn’t think I would ever be ready. But I took him up on it, and there I was.
Do you have a favorite article that you’ve personally written for the Communiqué?
My favorite article I wrote – it was I think two years ago – I wrote about Officer Krista. She was teaching SHARP, and so I wrote about the SHARP class. And it was a really good interview, because I learned a lot of things about how the students were applying their classes and also Officer Krista’s motivations behind teaching the class. So I felt like that came out pretty solid.
Now that you’re working as the Editor-in-Chief, what’s the most challenging part?
I think the most challenging part is the last few days when you know that you have to put everything together, and you’re not entirely sure that everything is going to get there on time, you’re not sure if you have enough content. And then if it’s going to be a print edition, you’re not sure that you have enough pictures and text to fill up that space. But somehow, it always comes together at the end.
What do you love most about your position right now?
I love most that I get to do what I love. I get to talk about journalism, which is great. I get to do it actively. I’m gaining a lot of practical experience, and I also like just seeing the staff writers’ evolution when they first join the staff and as we go on, they get a little bit more aggressive about the stories that they cover. Their writing style really changes, too, over time, and so it’s really nice to see that growth.
What has surprised you most about the whole experience?
One unexpected thing is how far I’ve come personally. I’ve grown a lot since taking on this position. When I took it on, I was really unsure of myself, I didn’t know what I was doing, and now I feel comfortable. I feel like I’ve found my place, and I feel like I’m going in the right direction. Journalism is what I want to do.
What advice do you have for women who are taking on leadership roles?
The biggest piece of advice I have is, just go for it. I mean, you’re always going to have doubts, there are always going to be obstacles to what it is that you want to do, but you just have to do it. You have to get other people passionate about what it is that you’re doing, and in order to do that, you have to be passionate about it. You have to be determined to see it through to the end.
Aside from editing, what things do you like to do in your spare time?
I love watching movies with my friends. I like going out and taking random pictures. I like dancing; swing dancing and salsa dancing are two things that I really like to do whenever I have the time.
Do you have any advice for incoming students thinking about entering the Communications program?
Yeah, I do. When you get here, you can’t slack off. Today, you can’t go into the communications field knowing only the basics, you have to be able to do a lot of things. You have to be able to write, you have to be able to take pictures. If you can do video, that’s great. If you can do coding, that’s wonderful. You have to be a jack of all trades. You can specialize in one thing, but just be sure that you know how to do other things, and the best way to do that is by getting involved. Whether it’s with the Communiqué, whether it’s with Her Campus, whether it’s with the Minor Bird, it’s just really important to get all of that experience.
How can people get involved with the Communiqué?
If people want to get involved with the Communiqué, all they have to do is shoot me an email at kchargois@chatham.edu, or they can also contact Indigo Baloch who is my Managing Editor right now, and she’s going to be taking over the Communique next semester, and we will get them started. You should have some writing experience, but you don’t have to have reporting experience, because we’ll teach you the basics of journalism, we’ll teach you how to structure stories, we’ll go over your articles with you so you can learn while you’re on the job.
For students who are interested in writing but are self-conscious or nervous about sharing their work, what would you say to them?
Like I said before, you just have to do it. If you don’t do it, you’re never going to get over that shyness, but there are things that you can do. If you’re nervous about, say, your writing style or your grammar, you can visit the PACE Center or talk to a friend who’s really good with editing and go over some of the things that you’re concerned about. But you shouldn’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You’re going to have to do that in life, so why not start now when you have a group of supportive people around you?
Well, this has been so much fun. Is there anything you’d like to add?
One thing I want to add is that the Communiqué would be nothing without my staff writers and photographers and everyone that’s involved, because you can’t have a paper without content. You can’t have a paper that has so much personality without a staff that has so much personality. The Communiqué staff is amazing, and I love them all.
To read the online version of the Communique, click here.