So, here we are, the home stretch.

We have about 15 more papers left in my administration - seven weeks or so of The Student Printz.

It's hard to believe 45 papers are behind us, stored away in the archives with all the editions since 1927.

I know this: I've learned more here than I ever expected. But, most of it had nothing to do with journalism.

This is one of those jobs no one can describe to you. Going in, I asked everyone I could what to expect. Most people fumbled with a vague analogy of a traffic cop or proofreader. No one came close.

Soon, a new executive editor will take over my office. So, here is something I wish I had read before I began:

I see my job here as five part.

1. Politician
2. Commander
3. Journalist
4. Propagandizing Marketing Whore
5. Director

As a politician, I shake hands and kiss babies for the Printz. I absorb hatred and serve as a face for dartboards. I grease palms and make deals. I explain comments, field letters to the editor and talk to angry readers on the phone. I go to conferences and speak at events. I refuse or accept interviews with local and national media when we stand out from the crowd because Playboy came to town, or the sex column turns a head. I keep my pulse on the zeitgeist of faculty and students as well as the larger Hattiesburg community and compare everything to the flow of public sentiment in the nation. Where do we fit in? How should we fit in?

As a commander I keep my troops motivated and happy, keeping them on task and getting the best out of them while mindful of morale and mutiny. I maintain the hierarchy of command and insist on my editors doing the same. I hire who I know will make my job easier and can handle the stress of running a newspaper and making grades. But, I also trim the fat and fire those who aren't performing or who need a break. I notice when person-A hates person-B and rearrange things so they don't muck up the operation. I buy pizza.

As a journalist I keep an eye on what people want to know about or should know about, but also must understand students often don't want to read 500 words on the presidential search when they can turn inside and read 350 words about how crappy parking is. I train and motivate the staff to be objective, fair and maintain integrity. Also, I go through the mechanics of the words, style and grammar, which can be overwhelming. We are rarely perfect, but not from lack of trying. I write news stories. I write columns. I cover entertainment. I cover sports on occasion. I interview the parent of a student who died at 22 from an aneurysm and promise her I'll make her proud. Then, on top of all of that, I concern myself with the legality of every single inch of newsprint.

As a propagandizing marketing whore I scour the Internet. I put up fliers. I promote every story I can so it gets the most coverage. I plan headlines, photos, columns and special sections so they get the most eyes turned toward them and the most mouse clicks in their favor. I deal with advertisers and think of ways to get more of them to spend more money. I sacrifice content for them whenever I can. I put games and puzzles in the paper to trick my audience into reading the newspaper. I send people to cover events like the Miss USM pageant, Greek stage performances and spring break plans.

As a director, I plan for the future, tweak performances and seek out funds for projects. I attempt new sections and new features. I decide what sort of layout we will have each edition and ask for what I know I will need to fill it up. I plan illustrations, photos and videos. Then, when everything fails, I solve the problems. I am a flesh and bone switchboard for the entire operation connecting all section to one another and then to the layout staff.

Of course, there's more to it than just these five things. But, maybe this will help anyone out there who is considering the job to see what it's about. Basically, you're running a newspaper. How you go about is up to you. This is just how I did it.

Keep your eyes peeled. Application announcements for the next executive editor will soon appear in the print edition.