Miaira Jennings
Senior Editor at eHow (Leaf Group)
What was your path to becoming an editor?
I've always been passionate about hands-on projects and content creation so when I launched my own DIY YouTube channel and blog, it truly became a way of life. When I came across eHow's open Editor position, it felt like a match made in heaven. The experience and knowledge I'd gained from creating my own DIY-related video/editorial content and growing an audience from the ground up really prepared me for the role. I am now the Senior Editor and have gained invaluable expertise in the DIY space, as well as great personal and professional growth over the last two and a half years.
How and when did you learn to write? Do you think writing can be taught?
Writing was one of my best subjects in school and has always been one of my favorite things to do. Plus, my mom is an amazing creative writer and I get a lot of my passion and skills from her. I think writing is one of the most incredible forms of expression, and anyone with enough interest and determination can learn or improve at any time. There are so many different styles and methods, so it's all about finding what works for you.
Who are your biggest inspirations within the space?
I find the most inspiration from creators and brands that take the intimidation factor out of creating and make readers or viewers feel confident to try new projects.
What is your brand’s mission? Who are you seeking to impact?
eHow's mission is to provide inspiration for anyone to create, build and fix almost anything themselves. We provide step-by-step tutorials in an uncomplicated and engaging way, and we strive to make anyone feel like a DIY professional.
What is the most challenging aspect of maintaining your particular brand’s voice?
I think one of the biggest challenges for any digital brand nowadays is to find ways to stay current and maintain interest — even in the DIY space, which can often seem very "cookie cutter." One way our team does this is by incorporating pop culture and trending topics into our DIY projects, making them more dynamic. For instance, tutorials like our DIY “Marvel Avengers Superhero Party Snacks” and DIY “Game of Thrones Party Snacks” tend to stand out from typical recipe articles because they include that extra element of fandom. Both projects won the Webby Award for best how-to social video the last two years, and I believe that really speaks to our team's ability to keep DIY fresh and entertaining.
How has COVID affected your editorial strategy? What is something you’ve learned from this new normal?
We've been tailoring a lot of our content to be "stay-at-home" friendly during this time; tutorials that can be completed using materials most people already have on hand, ideas for tackling home improvement projects that may have been previously put off, and interactive activities parents can do with their kids. We've learned that people are really eager to learn new skills during this time and we aim to provide resources for them to do just that.
What do you think will be the greater impact on journalism?
We've definitely seen that spending more time at home has encouraged many people to rediscover their love for creating, and we expect that trend to persist beyond stay-at-home orders. I believe that it is our nature as human beings to want to create in one way or another, so content catering to that innate desire will continue to thrive.
What feedback have you gotten from your readers that is new/different than before?
Our readers have been engaging now more than ever, voting for their favorite recipes through our social media polls or sharing photos of their personal creations in our Facebook contests. I feel it's important to continue creating opportunities for our audience to interact and highlight projects that make them proud.
What are you currently reading?
I've been spending a good chunk of my time consuming home makeover content that's inspired me to finally tackle some projects in my own space.
How important is it to have mentors during this new journalistic landscape? Can you describe your ideal mentor relationship?
I think mentorship in any space is incredibly beneficial because we all have something to learn, as well as something to teach. An ideal mentor relationship to me would include time and space to share knowledge and resources, creative strategies that have both worked and fallen short, and advice for personal and professional development.
Knowing that news breaks on social media, whether it's a new government policy or the latest celeb pregnancy announcement, how does your team use social media to report on the story?
Our Senior Social Media Manager, Mike Munoz, does an excellent job keeping a close eye on search trends and sharing our best content that fits those needs. Pieces ranging from DIY cleaning solutions that make people feel safer during this pandemic, to copycat recipes from popular restaurants that people can make in the comfort of their own kitchen, have been hits across our social platforms as of late.