Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, blogs, podcasts, Twitter – the wave of technology available at our fingertips shows no signs of slowing down. I’ve longed ignored most of this thinking it had little use for my needs. Boy, when did I get so out of touch?
I was using the Internet before it was being called the Internet many years ago. When I was in college, I took several online courses through bulletin boards. You couldn’t surf the Internet, there wasn’t anything there. You could log onto bulletin boards, usually set up by a savvy professor, to interact with your classmates. When I took my first course, nobody understood what I was doing and they all thought it was some form of cheating. I ignored their comments, recognizing its benefits.
As more people caught on, the depth of the Internet’s content expanded, and I continued to be an advocate of its use and usefulness. I reveled when my small weekly newspaper went online, looking for every opportunity to post breaking news stories.
I have to admit, however, that I missed the Social Media wave. What was I doing? I was likely up to my eyeballs in deadlines, copy editing, page building and the many other functions of running a daily newspaper to see a great idea and its benefits.
The first time I went to MySpace, I was checking out a potential new reporter. It was the idea of my former News Editor, Matt Williamson. It was a great tip then, and it’s a great tip now. If you’re looking to hire someone, Google them, then check out MySpace and Facebook.
Since that first time, I’ve mostly ignored it. I was aware of it, but didn’t see how it could help me. How could I have been so wrong?
Social Media sites are a direct connection to our readers. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can set up his or her own page in a matter of minutes. hether you choose a blog, a page on Facebook or MySpace, or set up your own Web site, there are many benefits.
First, with the exception of a Web site, it’s free. You can set up a blog site for every member of your newsroom, and it’s all free.
It connects to the reader. I’ve always said that a newspaper must connect to its readers. What better way then to provide them a connection to the writers, photographers, columnists and editors. Yes, they could call, or drop by or send you an e-mail, but many people are more likely to be open, honest and brutal when they have that distance between their computer and yours.
With shrinking ad revenues and page count, the boundlessness of the Internet makes it attractive real estate for newspapers and magazines. You can publish anything at any time, anyone can view it and you can broaden your readership to those that might not pay for a print subscription.
I decided to give it a try for myself and recently started my own blog, http://www.thepracticaleditor.blogspot.com/. The blog contains many of my old Practical Editor columns I’ve written for Publisher’s Auxiliary since 2005. I was sabotaged in my initial attempts, as my computer decided to eat all of my old columns. Luckily, Stan Schwartz had kept copies of my old columns and came to my rescue. For now, the blog contains the columns and I plan to add other items in the future.
I also created a page, or profile, on http://www.linkedin.com/, a professional networking site designed for professionals. Several of my media, and non-media colleagues, recommended the site as a good networking tool. Why not?
Many of my friends have also urged me to create a Facebook page, which I plan to do eventually. I’ll limit that page to friends and family.
I welcome Publisher’s Auxiliary readers and any of my colleagues, to check out my initial attempts in social media sites and welcome your ideas and suggestions.
Solid reporting key to readership
Solid reporting on local news that impacts the reader – that is the single best way that any newspaper can serve its community.
Long-standing newspapers that have served its readers well are folding on a nearly weekly basis. For the ones left standing, an emphasis on good, solid reporting and writing will keep the newspaper a vital ingredient in the lives of its readers.
I live Northern Nevada, a region that has been growing for the last 10 years thanks in part to high standard of living, location near a resort area and tax advantages that attract businesses from California. This growth also helped to cause a bubble in the housing market, which now has resulted in high foreclosure and unemployment rates. Our local newspapers – from dailies to weeklies – have suffered as well with reduced staff and content, some even publishing now only three days a week. I’ll never stop my subscription to the paper, but I find myself reading less and less by the day. Why? There’s little good, local reporting.
I don’t want to be dazzled by some new features section. I don’t want to read canned copy on the best spring salad or how to jumpstart my summer workout. I want to know what is happening in my community.
Stories are in the air, scoop them up. The financial crisis, the housing crisis, the wars, everywhere you look there are good stories waiting to be told. How are the mom and pop shops surviving? What are the unemployed doing for food, for health care, for jobs, for housing? Talk to local shop owners, shadow a family going through a housing crisis or a job search. Get out there and try to find a job yourself – go through the process and see what’s out there. Talk to the hospitals, the clinics, the health department – what do people need and how are they getting it. How are local soldiers and their families faring?
Put a face on the story. Tell the big picture story, then focus on one family, one individual and how they are, or aren’t, coping.
Hold officials accountable. From city hall to board rooms to the legislature, it took more than CEOs and stockbrokers on Wall Street to cause these problems. Find out how local policies, or the lack of them, added to the crisis. Then, ask what they are doing to fix it. Hold legislatures, bank officers and the city council and managers responsible. Dog them until you get answers, and then continue to dog them until the public gets results.
Follow the money. With stimulus money coming down the pipe, keep a close eye on it. Follow the money and the people, where it’s going and make sure it’s spent on the right projects in the proper way. We are the watchdogs of government and in this financial crisis diligence is needed more than ever.
Focus on the basics. With finances tight for many, the newsroom can do its part in keeping readers by focusing on solid and tight reporting and writing. Hit the pavement, talk to people, cover your bases and write a good story every time. Ask the big picture questions – how does their impact the reader’s life and why should they care. And, don’t forget to follow up. Keep a stack of newspapers from the last two to three months, then sit down every few months and go through them. Look for the stories that need follow up, the unresolved issues, new laws about to come on line, etc.
Look to the future. The economy is cyclical and we will emerge from this crisis. Look for signs of upturns in the local economy – look for new businesses, construction projects that restart and any signs of life. Don’t pander to the readers, just focus on balanced coverage.
Long-standing newspapers that have served its readers well are folding on a nearly weekly basis. For the ones left standing, an emphasis on good, solid reporting and writing will keep the newspaper a vital ingredient in the lives of its readers.
I live Northern Nevada, a region that has been growing for the last 10 years thanks in part to high standard of living, location near a resort area and tax advantages that attract businesses from California. This growth also helped to cause a bubble in the housing market, which now has resulted in high foreclosure and unemployment rates. Our local newspapers – from dailies to weeklies – have suffered as well with reduced staff and content, some even publishing now only three days a week. I’ll never stop my subscription to the paper, but I find myself reading less and less by the day. Why? There’s little good, local reporting.
I don’t want to be dazzled by some new features section. I don’t want to read canned copy on the best spring salad or how to jumpstart my summer workout. I want to know what is happening in my community.
Stories are in the air, scoop them up. The financial crisis, the housing crisis, the wars, everywhere you look there are good stories waiting to be told. How are the mom and pop shops surviving? What are the unemployed doing for food, for health care, for jobs, for housing? Talk to local shop owners, shadow a family going through a housing crisis or a job search. Get out there and try to find a job yourself – go through the process and see what’s out there. Talk to the hospitals, the clinics, the health department – what do people need and how are they getting it. How are local soldiers and their families faring?
Put a face on the story. Tell the big picture story, then focus on one family, one individual and how they are, or aren’t, coping.
Hold officials accountable. From city hall to board rooms to the legislature, it took more than CEOs and stockbrokers on Wall Street to cause these problems. Find out how local policies, or the lack of them, added to the crisis. Then, ask what they are doing to fix it. Hold legislatures, bank officers and the city council and managers responsible. Dog them until you get answers, and then continue to dog them until the public gets results.
Follow the money. With stimulus money coming down the pipe, keep a close eye on it. Follow the money and the people, where it’s going and make sure it’s spent on the right projects in the proper way. We are the watchdogs of government and in this financial crisis diligence is needed more than ever.
Focus on the basics. With finances tight for many, the newsroom can do its part in keeping readers by focusing on solid and tight reporting and writing. Hit the pavement, talk to people, cover your bases and write a good story every time. Ask the big picture questions – how does their impact the reader’s life and why should they care. And, don’t forget to follow up. Keep a stack of newspapers from the last two to three months, then sit down every few months and go through them. Look for the stories that need follow up, the unresolved issues, new laws about to come on line, etc.
Look to the future. The economy is cyclical and we will emerge from this crisis. Look for signs of upturns in the local economy – look for new businesses, construction projects that restart and any signs of life. Don’t pander to the readers, just focus on balanced coverage.
Focus on opportunities amid recession
The economy is slumping, jobs are being cut by the tens of thousands almost daily, home values have plummeted and signs of the recession are being felt by everyone, including in our newsrooms and at the bottom line.
We’ve been feeling it here, although it has been a slow, but steady decline for the last two years. Living in a resort community that’s within driving distance of southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, we are always a little insulated in downturns in the economy. They hurt, but often we can ride them out. No longer. Advertising sales are down and we’re feeling the pinch to cut the meat (we starting cutting the fat a year ago). We’ve tightened up our editorial content, meaning fewer pages and a reduced print bill. While we haven’t cut any essentials, we’ve cut some of the columnists and extra features we would have published in years past. The challenge has been how to do more with less.
I have to admit that the last year has been frustrating for me. I have a great job at a wonderful publication, but I’m an idea person. I’m always thinking of new ways to improve the content, delivery, production, design, marketing, advertising, you name it, I have an idea for it. We’re faring better than others are in our market, but the funds for the extras have vanished.
I’ve thrown aside the frustration and found renewed enthusiasm, of late, and now look at the economy we find ourselves in as an opportunity.
Focus on the core
First and foremost, keep the focus on the customer, whether it’s the reader or advertiser. We’ve always been known for our customer service, and we can’t lose that focus during tough times. Be diligent to spot errors whether it’s in a story or an ad, helpful and friendly service is something that never goes out of style and work to produce the best product within your means.
Trim the Fat
Like I mentioned earlier, we’ve cut the fat and sliced into the meat, but we haven’t sacrificed the core publication. Yes, we trimmed some editorial features, but we’ve worked on improving those things that work.
For many years, we’ve operated on a wide column format, which is hard to read, but also limits our design and advertising sizes. Needing to fit more into fewer pages while offering more options to advertisers, we’re now redesigning our look. Well, we’re really tweaking the design. We’re working on fonts, column sizes, use of pages and other avenues to offer more without sacrificing our editorial content (of course, we’re doing it in-house). We hope to debut the design soon, which will open the editorial space (something I’m ecstatic about) while keeping a tight reign on our page count.
Market Your Product
One thing we’re also trying to improve is our marketing in the community, done of course with little funds. We’re been able to sponsor many local and regional events in exchange for advertising and editorial coverage (something we would do anyway). No money changes hands, but our name is at community events and fundraisers.
We’ve also wanted to do a readership survey, and have been looking for innovative ways to make it happen. And, the Internet provides. There are many companies offering inexpensive e-marketing solutions like readership surveys, e-newsletters and other tools to reach customers and readers.
We’ll be using on of these services to conduct our readership survey. A key to surveys I learned a long time ago is to offer an incentive, which we’ll do with ski lift tickets and other coveted prizes. And, we’ll be starting an e-newsletter that we can use for our readers and/or advertisers to promote our editions, special features and advertising specials, among other ideas.
Revisit Old Successes, Failures
More on the advertising side, we’re looking at sectors that we’ve been strong in that have dropped off and looking at what just doesn’t work. By tweaking old ideas, we’ve trying to reinvigorate ad revenues from display to classifieds. Working at a small publication, everyone’s input is essential and I know I’ve gotten fantastic editorial ideas from people outside the newsroom. I think the same is true for those in editorial to offer ideas for other areas from advertising and design to marketing and circulation.
I don’t see an end in sight to our economic problems in the near future, so I’m all for holding onto what works, tossing what doesn’t and looking for solutions to bring us through this storm.
We’ve been feeling it here, although it has been a slow, but steady decline for the last two years. Living in a resort community that’s within driving distance of southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, we are always a little insulated in downturns in the economy. They hurt, but often we can ride them out. No longer. Advertising sales are down and we’re feeling the pinch to cut the meat (we starting cutting the fat a year ago). We’ve tightened up our editorial content, meaning fewer pages and a reduced print bill. While we haven’t cut any essentials, we’ve cut some of the columnists and extra features we would have published in years past. The challenge has been how to do more with less.
I have to admit that the last year has been frustrating for me. I have a great job at a wonderful publication, but I’m an idea person. I’m always thinking of new ways to improve the content, delivery, production, design, marketing, advertising, you name it, I have an idea for it. We’re faring better than others are in our market, but the funds for the extras have vanished.
I’ve thrown aside the frustration and found renewed enthusiasm, of late, and now look at the economy we find ourselves in as an opportunity.
Focus on the core
First and foremost, keep the focus on the customer, whether it’s the reader or advertiser. We’ve always been known for our customer service, and we can’t lose that focus during tough times. Be diligent to spot errors whether it’s in a story or an ad, helpful and friendly service is something that never goes out of style and work to produce the best product within your means.
Trim the Fat
Like I mentioned earlier, we’ve cut the fat and sliced into the meat, but we haven’t sacrificed the core publication. Yes, we trimmed some editorial features, but we’ve worked on improving those things that work.
For many years, we’ve operated on a wide column format, which is hard to read, but also limits our design and advertising sizes. Needing to fit more into fewer pages while offering more options to advertisers, we’re now redesigning our look. Well, we’re really tweaking the design. We’re working on fonts, column sizes, use of pages and other avenues to offer more without sacrificing our editorial content (of course, we’re doing it in-house). We hope to debut the design soon, which will open the editorial space (something I’m ecstatic about) while keeping a tight reign on our page count.
Market Your Product
One thing we’re also trying to improve is our marketing in the community, done of course with little funds. We’re been able to sponsor many local and regional events in exchange for advertising and editorial coverage (something we would do anyway). No money changes hands, but our name is at community events and fundraisers.
We’ve also wanted to do a readership survey, and have been looking for innovative ways to make it happen. And, the Internet provides. There are many companies offering inexpensive e-marketing solutions like readership surveys, e-newsletters and other tools to reach customers and readers.
We’ll be using on of these services to conduct our readership survey. A key to surveys I learned a long time ago is to offer an incentive, which we’ll do with ski lift tickets and other coveted prizes. And, we’ll be starting an e-newsletter that we can use for our readers and/or advertisers to promote our editions, special features and advertising specials, among other ideas.
Revisit Old Successes, Failures
More on the advertising side, we’re looking at sectors that we’ve been strong in that have dropped off and looking at what just doesn’t work. By tweaking old ideas, we’ve trying to reinvigorate ad revenues from display to classifieds. Working at a small publication, everyone’s input is essential and I know I’ve gotten fantastic editorial ideas from people outside the newsroom. I think the same is true for those in editorial to offer ideas for other areas from advertising and design to marketing and circulation.
I don’t see an end in sight to our economic problems in the near future, so I’m all for holding onto what works, tossing what doesn’t and looking for solutions to bring us through this storm.
What should newspapers do with the Internet?
The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of the late-20th century, but it can also be one of the greatest points of contention in the publishing world.
Personally, I find it to be a great resource that has revolutionized the dissemination of information in a single lifetime. As a child, I would often grab a volume of our Encyclopedia Britannica and thumb through the pages looking for interesting entries. Today, knowledge isn’t limited by the volumes on the shelf. A few clicks on the Net and you can look up any subject, and get the most current information (no more waiting for the annual supplement).
The same can be said of the news. The Internet should be the source for breaking news, updates to stories in the print edition and the source for nearly anything. If you’re a large metro, you’ve probably got this covered. If you’re a mid-sized to small daily or weekly, that’s another story.
Newsrooms need a plan to tackle news coverage on the Internet. Unless you clearly define a purpose and plan to online coverage, you’re just floundering around. We follow style guides for our stories, we spend a lot of money on designing a paper that looks the same everyday, but few newsrooms spend the time to put the same effort to an online plan.
First, do you want to be on the Internet? I think every publication, regardless of size, should be online. Even if you just post the print stories on the Web, that’s fine. But, a Web presence is necessary. Some people are not going to buy the paper. We all have to accept this fact and move on. But, a portion of those non-newspaper people (they should be ashamed), will read it online.
I’ve given up on some of my friends, even colleagues in other departments in newspapers, that they’re going to buy a single copy, let along a subscription. But, most of these same people will look at each new issue online. I can’t explain this phenomenon, but I know it happens.
Put the content online (it doesn’t have to be all of it) to get the readers you’re missing. And, that includes the advertising. Sell it if you can, but get the advertisers in front of those readers. It’s better to have more readers looking at the newspaper online or in print, that not looking at it at all, in my opinion.
Now, let’s talk about paid archives. I say stop charging for those archives or at least make it free to subscribers.
I read two local dailies, an alternative weekly, a weekly entertainment guide and four regional monthly magazines, all in print. Why should I have to pay to read it again online, too? The large daily in my market charges for its archives. Nothing chaps me more than trying to look up a story I read a few weeks back and being asked to pay for it. I pay a subscription (which recently went up while a lot of the daily content was cut) and I should be able to look up a story free without being charged.
I just never understood the value in charged people a few bucks to read old newspaper articles. I know times are tough, but I also look at it as a community service. I always enjoyed helping customers who would come in to look at old articles. They usually were looking for an old high school photo or wedding announcement or obituary. It was news that meant something to them on a personal level. We never charged for photocopies unless it has quite a few, so why are we charging for the same thing on the Net? I just think it’s a disservice to deny the public that information.
Next, each newsroom needs to decide the scope of their online content. Will it include the obituaries, weddings and local calendar? Will it only be front section stories? Define what the online content will be and make sure everyone understands the plan.
Who will post the content and photos to the Web? If you’re a small publication, many cost-effective programs will allow you to handle this in-house with no long-term costs.
If you’re a larger publication and decide that you’re going to include breaking news in your online coverage, you need to hire someone to do it. Too many newsrooms expect reporters to cover the daily news, and then spend part of their day posting stories online. Do you want a writer or an Internet person (and a photographer and a page designer and a copy editor)? You can’t expect them to do it all, and be good at any of it.
The Internet has created a booming industry that has thrived for many years, but newspapers have had a hard time grasping their piece of the pie. Editorial and advertising have immense value in the online world, but are enough people willing to pay for either? That remains to be seen, especially in these hard economic times. But acting without a plan will get you nowhere, fast.
Personally, I find it to be a great resource that has revolutionized the dissemination of information in a single lifetime. As a child, I would often grab a volume of our Encyclopedia Britannica and thumb through the pages looking for interesting entries. Today, knowledge isn’t limited by the volumes on the shelf. A few clicks on the Net and you can look up any subject, and get the most current information (no more waiting for the annual supplement).
The same can be said of the news. The Internet should be the source for breaking news, updates to stories in the print edition and the source for nearly anything. If you’re a large metro, you’ve probably got this covered. If you’re a mid-sized to small daily or weekly, that’s another story.
Newsrooms need a plan to tackle news coverage on the Internet. Unless you clearly define a purpose and plan to online coverage, you’re just floundering around. We follow style guides for our stories, we spend a lot of money on designing a paper that looks the same everyday, but few newsrooms spend the time to put the same effort to an online plan.
First, do you want to be on the Internet? I think every publication, regardless of size, should be online. Even if you just post the print stories on the Web, that’s fine. But, a Web presence is necessary. Some people are not going to buy the paper. We all have to accept this fact and move on. But, a portion of those non-newspaper people (they should be ashamed), will read it online.
I’ve given up on some of my friends, even colleagues in other departments in newspapers, that they’re going to buy a single copy, let along a subscription. But, most of these same people will look at each new issue online. I can’t explain this phenomenon, but I know it happens.
Put the content online (it doesn’t have to be all of it) to get the readers you’re missing. And, that includes the advertising. Sell it if you can, but get the advertisers in front of those readers. It’s better to have more readers looking at the newspaper online or in print, that not looking at it at all, in my opinion.
Now, let’s talk about paid archives. I say stop charging for those archives or at least make it free to subscribers.
I read two local dailies, an alternative weekly, a weekly entertainment guide and four regional monthly magazines, all in print. Why should I have to pay to read it again online, too? The large daily in my market charges for its archives. Nothing chaps me more than trying to look up a story I read a few weeks back and being asked to pay for it. I pay a subscription (which recently went up while a lot of the daily content was cut) and I should be able to look up a story free without being charged.
I just never understood the value in charged people a few bucks to read old newspaper articles. I know times are tough, but I also look at it as a community service. I always enjoyed helping customers who would come in to look at old articles. They usually were looking for an old high school photo or wedding announcement or obituary. It was news that meant something to them on a personal level. We never charged for photocopies unless it has quite a few, so why are we charging for the same thing on the Net? I just think it’s a disservice to deny the public that information.
Next, each newsroom needs to decide the scope of their online content. Will it include the obituaries, weddings and local calendar? Will it only be front section stories? Define what the online content will be and make sure everyone understands the plan.
Who will post the content and photos to the Web? If you’re a small publication, many cost-effective programs will allow you to handle this in-house with no long-term costs.
If you’re a larger publication and decide that you’re going to include breaking news in your online coverage, you need to hire someone to do it. Too many newsrooms expect reporters to cover the daily news, and then spend part of their day posting stories online. Do you want a writer or an Internet person (and a photographer and a page designer and a copy editor)? You can’t expect them to do it all, and be good at any of it.
The Internet has created a booming industry that has thrived for many years, but newspapers have had a hard time grasping their piece of the pie. Editorial and advertising have immense value in the online world, but are enough people willing to pay for either? That remains to be seen, especially in these hard economic times. But acting without a plan will get you nowhere, fast.
Stay on top of what's happening around you
One thing a journalist should never do is to stop learning. It keeps your mind sharp, it gives you new job skills and it provides a constant source for new ideas. You don’t have to sign up for a university course, but you should always be looking for ways to learn something new.
Read the paper—Read the paper, especially your own newspaper, every day. Read the ads and the classifieds. You’ll find out things you didn’t know and get ideas for story ideas. If you work at a small paper, read a larger daily to keep up on state and national news.
Be a news junkie—Turn on the national news on the television or radio while you’re getting ready for work or riding in the car. Spend a few minutes checking online news sites for developing stories and read the wire.
Be curious—A reporter’s best tool is his or her own curiosity. Be mindful of what’s going on in your community, listen to what your neighbors are talking about or what other people are discussing at restaurants, at the bus stop, in the gym or at the doctor’s office. Watch people’s body language. If they whisper or huddle close when you’re around, find out what they are talking about. I used to bring a book that I pretended to read during closed sessions at board meetings. I would listen to the conversations that would go around me when staff members thought I wasn’t paying attention. I got some great tips that way.
Look for new ideas—When you travel, pick up the local paper. Stop by the visitor’s center and ask about local attractions, favorite restaurants and things to do. I often find ideas that I can use for my own publications.
Take a class—If you don’t know much about a subject you feel is essential to your job, take a class. Whether it’s a digital photography class, a class on political science or wildflowers, or golf lessons, if it helps you with your stories, make the time.
Ask questions—Find a local source in the community who is willing to take the time to explain something to you. Ask the city manager about the city budget, the local sheriff about police procedures or a lawyer about a complicated court case. I learned the most about court procedures from a District Attorney who took the time to explain the complicated system to me when I was fresh out of college.
News University—One of the best tools is the News University, www.newsu.org, which provides online courses on everything from headline writing to freedom of information issues to covering water quality. The News University is a project of the Poytner Institute for Media Studies (poynter.org) and many of the courses are available for free.
Attend a conference—Look for conferences for industry associations on issues that are part of your beat. You’ll find out what the association members are talking about and develop sources for future stories.
Read the paper—Read the paper, especially your own newspaper, every day. Read the ads and the classifieds. You’ll find out things you didn’t know and get ideas for story ideas. If you work at a small paper, read a larger daily to keep up on state and national news.
Be a news junkie—Turn on the national news on the television or radio while you’re getting ready for work or riding in the car. Spend a few minutes checking online news sites for developing stories and read the wire.
Be curious—A reporter’s best tool is his or her own curiosity. Be mindful of what’s going on in your community, listen to what your neighbors are talking about or what other people are discussing at restaurants, at the bus stop, in the gym or at the doctor’s office. Watch people’s body language. If they whisper or huddle close when you’re around, find out what they are talking about. I used to bring a book that I pretended to read during closed sessions at board meetings. I would listen to the conversations that would go around me when staff members thought I wasn’t paying attention. I got some great tips that way.
Look for new ideas—When you travel, pick up the local paper. Stop by the visitor’s center and ask about local attractions, favorite restaurants and things to do. I often find ideas that I can use for my own publications.
Take a class—If you don’t know much about a subject you feel is essential to your job, take a class. Whether it’s a digital photography class, a class on political science or wildflowers, or golf lessons, if it helps you with your stories, make the time.
Ask questions—Find a local source in the community who is willing to take the time to explain something to you. Ask the city manager about the city budget, the local sheriff about police procedures or a lawyer about a complicated court case. I learned the most about court procedures from a District Attorney who took the time to explain the complicated system to me when I was fresh out of college.
News University—One of the best tools is the News University, www.newsu.org, which provides online courses on everything from headline writing to freedom of information issues to covering water quality. The News University is a project of the Poytner Institute for Media Studies (poynter.org) and many of the courses are available for free.
Attend a conference—Look for conferences for industry associations on issues that are part of your beat. You’ll find out what the association members are talking about and develop sources for future stories.
Weeding through the stacks of resumes
When I was a child, I always looked forward to the long, lazy days the summer brought. No alarm clocks to wake me up, no homework to finish every night and lax bedtimes. But in the publishing business, summer is one of the busiest times of the year.
In my mind I always marked the beginning of the busy summer season when I handed out assignments for whatever summer supplement we had concocted, next came the traditional Fourth of July and apple pie features, followed by election coverage for local primaries, followed by runoffs that always seemed to coincide with the release of the No Child Left Behind scores. Of course, that was the same week school started and we wrapped up the Back to School tab. Then it’s Labor Day and another summer is over.
Mixed into the summer crunch is the barrage of resumes and clips from the newly graduated from J-School. Few summer days would go by without at least a couple resumes arriving in the mail.
Through the years I developed my own system for quickly scanning through the stacks of resumes and either tossing them and setting them aside for consideration. For instance, if the applicant doesn’t spell the name of the publication or my name correctly, forget about it. Into the recycle bin it goes. The same goes if there are no clips.
The all-time most bizarre application I received came when I worked at a weekly newspaper in Lake Tahoe about 10 years ago. It was a simple, single-page letter handwritten on a piece of notebook paper that had been ripped out of the pad with those little pieces of paper frayed along its edge (a pet peeve of mine). In it, the individual misspelled my name and the name of the paper and stated that his qualifications were that he occasionally read the newspaper. I still have that letter in my stacks of files.
The best application came in the form of twice-monthly phone calls over the course of six months. A young man started to call me in January one year looking for a job for when he graduated in the spring. I politely told him I didn’t have an opening, but that he could send a resume with clips. He did and then followed it up with at least two phones calls every month to tell me how much he wanted a job and to ask about any openings. It got to the point where the receptionist would just say, “That kid is on the phone again.”
Well, six months later I had an opening and hired him. With that kind of persistence, that’s someone I wanted in the newsroom. He proved to a be a tenacious, hardworking and gifted journalist, and a good friend. Today, Charles Levinson is the Baghdad Bureau Chief for USA Today.
My point is that a good “resume” isn’t always what is on a piece of paper. And, sometimes, the mailing label can tell you everything you need to know.
On a practical note, I can’t stress enough about checking references by phone or e-mail. I stopped relying on written references when two stellar references – including one from an international newspaper company – proved to be a load of garbage.
I implore anyone who’s agreed to be a reference – don’t give a reference if you don’t believe in the person’s abilities. I can’t stress this enough. Don’t even agree to be listed unless you’re willing to give an accurate account of the individual’s job performance.
I prefer references over the phone if you can catch an editor on deadline for five minutes of questions. When that doesn’t work, send them an e-mail with five to six questions.
Two of my favorite reference questions to ask are: Would you rehire the individual and would you want this person to write a story about you or a family member. The answers will tell you a lot.
Put a face on your coverage
Every newsroom should have a face. I’ve always been of the opinion that in order to cover a particular community, you have to be a part of it.
Knowing about the news takes more than working the cop beat, or getting to know the court clerks or the mayor’s receptionist. It also means talking to average people doing everyday things. That involves getting out into the community outside of covering a story.
Some of the best story ideas and most interesting news tidbits I’ve obtained have come from talking to people while enjoy a latte at the local coffee shop, after a club meeting or at the opening of a local art exhibit.
Not only is it a good tool for developing new sources outside of your daily beats, it enhances your credibility. Readers want to put a face to the stories they read. They want to meet you, tell you a bad joke and bend your ear about what they think the topic of your next article should be. But 20 minutes later, you’ll have a new, friendly source that will call you the next time they have a hot tip.
* Have coffee out every afternoon at the same place. Hang around for a while, talk to the owner, the employees and the regulars. Soon, they’ll start sharing interesting items.
* Join a local civic group. It’s a good way to talk to sources outside of the “office” and to develop one-on-one relationships that will help with stories down the road. And, as many new reporters have learned over the years, it’s a good way to get a free meal on the boss’ dime.
* Take part in a sport. Whether it’s disc golf or co-ed softball. Join a local team to meet new people. It’s also a great way to decompress after a hard day.
* Attend local chamber of commerce mixers. Most chambers hold monthly mixers that are an excellent opportunity for networking. Grab some snacks and unwind while meeting people who are looking to blow off a little steam. There’s always someone venting about a local hot topic that has an inside track.
* Attend social gatherings such as art exhibit receptions, the opening for a new store and other gatherings. People are relaxed and usually chatting about something that was on the front page. It’s also a good time to meet business owners who make great sources and usually have some good story ideas.
* Have dinner or lunch at a restaurant with outdoor seating. You can enjoy a meal while still visible to passersby. People are always more willing to approach you when you’re eating outside rather than when you’re seated indoors.
* Attend local events such as barbecues, the annual Fourth of July fireworks, football games and other activities. They’re a great place to be seen and to talk to sources.
* Take part in school and group activities if you have children. Your children will love the attention and you get to meet other parents where education and local schools are the main topic.
Knowing about the news takes more than working the cop beat, or getting to know the court clerks or the mayor’s receptionist. It also means talking to average people doing everyday things. That involves getting out into the community outside of covering a story.
Some of the best story ideas and most interesting news tidbits I’ve obtained have come from talking to people while enjoy a latte at the local coffee shop, after a club meeting or at the opening of a local art exhibit.
Not only is it a good tool for developing new sources outside of your daily beats, it enhances your credibility. Readers want to put a face to the stories they read. They want to meet you, tell you a bad joke and bend your ear about what they think the topic of your next article should be. But 20 minutes later, you’ll have a new, friendly source that will call you the next time they have a hot tip.
* Have coffee out every afternoon at the same place. Hang around for a while, talk to the owner, the employees and the regulars. Soon, they’ll start sharing interesting items.
* Join a local civic group. It’s a good way to talk to sources outside of the “office” and to develop one-on-one relationships that will help with stories down the road. And, as many new reporters have learned over the years, it’s a good way to get a free meal on the boss’ dime.
* Take part in a sport. Whether it’s disc golf or co-ed softball. Join a local team to meet new people. It’s also a great way to decompress after a hard day.
* Attend local chamber of commerce mixers. Most chambers hold monthly mixers that are an excellent opportunity for networking. Grab some snacks and unwind while meeting people who are looking to blow off a little steam. There’s always someone venting about a local hot topic that has an inside track.
* Attend social gatherings such as art exhibit receptions, the opening for a new store and other gatherings. People are relaxed and usually chatting about something that was on the front page. It’s also a good time to meet business owners who make great sources and usually have some good story ideas.
* Have dinner or lunch at a restaurant with outdoor seating. You can enjoy a meal while still visible to passersby. People are always more willing to approach you when you’re eating outside rather than when you’re seated indoors.
* Attend local events such as barbecues, the annual Fourth of July fireworks, football games and other activities. They’re a great place to be seen and to talk to sources.
* Take part in school and group activities if you have children. Your children will love the attention and you get to meet other parents where education and local schools are the main topic.
Web full of reporting tools
Any of my friends that have seen the closet in my home office marvel at the large file bins filled with papers. I probably have about 100 pounds of files in that closet.
The files range from research from graduate school to stories I’ve written to planned projects. The heaviest box is full of my journalism papers. I have everything from copies of articles I liked from other papers to handouts from seminars to tips on everything from writing leads to property taxes.
I have one file about 4” thick of notes and articles I’ve given to reporters for the last 10 years. I started making the file after I kept having the same talks with every new reporter about covering meetings, cops, budgets, property taxes, leads, the list goes on. Every editor goes through it, and I started the file to help get reporters up to speed in a hurry. When they first start, I give them copies of the things they’ll need as a first-time reporter, then supplement as different issues arise – budget time, school test scores, elections, etc.
One thing I’ve always found is a great resource is the Internet. Now, I’m against using it as the source for a story, but I’ve found it can be a great source for background research and finding statistics on scores of topics. Here are my top picks of helpful Web sites:
Merriam-Webster: The site offers an unabridged dictionary, thesaurus, medical dictionary, and Spanish to English dictionary. Be careful of online dictionaries such as Wikipedia where anyone can post “facts” on any subject. The source needs to be credible. www.m-w.com
Census date: The government spends all of that time taking the Census and are nice enough to categorize much of the data; a handy tool for many stories. www.census.gov
Know the law: One of the hardest things to learn as a new reporter is what documents you’re allowed access to, if a meeting must be public or in executive session, and other similar matters. The Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press is a good overall resource on access issues. You can download a copy of The First Amendment Handbook or use the FOIA Letter Generator to help make a federal FOIA request. Reporters should also check with their state’s press association and FOI committee Web site for state-specific resources. www.rcfp.org
Track the vote: Thomas (named for Thomas Jefferson) provides legislative information through the Library of Congress. Track the status of bills, voting records for U.S. Senators and Representatives, and many other resources. It’s a great resource for tracking bills with local impacts. www.thomas.loc.gov, www.house.gov, www.senate.gov
Federal data: A wealth of information with links and index listings to scores of federal agencies with statistical data. www.fedstats.gov
Locate someone: Forget the phone book, head to the Net to locate addresses, phone numbers, e-mails and reverse phone look-ups. www.switchboard.com, www.yellowpages.com, www.whitepages.com
There are hundreds of good Web sites out there, including many government agencies with online data. A little time spend finding good resources will help deadline reporting in the future.
The files range from research from graduate school to stories I’ve written to planned projects. The heaviest box is full of my journalism papers. I have everything from copies of articles I liked from other papers to handouts from seminars to tips on everything from writing leads to property taxes.
I have one file about 4” thick of notes and articles I’ve given to reporters for the last 10 years. I started making the file after I kept having the same talks with every new reporter about covering meetings, cops, budgets, property taxes, leads, the list goes on. Every editor goes through it, and I started the file to help get reporters up to speed in a hurry. When they first start, I give them copies of the things they’ll need as a first-time reporter, then supplement as different issues arise – budget time, school test scores, elections, etc.
One thing I’ve always found is a great resource is the Internet. Now, I’m against using it as the source for a story, but I’ve found it can be a great source for background research and finding statistics on scores of topics. Here are my top picks of helpful Web sites:
Merriam-Webster: The site offers an unabridged dictionary, thesaurus, medical dictionary, and Spanish to English dictionary. Be careful of online dictionaries such as Wikipedia where anyone can post “facts” on any subject. The source needs to be credible. www.m-w.com
Census date: The government spends all of that time taking the Census and are nice enough to categorize much of the data; a handy tool for many stories. www.census.gov
Know the law: One of the hardest things to learn as a new reporter is what documents you’re allowed access to, if a meeting must be public or in executive session, and other similar matters. The Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press is a good overall resource on access issues. You can download a copy of The First Amendment Handbook or use the FOIA Letter Generator to help make a federal FOIA request. Reporters should also check with their state’s press association and FOI committee Web site for state-specific resources. www.rcfp.org
Track the vote: Thomas (named for Thomas Jefferson) provides legislative information through the Library of Congress. Track the status of bills, voting records for U.S. Senators and Representatives, and many other resources. It’s a great resource for tracking bills with local impacts. www.thomas.loc.gov, www.house.gov, www.senate.gov
Federal data: A wealth of information with links and index listings to scores of federal agencies with statistical data. www.fedstats.gov
Locate someone: Forget the phone book, head to the Net to locate addresses, phone numbers, e-mails and reverse phone look-ups. www.switchboard.com, www.yellowpages.com, www.whitepages.com
There are hundreds of good Web sites out there, including many government agencies with online data. A little time spend finding good resources will help deadline reporting in the future.
Seeing the forest for the trees
Reporters and editors can become so busy with the day-to-day grind of covering meetings and spot news and getting the copy in, edited, on the page and to the press on time that they miss one of the underlying elements of any story—Why.
It becomes second nature for reporters to check the daily police logs, attend a council meeting or cover a fire, then return to file the story. But reporters sometimes forget to ask that last, and most important, question. Why gets to the heart of any story. Why is this story important to my life? Why should I care? Why is this happening? It is the story behind the story.
There was a story in a local newspaper recently about a governmental agency ruling that all boats being launched into the lake would have to be inspected for an invasive species. OK, it seemed simple enough and the paper ran a few paragraphs notifying people about this. When I saw the story, I started looking for the other piece—the story that explained the havoc this was going to cause.
You see, I live in a resort community that relies on access to the lake that accommodates tens of thousands of boaters each year. It’s a major factor in the local economy.
The questions the few paragraphs raised in my mind were: How is this going to affect boaters? Who is going to staff the public boat launches to inspect these boats? And, more importantly, who is going to pay for it?
Public boat ramps in the region are regulated by a myriad of agencies from localities to state parks to the U.S. Forest Service. With this requirement for inspections, who is going to pay for this extra staff in a time of economic hardships? What about when fishermen head out at 4 a.m.? Will someone be waiting to inspect their boats in the dark, or will thousands of taxpayer dollars have to be spent on purchasing large gates?
Then there’s the impact on local businesses, in this case marinas, which launch boats at their facilities. This mandate came in early fall as the season wanes, but marinas maintain a brisk business on warm days. How will this affect them? Will they have to have extra staff on hand to perform inspections?
That then raised questions of the inspectors. Just who were the people that would be performing these inspections? Of course, this governmental agency wasn’t providing or paying for these people. So, where do they come from and how are they trained?
Not one word. No answers to any of these questions.
I use this example not to pick on one of the local newspapers, but to illustrate a point. Reporters and, most importantly, editors need to take a few minutes every day to consider the big picture. To ask why. To ask themselves, how will this affect our readers, our business community, our localities? To ask who will pay for it. (An eternal question for nearly any story.)
It is only in looking at the big picture that you see the bigger story.
It’s not possible to cover every question in the course of a day’s reporting, especially when the newsroom is being called on to do more than ever before from posting to the Web, to take pictures to designing pages. But, there’s always the next issue. Assign the reporter to follow up, to ask the questions, to get the answers. You’ll serve the reader better, and the reporters looking to improve their own skills. And, hopefully, the next time, the reporter will ask the big picture questions from the start.
It becomes second nature for reporters to check the daily police logs, attend a council meeting or cover a fire, then return to file the story. But reporters sometimes forget to ask that last, and most important, question. Why gets to the heart of any story. Why is this story important to my life? Why should I care? Why is this happening? It is the story behind the story.
There was a story in a local newspaper recently about a governmental agency ruling that all boats being launched into the lake would have to be inspected for an invasive species. OK, it seemed simple enough and the paper ran a few paragraphs notifying people about this. When I saw the story, I started looking for the other piece—the story that explained the havoc this was going to cause.
You see, I live in a resort community that relies on access to the lake that accommodates tens of thousands of boaters each year. It’s a major factor in the local economy.
The questions the few paragraphs raised in my mind were: How is this going to affect boaters? Who is going to staff the public boat launches to inspect these boats? And, more importantly, who is going to pay for it?
Public boat ramps in the region are regulated by a myriad of agencies from localities to state parks to the U.S. Forest Service. With this requirement for inspections, who is going to pay for this extra staff in a time of economic hardships? What about when fishermen head out at 4 a.m.? Will someone be waiting to inspect their boats in the dark, or will thousands of taxpayer dollars have to be spent on purchasing large gates?
Then there’s the impact on local businesses, in this case marinas, which launch boats at their facilities. This mandate came in early fall as the season wanes, but marinas maintain a brisk business on warm days. How will this affect them? Will they have to have extra staff on hand to perform inspections?
That then raised questions of the inspectors. Just who were the people that would be performing these inspections? Of course, this governmental agency wasn’t providing or paying for these people. So, where do they come from and how are they trained?
Not one word. No answers to any of these questions.
I use this example not to pick on one of the local newspapers, but to illustrate a point. Reporters and, most importantly, editors need to take a few minutes every day to consider the big picture. To ask why. To ask themselves, how will this affect our readers, our business community, our localities? To ask who will pay for it. (An eternal question for nearly any story.)
It is only in looking at the big picture that you see the bigger story.
It’s not possible to cover every question in the course of a day’s reporting, especially when the newsroom is being called on to do more than ever before from posting to the Web, to take pictures to designing pages. But, there’s always the next issue. Assign the reporter to follow up, to ask the questions, to get the answers. You’ll serve the reader better, and the reporters looking to improve their own skills. And, hopefully, the next time, the reporter will ask the big picture questions from the start.
Are we expecting too much from reporters?
So, you thought you were going to be a writer?
Convergence, blogs, real-time audio and video were never topics discussed when I attended college in the early 1990s. In fact, I didn’t even have an e-mail account at the first newspaper I worked.
Now we have journalism graduates coming fresh out of school with their own web pages and blogs, classes in online media, audio and video editing and graphic design.
As I peruse the resumes of those that graduated in the 2000s I see references to Web links, HTML design, InDesign and Quark, Adobe Photoshop and programs I’m not familiar with and wonder, what happened to reporting and writing skills?
I’m concerned that we’re creating too many graduates that have an unrealistic picture of what a lot of newsrooms do. Likewise, I worry that newspapers are expecting reporters to know too much about working across multi-media platforms and not enough on solid reporting and writing skills.
Why do we expect someone to cover the news, develop sources, write features, spot, enterprise and in-depth stories, design pages, take pictures, capture video clips for the Web, write stories for the Web, write again for the print and do it quickly, efficiently, without error and with substance?
As an editor, I expect reporters to work hard, be able to write copy on deadline, develop sources that lead to hard news coverage of the community and get it right. As a manager at a small daily, I also have to expect them to learn page design, help with production of the daily edition, rewrite press releases, write obits, load copy to the Web site, work on advertising special sections, help customers, and work long hours with little or no notice.
Am I complaining? You bet!
I think we are asking our reporters to perform too many functions that have nothing to do with solid reporting and writing, and I think newspapers are suffering.
As a new graduate working at my first newspaper, I expected to work hard, to work nights and weekends if needed, to learn a lot of information in a short period of time and to be able to turn out copy in minutes.
Now, we want reporters to be writers, Web designers, video editors, photographers and page designers. Enough is enough.
I’m all for including all of these features as an essential part of any news operation, but I think we’re being unrealistic to expect the same person to do it all. We need to let the writers be writers, let the designers be designers. If we want a Web writer/blogger, hire them to do just that. But, don’t expect them to do it all and to do it all well.
“You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip,” as the saying goes.
Convergence, blogs, real-time audio and video were never topics discussed when I attended college in the early 1990s. In fact, I didn’t even have an e-mail account at the first newspaper I worked.
Now we have journalism graduates coming fresh out of school with their own web pages and blogs, classes in online media, audio and video editing and graphic design.
As I peruse the resumes of those that graduated in the 2000s I see references to Web links, HTML design, InDesign and Quark, Adobe Photoshop and programs I’m not familiar with and wonder, what happened to reporting and writing skills?
I’m concerned that we’re creating too many graduates that have an unrealistic picture of what a lot of newsrooms do. Likewise, I worry that newspapers are expecting reporters to know too much about working across multi-media platforms and not enough on solid reporting and writing skills.
Why do we expect someone to cover the news, develop sources, write features, spot, enterprise and in-depth stories, design pages, take pictures, capture video clips for the Web, write stories for the Web, write again for the print and do it quickly, efficiently, without error and with substance?
As an editor, I expect reporters to work hard, be able to write copy on deadline, develop sources that lead to hard news coverage of the community and get it right. As a manager at a small daily, I also have to expect them to learn page design, help with production of the daily edition, rewrite press releases, write obits, load copy to the Web site, work on advertising special sections, help customers, and work long hours with little or no notice.
Am I complaining? You bet!
I think we are asking our reporters to perform too many functions that have nothing to do with solid reporting and writing, and I think newspapers are suffering.
As a new graduate working at my first newspaper, I expected to work hard, to work nights and weekends if needed, to learn a lot of information in a short period of time and to be able to turn out copy in minutes.
Now, we want reporters to be writers, Web designers, video editors, photographers and page designers. Enough is enough.
I’m all for including all of these features as an essential part of any news operation, but I think we’re being unrealistic to expect the same person to do it all. We need to let the writers be writers, let the designers be designers. If we want a Web writer/blogger, hire them to do just that. But, don’t expect them to do it all and to do it all well.
“You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip,” as the saying goes.
Reporters, editors need to understand HIPPA
It’s been many years since the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, was enacted to protect an individual’s health privacy.
As well intentioned as it may have been, it has proven a hurdle in covering the news as hospitals, police and medical providers hid behind HIPAA to deny public information to the press. What’s worse is that reporters and editors still remain unclear on what information they are privy to.
I saw this mistake in a recent news story about a car crash. The local newspaper reported the crash on the front page, and then ended the story on the jump saying the hospital couldn’t release his condition for privacy concerns.
My reaction from reading the story while I was drinking more morning coffee was disappointment.
That one sentence told me three things: the reporter took what the hospital spokesperson said without questioning it, the reporter isn’t informed about HIPAA and the editor either isn’t informed about HIPAA or didn’t read the story carefully.
In a nutshell, HIPAA restricts health care and medical professionals from disclosing detailed medical information about a patient without consent. It does not, however, give hospitals permission to refuse to supply any information. They are prohibited from disclosing personally identifying information such as names, addresses or specific medical conditions. It also means they can’t provide the name of a patient.
However, if a journalist has the name of a patient, a hospital should be able to provide the condition, age, a general address (such as the city or state) and general medical condition.
HIPAA does not apply to law enforcement agencies.
During those first few months after HIPAA was enacted in April 2003, my newsroom struggled with local law enforcement and hospital officials to gather essential information about the condition of patients. We had countless conversations with police officers, nurses, hospital spokespersons and administrations to sort through the guidelines. I even faxed copies of guidelines on HIPAA from the National Newspaper Association and the American Hospital Association (www.aha.org)to local agencies to try and obtain information. Through the diligent work of my reporters, they were able to work through these tough times with local agencies, although the issue continued to come up when dealing with an out-of-area hospital or new employees.
If reporters and editors haven’t looked at HIPAA’s guidelines in a while, take another look and make sure new reporters have the tools they need.
Be familiar with HIPAA. The National Newspaper Association’s brochure “After HIPAA: Reporting and Medical Privacy Rules” is available at www.nna.org (click on Public Policy).
Hospitals can’t release a patient's name; the reporter must have the name. Do your work and get the information from law enforcement or other sources. Remember, HIPAA doesn’t apply to law enforcement.
Question everything. If a hospital spokesperson refuses to release information for “privacy concerns”, question it. If you hit a brick wall, go to the next level. Ask for the nurse supervisor or call the hospital administrator; even if it means calling him or her at home.
Bypass the hospital. Call the main switchboard and ask for the patient’s room. A relative will likely answer the phone if the patient has been admitted to the hospital. Most times, family members want to share what’s going on with their loved ones.
Call the victim’s house. Again, a family member will likely answer the phone and want to talk.
Hospitals are not required to provide specific details, but the American Hospital Association has advised its members to provide one-word descriptions, such as stable, satisfactory or critical. Ask for those descriptions.
Don’t let it go. If a hospital still refuses to provide details, put it in the story somewhere near the top. Public hospitals are funded through taxpayers’ dollars and the public needs to be informed if their hospitals are denying information to the press. Then, follow-up with hospital officials to resolve the issue.
When in doubt, talk to fellow editors, consult with your state press association’s lawyer or call the NNA Hotline at (703) 534-1278.
As well intentioned as it may have been, it has proven a hurdle in covering the news as hospitals, police and medical providers hid behind HIPAA to deny public information to the press. What’s worse is that reporters and editors still remain unclear on what information they are privy to.
I saw this mistake in a recent news story about a car crash. The local newspaper reported the crash on the front page, and then ended the story on the jump saying the hospital couldn’t release his condition for privacy concerns.
My reaction from reading the story while I was drinking more morning coffee was disappointment.
That one sentence told me three things: the reporter took what the hospital spokesperson said without questioning it, the reporter isn’t informed about HIPAA and the editor either isn’t informed about HIPAA or didn’t read the story carefully.
In a nutshell, HIPAA restricts health care and medical professionals from disclosing detailed medical information about a patient without consent. It does not, however, give hospitals permission to refuse to supply any information. They are prohibited from disclosing personally identifying information such as names, addresses or specific medical conditions. It also means they can’t provide the name of a patient.
However, if a journalist has the name of a patient, a hospital should be able to provide the condition, age, a general address (such as the city or state) and general medical condition.
HIPAA does not apply to law enforcement agencies.
During those first few months after HIPAA was enacted in April 2003, my newsroom struggled with local law enforcement and hospital officials to gather essential information about the condition of patients. We had countless conversations with police officers, nurses, hospital spokespersons and administrations to sort through the guidelines. I even faxed copies of guidelines on HIPAA from the National Newspaper Association and the American Hospital Association (www.aha.org)to local agencies to try and obtain information. Through the diligent work of my reporters, they were able to work through these tough times with local agencies, although the issue continued to come up when dealing with an out-of-area hospital or new employees.
If reporters and editors haven’t looked at HIPAA’s guidelines in a while, take another look and make sure new reporters have the tools they need.
Be familiar with HIPAA. The National Newspaper Association’s brochure “After HIPAA: Reporting and Medical Privacy Rules” is available at www.nna.org (click on Public Policy).
Hospitals can’t release a patient's name; the reporter must have the name. Do your work and get the information from law enforcement or other sources. Remember, HIPAA doesn’t apply to law enforcement.
Question everything. If a hospital spokesperson refuses to release information for “privacy concerns”, question it. If you hit a brick wall, go to the next level. Ask for the nurse supervisor or call the hospital administrator; even if it means calling him or her at home.
Bypass the hospital. Call the main switchboard and ask for the patient’s room. A relative will likely answer the phone if the patient has been admitted to the hospital. Most times, family members want to share what’s going on with their loved ones.
Call the victim’s house. Again, a family member will likely answer the phone and want to talk.
Hospitals are not required to provide specific details, but the American Hospital Association has advised its members to provide one-word descriptions, such as stable, satisfactory or critical. Ask for those descriptions.
Don’t let it go. If a hospital still refuses to provide details, put it in the story somewhere near the top. Public hospitals are funded through taxpayers’ dollars and the public needs to be informed if their hospitals are denying information to the press. Then, follow-up with hospital officials to resolve the issue.
When in doubt, talk to fellow editors, consult with your state press association’s lawyer or call the NNA Hotline at (703) 534-1278.
Editors must understand every job
An editor’s job involves a lot more than assigning stories and editing copy. Through the years, I’ve learned that to be a good editor you need to understand others aspects of the business from advertising to design to printing. I was reminded of that during a recent visit to QuadGraphics for a press check on a dining publication.
Walking through the large press room with sorters and binders and printing presses spread across the warehouse, I thought of all of the people who have taught be about the publishing business, many of whom never worked in the newsroom.
I’ve always thought of being an editor as a kind of air traffic controller. You need to be able to juggle projects, deadlines, people, copy and pages without losing your cool and without missing a beat. In order to do that, editors need to step out of the newsroom and learn about the publishing business.
Design
The design of the newspaper and the art accompanying the stories from photographers to maps to illustrations puts a face on the articles. Through the years, readership studies have shown that headlines, photographs, photo captions, graphics and breakout boxes are always read by readers. While they may peruse only the first six inches of the story, those art and design elements will be looked at.
My philosophy is to make a publication look as good as the words that fill its pages. Editors need to work with photographers and designers to develop a cohesive look, to get the best art to illustrate stories and to design pages (newspaper or magazine) that will appeal to readers. Any editor that has worked at a small publication will know how to design pages. If you don’t, take the time to shadow a designer for a few hours to understand the design process. This also will give you insight into their creative process and maybe get a few ideas in the process.
Advertising
The newsroom and advertising rarely interact at most publications, and that’s a disadvantage that editors need to overcome. Understanding the advertising process does help in making sure your product gets out on time. At small publications, an unsatisfied advertising client can hold up editorial and advertising production. Take the time to understand the challenges in advertising, and how to make these challenges work within publication time schedules.
Pressroom
I learned a lot about the press side of publications working with Keith Hux, the production manager for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Miss. From setting plates, to shooting film for newspaper pages (yes, there are still some papers out there) to running the press, I learned quite a bit in my more than four years at the newspaper. Hux often took the time to explain to me the plate-making process, the different types of paper, the ink, how the press worked and how small problems could stop operations on the press. I also learned how page flow from the newsroom to the press can have a huge impact on getting the paper out on time.
Filing the last story or sending the last page is far from the end of the process. Once the last page is sent, it has to go through production, plates have to be burnt, processed, bent and placed on the press, the press starts up and ink is adjusted before clean copies ready to be bundled come out.
Understanding this process helped me to understand how important our deadlines in the newsroom are, but also to find ways to cut that time. At the Enterprise-Journal, 10 minutes could determine whether we got the paper out in time for the lunch crowd or missed rack sales.
I think every editor should spend time in the pressroom. Learn how to burn the plates, understand how the press works, how minute color adjustments by seasoned press workers is more of an art than a science, catch a few papers and then head to mailroom to stuff some inserts. Give it try, I have.
Walking through the large press room with sorters and binders and printing presses spread across the warehouse, I thought of all of the people who have taught be about the publishing business, many of whom never worked in the newsroom.
I’ve always thought of being an editor as a kind of air traffic controller. You need to be able to juggle projects, deadlines, people, copy and pages without losing your cool and without missing a beat. In order to do that, editors need to step out of the newsroom and learn about the publishing business.
Design
The design of the newspaper and the art accompanying the stories from photographers to maps to illustrations puts a face on the articles. Through the years, readership studies have shown that headlines, photographs, photo captions, graphics and breakout boxes are always read by readers. While they may peruse only the first six inches of the story, those art and design elements will be looked at.
My philosophy is to make a publication look as good as the words that fill its pages. Editors need to work with photographers and designers to develop a cohesive look, to get the best art to illustrate stories and to design pages (newspaper or magazine) that will appeal to readers. Any editor that has worked at a small publication will know how to design pages. If you don’t, take the time to shadow a designer for a few hours to understand the design process. This also will give you insight into their creative process and maybe get a few ideas in the process.
Advertising
The newsroom and advertising rarely interact at most publications, and that’s a disadvantage that editors need to overcome. Understanding the advertising process does help in making sure your product gets out on time. At small publications, an unsatisfied advertising client can hold up editorial and advertising production. Take the time to understand the challenges in advertising, and how to make these challenges work within publication time schedules.
Pressroom
I learned a lot about the press side of publications working with Keith Hux, the production manager for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Miss. From setting plates, to shooting film for newspaper pages (yes, there are still some papers out there) to running the press, I learned quite a bit in my more than four years at the newspaper. Hux often took the time to explain to me the plate-making process, the different types of paper, the ink, how the press worked and how small problems could stop operations on the press. I also learned how page flow from the newsroom to the press can have a huge impact on getting the paper out on time.
Filing the last story or sending the last page is far from the end of the process. Once the last page is sent, it has to go through production, plates have to be burnt, processed, bent and placed on the press, the press starts up and ink is adjusted before clean copies ready to be bundled come out.
Understanding this process helped me to understand how important our deadlines in the newsroom are, but also to find ways to cut that time. At the Enterprise-Journal, 10 minutes could determine whether we got the paper out in time for the lunch crowd or missed rack sales.
I think every editor should spend time in the pressroom. Learn how to burn the plates, understand how the press works, how minute color adjustments by seasoned press workers is more of an art than a science, catch a few papers and then head to mailroom to stuff some inserts. Give it try, I have.
Spreadsheets useful reporting tool
Over the years I’ve come to appreciate the usefulness of spreadsheets as a reporting tool.
Many newsroom managers may be more familiar with spreadsheets from the often-dreaded task of setting expense and payroll budgets for their newsrooms each year. Working for Swift Newspapers (http://www.swiftcom.com) in California several years ago marked by my first introduction to the world of spreadsheet formulas and data crunching for yearly budget preparations.
Through the years, however, I found that spreadsheets can also be a useful, timesaving tool in reporting on a variety of stories from the business beat to standardized school test scores. In fact, I now enjoy any opportunity to make use of this handy tool in daily reporting, much to the dismay of my fellow journalists who’ve been known to scoff at my enthusiasm, even roll their eyes at me.
One trick to using a spreadsheet is mastering the formulas that resemble algebra equations. The solution is to ask your business manager for help. Our business manager, Cherrie Nelson, has been a great resource for me, helping me write the formulas and showing me new tricks.
Let me give you a few examples of how spreadsheets can be a valuable reporting tool:
Tracking tax collections: For years, we’ve tracked the monthly sales tax collections for about 18 municipalities in our coverage area, reporting the findings on a chart appearing on our Sunday business page. Tracking the revenues is a good tool to measure retail sales locally and compare how one city stacks against another.
When our business reporter left several months ago, I took on the job of doing the sales tax report while searching for a replacement. He had been making the tedious calculations by hand each month; I decided to let the spreadsheet do the work for me.
The data was readily available from the state’s Web site in a downloadable spreadsheet. I simply pulled out the relevant data I was looking for, formatted the information to meet our needs and told it what I wanted it to do by inputting a formula. The value is unmatched – the data is available at any time throughout the year, the calculations are free of human error, and I can access and compare data figures simply by moving a column or writing a new formula to suit my needs.
I’m also going to apply this tool to track local collections on a motel tax recently adopted by the city.
School test scores: August marks the return to school in our area and the release of the annual state standardized test scores as well each school’s rating on the federal No Child Left Behind system. As any reporter or editor who has attempted to read these data knows, this is no easy task. Several years ago, however, I discovered that using a spreadsheet to compare test scores from previous years for each school district made the task easier.
Again, the state offers the data in a downloadable spreadsheet from which I pull data on our local school districts, format the data to compare the current year, data from three previous years and the state average. I then write a formula to compare the change in the test scores from the previous year.
The resulting information is given to reporters to aid them in writing stories, and we publish the data for each of our local school districts in the paper. Our readers can easily follow each district’s and each grade’s progress in reading, language and math, using the resulting chart.
Directories: Spreadsheets can also be used to compile text data, such as addresses, phone numbers, e-mails, etc. It’s a useful business task for mailing labels and business contacts, but I’m going to use it to create a directory for a medical directory we’re publishing this spring.
By inputting the names, addresses, specialties and other relevant data in the spreadsheet, I can organize the information in a number of fashions – doctors by specialty, alphabetic, etc. – without having to retype the information as would be needed if it were done in a word processing document. The information can also be updated as needed, and ready for use the next year with little work needed.
For the techies out there, these directories can also be exported to your PDA.
Many newsroom managers may be more familiar with spreadsheets from the often-dreaded task of setting expense and payroll budgets for their newsrooms each year. Working for Swift Newspapers (http://www.swiftcom.com) in California several years ago marked by my first introduction to the world of spreadsheet formulas and data crunching for yearly budget preparations.
Through the years, however, I found that spreadsheets can also be a useful, timesaving tool in reporting on a variety of stories from the business beat to standardized school test scores. In fact, I now enjoy any opportunity to make use of this handy tool in daily reporting, much to the dismay of my fellow journalists who’ve been known to scoff at my enthusiasm, even roll their eyes at me.
One trick to using a spreadsheet is mastering the formulas that resemble algebra equations. The solution is to ask your business manager for help. Our business manager, Cherrie Nelson, has been a great resource for me, helping me write the formulas and showing me new tricks.
Let me give you a few examples of how spreadsheets can be a valuable reporting tool:
Tracking tax collections: For years, we’ve tracked the monthly sales tax collections for about 18 municipalities in our coverage area, reporting the findings on a chart appearing on our Sunday business page. Tracking the revenues is a good tool to measure retail sales locally and compare how one city stacks against another.
When our business reporter left several months ago, I took on the job of doing the sales tax report while searching for a replacement. He had been making the tedious calculations by hand each month; I decided to let the spreadsheet do the work for me.
The data was readily available from the state’s Web site in a downloadable spreadsheet. I simply pulled out the relevant data I was looking for, formatted the information to meet our needs and told it what I wanted it to do by inputting a formula. The value is unmatched – the data is available at any time throughout the year, the calculations are free of human error, and I can access and compare data figures simply by moving a column or writing a new formula to suit my needs.
I’m also going to apply this tool to track local collections on a motel tax recently adopted by the city.
School test scores: August marks the return to school in our area and the release of the annual state standardized test scores as well each school’s rating on the federal No Child Left Behind system. As any reporter or editor who has attempted to read these data knows, this is no easy task. Several years ago, however, I discovered that using a spreadsheet to compare test scores from previous years for each school district made the task easier.
Again, the state offers the data in a downloadable spreadsheet from which I pull data on our local school districts, format the data to compare the current year, data from three previous years and the state average. I then write a formula to compare the change in the test scores from the previous year.
The resulting information is given to reporters to aid them in writing stories, and we publish the data for each of our local school districts in the paper. Our readers can easily follow each district’s and each grade’s progress in reading, language and math, using the resulting chart.
Directories: Spreadsheets can also be used to compile text data, such as addresses, phone numbers, e-mails, etc. It’s a useful business task for mailing labels and business contacts, but I’m going to use it to create a directory for a medical directory we’re publishing this spring.
By inputting the names, addresses, specialties and other relevant data in the spreadsheet, I can organize the information in a number of fashions – doctors by specialty, alphabetic, etc. – without having to retype the information as would be needed if it were done in a word processing document. The information can also be updated as needed, and ready for use the next year with little work needed.
For the techies out there, these directories can also be exported to your PDA.
Niche publications
Niche publications are an essential revenue source for any size newspaper, be it a small weekly or a large daily. From an in-paper section to an eight-page tab to a glossy, full-color magazine, niche publications give newspapers the opportunity to capture additional advertising dollars in their market.
They can also be the source of snarls, rolled eyes, and mumblings of disgust from reporters and editors when the newsroom is involved in such publications.
While a metropolitan paper may have writers on staff to handle just such projects, those of us at smaller publications know that responsibility is one placed on the reporters and editors also charged with getting the newspaper out every day.
Being an optimist by nature, I always try to look for the positives in these situations. Here’s my reasoning: The success of niche publications contributions to the success of the newspaper, which in turn, can benefit the newsroom through opportunities for additional training resources, software and hardware upgrades, or new staff members.
Serve the reader РAs with the regular publication of the newspaper, try to focus the editorial content of niche publications in such a way to server your readers. Look for interesting angles and unique stories. For instance, writing about choosing flowers for an upcoming wedding magazine may not be in the most fascinating topic, but talking to a couple who had a Cowboy-themed wedding complete with hay bales, pickup trucks, and cowboy boots and hats as part of the d̩cor is.
Balance editorial with advertising needs – Yes, you’ll have to cross the threshold into the advertising manager’s office to talk about ideas and approaches for the publication. I know some editors are cringing at this thought, but suck it up and do it. I regularly get good story ideas I might use in the niche publication, or in the newspaper. Ask the ad manager for a list of suggested contacts. This will save the reporters help in trying to find sources on stories, and the paper’s advertisers will appreciate the opportunity to be included in a story.
Play on reporters’ strengths – Try to pair story assignments with the interests and strengths of each reporter; it will make the pill easier to swallow. My health reporter will typically write several stories for the health magazine we publish in the spring, but may not receive any assignments for the next publication. This makes use of her talents and interests in covering the health beat, while giving her a “break” from the next section on summer activities in our area.
Make good use of stringers – Niche publications are the perfect place to use stringers, taking some of the workload off the reporters. Always be on the lookout for stringers for feature writing. It’s difficult to find stringers to cover a board meeting, but give them five feature stories for a glossy magazine on wedding planning and they’re excited to be a part of the newspaper.
Allow your staff some creative freedom – I like to use creative approaches in niche publications. Get together with the photographer and the person who will be designing the publication and talk about ideas. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to try something more creative. I’m a stickler about adhering to the newspaper’s design on a daily basis, but like the creative opportunities niche publications allow us.
Plan, plan, plan – When possible, I like to give reporters at least a month (six weeks is better) to work on feature stories for our niche publications. This gives them the opportunity to plan to work on the stories when it best fits into their busy schedules without having to rearrange interviews that may have taken several weeks for them to set up.
They can also be the source of snarls, rolled eyes, and mumblings of disgust from reporters and editors when the newsroom is involved in such publications.
While a metropolitan paper may have writers on staff to handle just such projects, those of us at smaller publications know that responsibility is one placed on the reporters and editors also charged with getting the newspaper out every day.
Being an optimist by nature, I always try to look for the positives in these situations. Here’s my reasoning: The success of niche publications contributions to the success of the newspaper, which in turn, can benefit the newsroom through opportunities for additional training resources, software and hardware upgrades, or new staff members.
Serve the reader РAs with the regular publication of the newspaper, try to focus the editorial content of niche publications in such a way to server your readers. Look for interesting angles and unique stories. For instance, writing about choosing flowers for an upcoming wedding magazine may not be in the most fascinating topic, but talking to a couple who had a Cowboy-themed wedding complete with hay bales, pickup trucks, and cowboy boots and hats as part of the d̩cor is.
Balance editorial with advertising needs – Yes, you’ll have to cross the threshold into the advertising manager’s office to talk about ideas and approaches for the publication. I know some editors are cringing at this thought, but suck it up and do it. I regularly get good story ideas I might use in the niche publication, or in the newspaper. Ask the ad manager for a list of suggested contacts. This will save the reporters help in trying to find sources on stories, and the paper’s advertisers will appreciate the opportunity to be included in a story.
Play on reporters’ strengths – Try to pair story assignments with the interests and strengths of each reporter; it will make the pill easier to swallow. My health reporter will typically write several stories for the health magazine we publish in the spring, but may not receive any assignments for the next publication. This makes use of her talents and interests in covering the health beat, while giving her a “break” from the next section on summer activities in our area.
Make good use of stringers – Niche publications are the perfect place to use stringers, taking some of the workload off the reporters. Always be on the lookout for stringers for feature writing. It’s difficult to find stringers to cover a board meeting, but give them five feature stories for a glossy magazine on wedding planning and they’re excited to be a part of the newspaper.
Allow your staff some creative freedom – I like to use creative approaches in niche publications. Get together with the photographer and the person who will be designing the publication and talk about ideas. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to try something more creative. I’m a stickler about adhering to the newspaper’s design on a daily basis, but like the creative opportunities niche publications allow us.
Plan, plan, plan – When possible, I like to give reporters at least a month (six weeks is better) to work on feature stories for our niche publications. This gives them the opportunity to plan to work on the stories when it best fits into their busy schedules without having to rearrange interviews that may have taken several weeks for them to set up.
Good sources make good stories
Good sources make good stories.
Spot news, beat reporting, and features are only as good as the sources a writer has to back them up.
Sources tell the story, provide the facts, verify the facts, give detail to enrich the telling, provide context, explain complex subject matter and ensure people are who they say they are.
As a rule, any well-written story should have at least two sources, three makes it even better. However, more important than knowing how many sources to have in a story is recognizing as a reporter that every story needs solid sources.
This is where a few good tenets of journalism can be helpful to remember: Get the facts (and verify them), report both sides of the story, and do no harm. Good sources will help a reporter accomplish all of these, and will help the writer tell a better, more well-informed story.
We’ve all been burned on stories where the information we were given was wrong, or, even worse, the story wasn’t true. Phony illnesses, fraudulent fund-raisers, publicity seekers, family squabbles, most editors at a small daily or weekly have seen it all come through their doors.
Illnesses – Editors can’t avoid stories about dying children and strange ailments, but we can make sure the information is accurate. Verify the person is sick by calling their doctor and asking them to give general information about the disease’s symptoms and treatments. A doctor can’t give out specific patient information, but you’ll find out if the person is being treated.
Spot news/cops – On the scene of a drug bust or checking the jail docket, verify the information. Names, charges, street names, and other pertinent information should be verified with a source that can provide the details to the story, not just vague facts that may be incorrect. The jail docket may say check fraud, but the actual charge may be uttering forgery. Get it right.
City boards, county supervisors, school boards, etc. – Be wary of budget figures, cost estimates and other financial information tossed out during meetings by officials or the public. People - including some officials I have found - have a tendency to round figures during discussions. The mayor may say the cost for a new police car is $35,000 during a meeting, when the actual cost is $35,367. Look at cost reports and budgets for yourself, and ask the person who prepared them to answer questions. You’ll need the quote from the mayor about why taxes are going up, but the person who prepared the budget can answer specific line item questions.
Letters to the Editor – We’ve all been burned on this one. Take the time to call the letter writer, ask them questions, look them up in the phone book, verify their street address.
Fund-raisers – For every do-gooder holding a fund-raiser for a family who lost their home in a fire, there’s a scam artist looking for any angle to bilk people out of their money. We require anyone soliciting funds for medical expenses, fires, and other fund-raisers to establish a bank account in the name of the person in need, and we then verify it with a bank employee.
Births and obituaries – Sadly, family squabbles and grudges can spill over into the pages of the newspaper with false paternity claims in a birth announcement or in phony death notices. For birth announcements, we require the announcements come from the parents of the child, and that the father sign the announcement in person and show a photo ID if the parents are unmarried. Similarly, we get obituaries directly from funeral homes in order to verify the death of the person, and also to ensure the notice appears according to the wishes of the family and avoid squabbling.
Spot news, beat reporting, and features are only as good as the sources a writer has to back them up.
Sources tell the story, provide the facts, verify the facts, give detail to enrich the telling, provide context, explain complex subject matter and ensure people are who they say they are.
As a rule, any well-written story should have at least two sources, three makes it even better. However, more important than knowing how many sources to have in a story is recognizing as a reporter that every story needs solid sources.
This is where a few good tenets of journalism can be helpful to remember: Get the facts (and verify them), report both sides of the story, and do no harm. Good sources will help a reporter accomplish all of these, and will help the writer tell a better, more well-informed story.
We’ve all been burned on stories where the information we were given was wrong, or, even worse, the story wasn’t true. Phony illnesses, fraudulent fund-raisers, publicity seekers, family squabbles, most editors at a small daily or weekly have seen it all come through their doors.
Illnesses – Editors can’t avoid stories about dying children and strange ailments, but we can make sure the information is accurate. Verify the person is sick by calling their doctor and asking them to give general information about the disease’s symptoms and treatments. A doctor can’t give out specific patient information, but you’ll find out if the person is being treated.
Spot news/cops – On the scene of a drug bust or checking the jail docket, verify the information. Names, charges, street names, and other pertinent information should be verified with a source that can provide the details to the story, not just vague facts that may be incorrect. The jail docket may say check fraud, but the actual charge may be uttering forgery. Get it right.
City boards, county supervisors, school boards, etc. – Be wary of budget figures, cost estimates and other financial information tossed out during meetings by officials or the public. People - including some officials I have found - have a tendency to round figures during discussions. The mayor may say the cost for a new police car is $35,000 during a meeting, when the actual cost is $35,367. Look at cost reports and budgets for yourself, and ask the person who prepared them to answer questions. You’ll need the quote from the mayor about why taxes are going up, but the person who prepared the budget can answer specific line item questions.
Letters to the Editor – We’ve all been burned on this one. Take the time to call the letter writer, ask them questions, look them up in the phone book, verify their street address.
Fund-raisers – For every do-gooder holding a fund-raiser for a family who lost their home in a fire, there’s a scam artist looking for any angle to bilk people out of their money. We require anyone soliciting funds for medical expenses, fires, and other fund-raisers to establish a bank account in the name of the person in need, and we then verify it with a bank employee.
Births and obituaries – Sadly, family squabbles and grudges can spill over into the pages of the newspaper with false paternity claims in a birth announcement or in phony death notices. For birth announcements, we require the announcements come from the parents of the child, and that the father sign the announcement in person and show a photo ID if the parents are unmarried. Similarly, we get obituaries directly from funeral homes in order to verify the death of the person, and also to ensure the notice appears according to the wishes of the family and avoid squabbling.
Cross-training newsroom
Cross training is essential to keeping a small newsroom running efficiently and effectively for times when staff members are sick, take vacation or leave for another position.
Taking calls from little league coaches on game results, handling the engagement announcements for the Sunday edition, writing obituaries and doing the cops report. The list is endless in the tasks members of a small newsroom handle on a daily basis.
As the editor of any weekly or small daily can tell you, every person in the newsroom wears many hats. For example, staff writer Karen Freeman covers court, a local school board, the hospital board, the health beat and is the family editor and the entertainment editor. However, on any given day she may also write the obituaries, take a photo, cover another town board, write the daily cops report or layout pages.
The need to have reporters able to handle these multiple tasks has never been more apparent than in the past two months in my own newsroom. With an opening for a cops reporter – an entry-level position – we considered a stack of applicants before deciding to hire Lexey Collins, an intern from the previous summer. Bright, hardworking, enthusiastic, a self-starter and a good writer, she fit the bill. The one catch – she wouldn’t graduate from college for six more weeks.
After considering that it would take six to eight weeks to interview and hire another applicant, and wait for them to relocate, we decided to hold the position for Lexey. That, of course, meant our other reporters would have to handle extra duties while taking care of their own beats. If you have ever worked in small newsroom, you known this is commonplace.
Then our sports editor of more than 16 years decided to resign and move to Florida. Less than a week after his departure, news editor Matt Williamson was trying to figure out which way was up as he worked on the front page, budgeted the sports pages, took calls for game results and calendar announcements, and tried to decipher the results of a baseball game with the help of photographer Aaron Rhoads and obituary writer Emily Rembert. I now know that DP is a double play and LOB stands for left on base.
We’ll be pretty frazzled for the next few weeks while we wait for Lexey to graduate and interview candidates for our sports editor position. A few things I’ve learned over the years that have helped me in these situations:
Train at least two other people in the newsroom to build pages. They don’t have to be award-winning designers, sometimes all you need is someone to get the copy on the page and to the press.
Look for opportunities to train staff members to handle tasks outside their own jobs. For instance, page designer Aimee Romano is being trained to do our community calendar. That will free up some time for the reporters and help on the production side as well.
Have at least one extra camera, preferably a digital, in the office and train everyone on how to use it. This is essential for times when your photography is sick or running late on another assignment, and someone needs to take a photo. In our newsroom, every staff member has a digital camera they keep with them. For around $200 per camera, the benefits are worth the expense. The reporters have used them for spot news items, for taking award presentations at board meetings and snapping photos when the photographer is not available.
Make sure at least two other staff members now how to handle the essential things from writing obituaries to taking a wedding announcement or a coach’s call with game results. Reporters should be able to handle just about anything that comes out them.
Most importantly, relax. The paper always gets done somehow.
Taking calls from little league coaches on game results, handling the engagement announcements for the Sunday edition, writing obituaries and doing the cops report. The list is endless in the tasks members of a small newsroom handle on a daily basis.
As the editor of any weekly or small daily can tell you, every person in the newsroom wears many hats. For example, staff writer Karen Freeman covers court, a local school board, the hospital board, the health beat and is the family editor and the entertainment editor. However, on any given day she may also write the obituaries, take a photo, cover another town board, write the daily cops report or layout pages.
The need to have reporters able to handle these multiple tasks has never been more apparent than in the past two months in my own newsroom. With an opening for a cops reporter – an entry-level position – we considered a stack of applicants before deciding to hire Lexey Collins, an intern from the previous summer. Bright, hardworking, enthusiastic, a self-starter and a good writer, she fit the bill. The one catch – she wouldn’t graduate from college for six more weeks.
After considering that it would take six to eight weeks to interview and hire another applicant, and wait for them to relocate, we decided to hold the position for Lexey. That, of course, meant our other reporters would have to handle extra duties while taking care of their own beats. If you have ever worked in small newsroom, you known this is commonplace.
Then our sports editor of more than 16 years decided to resign and move to Florida. Less than a week after his departure, news editor Matt Williamson was trying to figure out which way was up as he worked on the front page, budgeted the sports pages, took calls for game results and calendar announcements, and tried to decipher the results of a baseball game with the help of photographer Aaron Rhoads and obituary writer Emily Rembert. I now know that DP is a double play and LOB stands for left on base.
We’ll be pretty frazzled for the next few weeks while we wait for Lexey to graduate and interview candidates for our sports editor position. A few things I’ve learned over the years that have helped me in these situations:
Train at least two other people in the newsroom to build pages. They don’t have to be award-winning designers, sometimes all you need is someone to get the copy on the page and to the press.
Look for opportunities to train staff members to handle tasks outside their own jobs. For instance, page designer Aimee Romano is being trained to do our community calendar. That will free up some time for the reporters and help on the production side as well.
Have at least one extra camera, preferably a digital, in the office and train everyone on how to use it. This is essential for times when your photography is sick or running late on another assignment, and someone needs to take a photo. In our newsroom, every staff member has a digital camera they keep with them. For around $200 per camera, the benefits are worth the expense. The reporters have used them for spot news items, for taking award presentations at board meetings and snapping photos when the photographer is not available.
Make sure at least two other staff members now how to handle the essential things from writing obituaries to taking a wedding announcement or a coach’s call with game results. Reporters should be able to handle just about anything that comes out them.
Most importantly, relax. The paper always gets done somehow.
Newspapers essential during disasters
Hurricane Katrina whipped through Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama on Aug. 29, 2005, throwing people from all walks of life into upheaval—lives were lost, homes and businesses were destroyed, and nearly everyone’s life changed forever.
Cities and small towns around Mississippi were inundated in the days before and during Katrina’s rampage as evacuees searched for shelter, and thousands took refuge in the homes of family members, friends and complete strangers. Many of them still remain.
In this time of crisis, the roles and challenges of community newspapers was never more evident—to keep the public informed not only of what was happening along the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans, but also in our own communities now cut off by felled trees and power and telephone lines.
Our small newsroom in southwest Mississippi felt Katrina’s wrath, as about 30 of us rode out the hurricane in our building, trying in vain to publish a newspaper. And, as the winds died down that fateful Monday afternoon, our reporters sprung into action to cover what we all quickly realized would be a monumental disaster.
In our technology-laden society, the Enterprise-Journal (http://www.enterprise-journal.com) was crippled without the electricity to run computers, the press or the electronic telephone systems. By that evening, Publisher Jack Ryan had come up with a plan to get an edition published on Aug. 30: Move our computer server and three computers to the local hospital, which allowed us to hook up our system to its computer systems—kept running by a generator.
The Hattiesburg American, more than 70 miles away, agreed to print our paper on its generator-powered press. Now, all that was left was for our reporters—all without power, many without phones—to write stories.
News Editor Matt Williamson, who couldn’t make it home on Aug. 29 because of downed trees and power lines, and long-time staff writer Karen Freeman, worked from her home to track down area officials and write in longhand by candlelight one of the best spot news stories I’ve read. They dictated the story by phone to me as we set up at the hospital. Ryan and I, along with graphic designer Beverly Moak worked late into the night to finish the Aug. 30 edition.
By morning, however, we faced another daunting obstacle—long gas lines snarled traffic around our small city of 14,000. This hampered our efforts to get gas for the few carriers able to make it to the paper and for our reporters diligently working to keep our readers, and thousands of evacuees informed.
Without electricity, most of southwest Mississippi was left without television, radio or the Internet. We realized immediately that our job of informing the public had just become even more of a critical mission.
And with power out to most of the area for days, local newspapers were the only available media outlet for information-starved residents and scores of evacuees, most of whom hail from devastated New Orleans and other hard-hit parts of Louisiana.
Food, water, ice, gas, power, shelters, disaster aid—these became critical items and the source of top news stories for weeks after Katrina made landfall. We all felt the crunch, as gas was in short supply and lines backed up for miles through McComb; ice and water distribution lines were no better.
Despite these hardships, each and everyone of the Enterprise-Journal’s news staff put these concerns aside and worked long, hard hours to tell the stories the public wanted to know.
Sports Editor Randy Hammons walked much of McComb for several days interviewing evacuees, officials and disaster workers. Williamson, Freeman, staff writer Colin Trisler and photographer Aaron Rhoads went out day after day tracking down stories with limited gas supplies and little sleep. All the while the public’s frustrations mounted.
Staff writer Ernest Herndon snaked through the more rural parts of our area trying to reach those small communities we had received no word from. The once scenic drives to these hamlets scattered throughout southwest Mississippi now became treks to find safe passage, to check on the condition of these areas and to report to our information-deprived readers.
I have never been more proud of or more honored to work with a group of journalists—all of whom put their own personal hardships and needs aside to make sure the public was informed.
In the weeks since Katrina’s impact, we have slowly begun to re-integrate our normal features—high school sports, weddings, arts, outdoors and other items, which were swept away by Katrina coverage.
Now, almost a month after Katrina ravaged our area, (and Hurricane Rita getting too close for comfort) our newsroom still struggles to adjust to “the new normal,” as Freeman dubbed it. Confusion and disorganization in disaster relief from the American Red Cross in our area has become a daily Page One story. The Red Cross has received millions in donations and local volunteers work tirelessly to help victims, but a lack of organizational leadership from the top has hampered relief efforts.
Katrina-related stories appear on the front of the Enterprise-Journal daily, and I suspect that will continue for months to come. While some of our readers have returned to pre-Katrina routines, evacuees from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans area continue the day-to-day struggles to rebuild their shattered lives—homes are gone, jobs no longer exist, family and friends are spread to the winds, children must adjust to new schools, and some have even started new jobs, though most are returning to local shelters each night. The work of rebuilding the devastated areas is just beginning.
With much talk of declining circulation numbers at newspapers, Hurricane Katrina has demonstrated the continuing need of local newspapers—dailies and weeklies—to keep their readers informed of the issues facing their communities, whatever they may be.
Even in a widespread blackout and in the ruins of a natural disaster, the print media will always be there to shine a light on local communities.
Cities and small towns around Mississippi were inundated in the days before and during Katrina’s rampage as evacuees searched for shelter, and thousands took refuge in the homes of family members, friends and complete strangers. Many of them still remain.
In this time of crisis, the roles and challenges of community newspapers was never more evident—to keep the public informed not only of what was happening along the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans, but also in our own communities now cut off by felled trees and power and telephone lines.
Our small newsroom in southwest Mississippi felt Katrina’s wrath, as about 30 of us rode out the hurricane in our building, trying in vain to publish a newspaper. And, as the winds died down that fateful Monday afternoon, our reporters sprung into action to cover what we all quickly realized would be a monumental disaster.
In our technology-laden society, the Enterprise-Journal (http://www.enterprise-journal.com) was crippled without the electricity to run computers, the press or the electronic telephone systems. By that evening, Publisher Jack Ryan had come up with a plan to get an edition published on Aug. 30: Move our computer server and three computers to the local hospital, which allowed us to hook up our system to its computer systems—kept running by a generator.
The Hattiesburg American, more than 70 miles away, agreed to print our paper on its generator-powered press. Now, all that was left was for our reporters—all without power, many without phones—to write stories.
News Editor Matt Williamson, who couldn’t make it home on Aug. 29 because of downed trees and power lines, and long-time staff writer Karen Freeman, worked from her home to track down area officials and write in longhand by candlelight one of the best spot news stories I’ve read. They dictated the story by phone to me as we set up at the hospital. Ryan and I, along with graphic designer Beverly Moak worked late into the night to finish the Aug. 30 edition.
By morning, however, we faced another daunting obstacle—long gas lines snarled traffic around our small city of 14,000. This hampered our efforts to get gas for the few carriers able to make it to the paper and for our reporters diligently working to keep our readers, and thousands of evacuees informed.
Without electricity, most of southwest Mississippi was left without television, radio or the Internet. We realized immediately that our job of informing the public had just become even more of a critical mission.
And with power out to most of the area for days, local newspapers were the only available media outlet for information-starved residents and scores of evacuees, most of whom hail from devastated New Orleans and other hard-hit parts of Louisiana.
Food, water, ice, gas, power, shelters, disaster aid—these became critical items and the source of top news stories for weeks after Katrina made landfall. We all felt the crunch, as gas was in short supply and lines backed up for miles through McComb; ice and water distribution lines were no better.
Despite these hardships, each and everyone of the Enterprise-Journal’s news staff put these concerns aside and worked long, hard hours to tell the stories the public wanted to know.
Sports Editor Randy Hammons walked much of McComb for several days interviewing evacuees, officials and disaster workers. Williamson, Freeman, staff writer Colin Trisler and photographer Aaron Rhoads went out day after day tracking down stories with limited gas supplies and little sleep. All the while the public’s frustrations mounted.
Staff writer Ernest Herndon snaked through the more rural parts of our area trying to reach those small communities we had received no word from. The once scenic drives to these hamlets scattered throughout southwest Mississippi now became treks to find safe passage, to check on the condition of these areas and to report to our information-deprived readers.
I have never been more proud of or more honored to work with a group of journalists—all of whom put their own personal hardships and needs aside to make sure the public was informed.
In the weeks since Katrina’s impact, we have slowly begun to re-integrate our normal features—high school sports, weddings, arts, outdoors and other items, which were swept away by Katrina coverage.
Now, almost a month after Katrina ravaged our area, (and Hurricane Rita getting too close for comfort) our newsroom still struggles to adjust to “the new normal,” as Freeman dubbed it. Confusion and disorganization in disaster relief from the American Red Cross in our area has become a daily Page One story. The Red Cross has received millions in donations and local volunteers work tirelessly to help victims, but a lack of organizational leadership from the top has hampered relief efforts.
Katrina-related stories appear on the front of the Enterprise-Journal daily, and I suspect that will continue for months to come. While some of our readers have returned to pre-Katrina routines, evacuees from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans area continue the day-to-day struggles to rebuild their shattered lives—homes are gone, jobs no longer exist, family and friends are spread to the winds, children must adjust to new schools, and some have even started new jobs, though most are returning to local shelters each night. The work of rebuilding the devastated areas is just beginning.
With much talk of declining circulation numbers at newspapers, Hurricane Katrina has demonstrated the continuing need of local newspapers—dailies and weeklies—to keep their readers informed of the issues facing their communities, whatever they may be.
Even in a widespread blackout and in the ruins of a natural disaster, the print media will always be there to shine a light on local communities.
Choose words carefully
Writers have 500,000 words to choose from, with new words springing up almost daily from technology and slang, constantly adding to our vernacular.
With such a vast selection, reporters need to choose their words carefully to convey appropriate meaning while avoiding six-syllable words that may confuse the reader.
The greater problem, however, lies in relying on “meaningless” words and phrases, with very, that and get/got at the top of my list. All are overused and used incorrectly.
Very: In my opinion, the most overused word in the English language, and one which should be banned. Used by most everyone from the time they learn to speak until they end up in the newsroom to convey degrees of emotion—very sad, very happy, very troubled, very annoyed. Please, I beg you, stop!
How about those great underused words—dismal, dispirited, gloomy, depressed; cheery, joyful, delighted; uneasy, nervous, distressed; testy, irritable, indignant.
Hundreds of thousands of words are at the writer’s fingertips. Please, pick up a dictionary or thesauri or log on to one of the many online versions.
That: That is a tricky word, with several correct usages as a pronoun or in an essential clause. However, I think it is more commonly used incorrectly as a conjunction.
The AP Stylebook contains of list of instances when that is needed, such as after the verbs advocate, declare and point out. Make use of the Stylebook. It’s a fantastic resource for the small newsroom.
That/who: Be mindful of that as a pronoun. A person or a group of people is a who, while an object or an animal is a that.
Essential phrases: That is correctly used in essential clauses, while which is correct for nonessential clause. Refer to the Stylebook when in doubt.
Get/got: Get and got are slang, just like the skin-crawling ain’t. Try these—obtain, earn, receive, prepare (instead of get ready).
Here are some others on my list of meaningless or incorrect uses of words and phrases:
• Some—There were some 52 people at the meeting. Not only is some unneeded, but 52 is specific, negating the use of a generic description.
• Over and more than—John Smith has over 30 years of experience. How high is that? Over describes height, while more than describes length of time, cost or quantity.
• 20-year anniversary—It’s a 20th anniversary.
• Brutal murder—When is a murder not brutal?
• Completely unusable—Unusable says it all.
• Utterly destroyed—Simply destroyed.
• First-ever—First.
• First-annual—Now, that’s just a contradiction. How can an event be annual on its first occurrence?
• Deep passion—Come on.
• Currently—If it happened in the past or will happen in the future, say so. Otherwise, it is current. You don’t need to point it out.
• Implemented—Began, started.
• Utilized—Use.
Here are some great words that aren’t used enough, including many reporters can use on the cops beat—braggart, vexed, melee, fisticuffs, lawman (instead of officer or official), fracas. Try to incorporate new words in your reporting that won’t confuse the reader or send them to the dictionary.
With such a vast selection, reporters need to choose their words carefully to convey appropriate meaning while avoiding six-syllable words that may confuse the reader.
The greater problem, however, lies in relying on “meaningless” words and phrases, with very, that and get/got at the top of my list. All are overused and used incorrectly.
Very: In my opinion, the most overused word in the English language, and one which should be banned. Used by most everyone from the time they learn to speak until they end up in the newsroom to convey degrees of emotion—very sad, very happy, very troubled, very annoyed. Please, I beg you, stop!
How about those great underused words—dismal, dispirited, gloomy, depressed; cheery, joyful, delighted; uneasy, nervous, distressed; testy, irritable, indignant.
Hundreds of thousands of words are at the writer’s fingertips. Please, pick up a dictionary or thesauri or log on to one of the many online versions.
That: That is a tricky word, with several correct usages as a pronoun or in an essential clause. However, I think it is more commonly used incorrectly as a conjunction.
The AP Stylebook contains of list of instances when that is needed, such as after the verbs advocate, declare and point out. Make use of the Stylebook. It’s a fantastic resource for the small newsroom.
That/who: Be mindful of that as a pronoun. A person or a group of people is a who, while an object or an animal is a that.
Essential phrases: That is correctly used in essential clauses, while which is correct for nonessential clause. Refer to the Stylebook when in doubt.
Get/got: Get and got are slang, just like the skin-crawling ain’t. Try these—obtain, earn, receive, prepare (instead of get ready).
Here are some others on my list of meaningless or incorrect uses of words and phrases:
• Some—There were some 52 people at the meeting. Not only is some unneeded, but 52 is specific, negating the use of a generic description.
• Over and more than—John Smith has over 30 years of experience. How high is that? Over describes height, while more than describes length of time, cost or quantity.
• 20-year anniversary—It’s a 20th anniversary.
• Brutal murder—When is a murder not brutal?
• Completely unusable—Unusable says it all.
• Utterly destroyed—Simply destroyed.
• First-ever—First.
• First-annual—Now, that’s just a contradiction. How can an event be annual on its first occurrence?
• Deep passion—Come on.
• Currently—If it happened in the past or will happen in the future, say so. Otherwise, it is current. You don’t need to point it out.
• Implemented—Began, started.
• Utilized—Use.
Here are some great words that aren’t used enough, including many reporters can use on the cops beat—braggart, vexed, melee, fisticuffs, lawman (instead of officer or official), fracas. Try to incorporate new words in your reporting that won’t confuse the reader or send them to the dictionary.
Reporters must understand their beats
A reporter needs to know a little bit about everything, John Edwards, my first newspaper editor (http://www.smithfieldtimes.com), once told me when I was fresh out of college.
From the workings of school boards, city councils and county supervisors, to budgets and tax levies, to how the legislature works, to the difference between a rifle and a gun, a felony and a misdemeanor, reporters must have a basic understanding of these often complex subjects in order to do their job.
But understanding these things is only part of the equation. Explaining these issues to the reader is the much harder, and much more essential part of a reporter’s job.
Faced with talking to government and law enforcement officials on a daily basis, reporters can easily become trapped in the jargon that accompanies these duties: revenue enhancement, appropriations, an altercation, a controlled purchase.
Cutting through the jargon is the job of each reporter.
Cop talk
The police report, along with the obituaries, will always top the list of most read items in community newspapers. People have an innate curiosity about what their neighbors are up to, particularly if its no good.
The cop reporter needs to understand and even speak in "cop talk" when working his or her beat, but when its time to write the story, be mindful to translate it into something the reader understands. Here's a few I've come across lately:
• Altercation—Simply put, a fight.
However, much more detail is required in these cases. How many people? Any weapons involved? Anyone hurt? An altercation implies violence, but perhaps it was a verbal altercation. Ask the follow up questions for the details that tell the story.
• Failed to maintain control of his vehicle—wrecked, crash, skid off the road, etc.
• Controlled purchase—An undercover officer bought drugs.
• Brandished a weapon—It’s a charge, not an accurate description. Did the person point it at someone? If so, who? Did the suspect show the weapon to someone? Did they wave it around in the air? Details are needed here.
• Murder—Again, a charge, not an action. A suspect may kill a person, but is charged with murder.
Government-ease
Like police officers, government officials also have their own special vernacular, particularly when it comes to talking about budgets.
• Bond issue—A loan that will have to be repaid with interest.
• Shortfall note—Again, a loan to be repaid. A shortfall note is usually taken out to cover costs when there is a shortfall of money coming in. For example, a local school board recently took out a shortfall note to pay expenses that should have been covered by local taxes. The taxes had not yet been collected, but the school needed to pay bills, thus the need to borrow the money.
• Expenditures—What the board, council or agency will spend on a particular item.
• Appropriations—There are two meanings here.
One, a state legislature can appropriate money, or designate a set amount, for various public uses, such as roads, schools, health care, etc.
Two, a local board will often appropriate funds, or agree to pay for, a specific service or item.
• Secured a grant—Unless they’re using bungee cords, just say they received a grant.
• Funding source—Revenue. Be specific on what kind of revenue: taxes (mileage), water fees, sales tax revenue, etc.
• Revenue enhancement—Generally means fees or taxes are going up.
There’s also a few that Matt Baron had in one of his columns that are worth noting:
• Positive fund balance—Money left over in the budget from the previous year.
• Savings—Often a tricky term used by officials. If you reduce the interest rate on a loan and cut the payments by $96,000, nothing is saved. Rather, you’ll spend $96,000 less. Use spend less or reduced expenses by.
From the workings of school boards, city councils and county supervisors, to budgets and tax levies, to how the legislature works, to the difference between a rifle and a gun, a felony and a misdemeanor, reporters must have a basic understanding of these often complex subjects in order to do their job.
But understanding these things is only part of the equation. Explaining these issues to the reader is the much harder, and much more essential part of a reporter’s job.
Faced with talking to government and law enforcement officials on a daily basis, reporters can easily become trapped in the jargon that accompanies these duties: revenue enhancement, appropriations, an altercation, a controlled purchase.
Cutting through the jargon is the job of each reporter.
Cop talk
The police report, along with the obituaries, will always top the list of most read items in community newspapers. People have an innate curiosity about what their neighbors are up to, particularly if its no good.
The cop reporter needs to understand and even speak in "cop talk" when working his or her beat, but when its time to write the story, be mindful to translate it into something the reader understands. Here's a few I've come across lately:
• Altercation—Simply put, a fight.
However, much more detail is required in these cases. How many people? Any weapons involved? Anyone hurt? An altercation implies violence, but perhaps it was a verbal altercation. Ask the follow up questions for the details that tell the story.
• Failed to maintain control of his vehicle—wrecked, crash, skid off the road, etc.
• Controlled purchase—An undercover officer bought drugs.
• Brandished a weapon—It’s a charge, not an accurate description. Did the person point it at someone? If so, who? Did the suspect show the weapon to someone? Did they wave it around in the air? Details are needed here.
• Murder—Again, a charge, not an action. A suspect may kill a person, but is charged with murder.
Government-ease
Like police officers, government officials also have their own special vernacular, particularly when it comes to talking about budgets.
• Bond issue—A loan that will have to be repaid with interest.
• Shortfall note—Again, a loan to be repaid. A shortfall note is usually taken out to cover costs when there is a shortfall of money coming in. For example, a local school board recently took out a shortfall note to pay expenses that should have been covered by local taxes. The taxes had not yet been collected, but the school needed to pay bills, thus the need to borrow the money.
• Expenditures—What the board, council or agency will spend on a particular item.
• Appropriations—There are two meanings here.
One, a state legislature can appropriate money, or designate a set amount, for various public uses, such as roads, schools, health care, etc.
Two, a local board will often appropriate funds, or agree to pay for, a specific service or item.
• Secured a grant—Unless they’re using bungee cords, just say they received a grant.
• Funding source—Revenue. Be specific on what kind of revenue: taxes (mileage), water fees, sales tax revenue, etc.
• Revenue enhancement—Generally means fees or taxes are going up.
There’s also a few that Matt Baron had in one of his columns that are worth noting:
• Positive fund balance—Money left over in the budget from the previous year.
• Savings—Often a tricky term used by officials. If you reduce the interest rate on a loan and cut the payments by $96,000, nothing is saved. Rather, you’ll spend $96,000 less. Use spend less or reduced expenses by.
Face-to-face interviews critical
Josephine Smith has worked at the Pond General Store in the southwestern corner of Mississippi since 1926. Now 97, Smith still spends many days at the more than 100-year-old store in the tiny Pond community, waiting on customers and sharing local gossip. Little has changed at the store since it opened in the 19th century.
With that information in hand, I assigned a new reporter with a lot of promise — several internships, glowing references and national accolades — to the story for a feature. When she turned the story in, it lacked any of the rich detail I had anticipated. No mention of the century old store. Bland and boring.
“Well, I talked to the owner on the phone. Do I have to go to the store?” she asked.
I sat in shock at my desk, two seasoned reporters stopped, turned and with mouths agape listened to her inquiry. We all responded with a resounding “Yes.”
Over the course of my years working at community newspapers, nearly every one of the reporters I’ve hired during that time have been fresh out of journalism school.
All have been eager to get that first big story, cover that first spot news and write those hard-hitting investigating pieces. What they lack, however, are some basic reporting tools.
From e-mail interviews to their attire to dealing with the public, I inevitably spend the first few months training them not on honing their writing skills and learning their craft so much as on some basic tenants of journalism and how to conduct themselves as professionals.
I’ve made a list of some of the things I try to impart to newbies working at small dailies and weeklies when they first arrive; and the list grows with each new reporter.
Identify yourself
I’m continually amazed that most new reporters do not identify themselves when talking to a source. Clearly identify the newspaper your work for, your name and the intent of your phone call. Make sure the person knows they are being interviewed for publication.
There’s nothing worse than having a great story in the paper, only to get a call from a source saying they didn’t know they were being interviewed.
Interviews are done face-to-face
Good stories require detail, and the best include details that describe the scene, the sounds and smells, the person’s dress, their demeanor, facial expressions, laughter. The best answers also come from face-to-face interviews. E-mail interviews are rarely acceptable.
Telephone interviews are OK when time or distance is a factor—talking to a source at the state capitol, following up on spot news reports on deadline, etc. E-mail interviews should only be allowed with prior approval from the editor.
Frankly, using the e-mail is lazy on the reporter’s part and allows the person being questioned to “craft” their answers. Reporters write stories, not press releases.
The only legitimate exception I’ve come across in recent memory is in a community with local troops stationed in Iraq who have access to e-mail, but not telephones. These interactions give us the opportunity to keep our readers informed of what’s happening with local units.
Dress and act professionally
No torn clothing, no shirts crumbled up like last week’s laundry, no shoes with holes, and absolutely no T-shirts. Also, leave the cussing and slang like “Dude” in the dorm room. If you want to be taken seriously, act it. And, ladies, no low-cut shirts or high-cut splits.
Develop sources
Chat with the dispatchers and officers at the police station, spend time visiting with the court clerks at the courthouse (I even used to bring them a box of chocolates occasionally), spend time at the local breakfast or lunch hangouts, stop by city hall and chat up the receptionist, the person taking the water bill payments and others.
These people make up the backbone of the organizations they work for, and often, are the best sources of information. They’ll give you tips on what’s going on at city hall, and good ideas for feature stories. They’ll appreciate the attention, and will keep you in the loop once they trust you.
Always keep your ears open
Whether your shopping, having lunch or hanging out at the park, keep your eyes open for good stories from features on interested people to tips on new businesses or behind the scenes happenings at local government.
Explore your beat
Some reporters are natural explorers, while others need to be pushed out the door.
One of my favorite tasks for new reporters is to send them out somewhere and tell them to come back with three story ideas. It helps them to get to know an area, to hone their skills with developing stories, and gives the editor a good idea of their abilities.
Most come back with several story ideas. The few that don’t come back with any stories, usually aren’t cut out for this type of work.
The Internet is not the main source for a story
In the past few years, I’ve had reporters turn in stories with web sites as their main source. Now, I tell new reporters that the Web can be used for background information, to gather statistics from agencies, but never as the main source of the story.
Use other reporters to your advantage
In metro newsrooms, reporters often have a healthy competitive relationships with their colleagues. In small newsrooms, reporters work as a team and are more collaborative. Veteran reporters have worked the beats, they have the contacts, they know the community and they’re often living libraries of information. They’re also good to bounce story ideas off of.
Read Public Notices
Government agencies are required by law to run legal announcements notifying the public of property sales, tax levies, public hearings and a variety of other public business. In many states, however, they are not required to notify the newsroom.
I’ve read public notices daily since I started as a reporter fresh out of college and have found many stories in its small print.
A few other things I tell reporters (all of which have been an issue at some point in the past):
• Buy some cheap boots and a raincoat and keep both in the car. You’ll be trudging around a muddy field, a poultry house, tornado scene or wooded area before too long.
• Always keeps a notebook and pen with you, and preferably some kind of camera. You never know when news will happen.
• If your publisher tells you to do something, take it seriously. These people sign your paycheck. If they tell you to do a 1-inch write up on a fund-raising fish fry, don’t blow it off!
• Use the AP Stylebook and an unabridged dictionary daily.
• Be mindful of church ladies and little league moms. Be courteous in dealing with them and remember that their church announcement or kid’s picture in the paper is the most important thing going on in their lives. They are also the ones who will call the publisher at home on a Sunday morning to complain.
• No beating the phone on the receiver in anger or no pounding the mouse on the desk, it’s childish.
• No yelling at readers in the office, on the phone or in public. Conduct yourself professionally and don’t take it personally. Most of them just want someone to listen to their complaints.
• Print out stories for editing. Reporters learn much faster if they have to go back and make their own corrections.
I also keep a folder marked “New Reporter” in the file cabinet full of useful handouts I’ve developed over the years from information on the difference between felonies and misdemeanors, to web sites, to covering board meetings, to open meeting laws and HIPPA. I add to it regularly, and each new reporter gets a copy of its contents.
With that information in hand, I assigned a new reporter with a lot of promise — several internships, glowing references and national accolades — to the story for a feature. When she turned the story in, it lacked any of the rich detail I had anticipated. No mention of the century old store. Bland and boring.
“Well, I talked to the owner on the phone. Do I have to go to the store?” she asked.
I sat in shock at my desk, two seasoned reporters stopped, turned and with mouths agape listened to her inquiry. We all responded with a resounding “Yes.”
Over the course of my years working at community newspapers, nearly every one of the reporters I’ve hired during that time have been fresh out of journalism school.
All have been eager to get that first big story, cover that first spot news and write those hard-hitting investigating pieces. What they lack, however, are some basic reporting tools.
From e-mail interviews to their attire to dealing with the public, I inevitably spend the first few months training them not on honing their writing skills and learning their craft so much as on some basic tenants of journalism and how to conduct themselves as professionals.
I’ve made a list of some of the things I try to impart to newbies working at small dailies and weeklies when they first arrive; and the list grows with each new reporter.
Identify yourself
I’m continually amazed that most new reporters do not identify themselves when talking to a source. Clearly identify the newspaper your work for, your name and the intent of your phone call. Make sure the person knows they are being interviewed for publication.
There’s nothing worse than having a great story in the paper, only to get a call from a source saying they didn’t know they were being interviewed.
Interviews are done face-to-face
Good stories require detail, and the best include details that describe the scene, the sounds and smells, the person’s dress, their demeanor, facial expressions, laughter. The best answers also come from face-to-face interviews. E-mail interviews are rarely acceptable.
Telephone interviews are OK when time or distance is a factor—talking to a source at the state capitol, following up on spot news reports on deadline, etc. E-mail interviews should only be allowed with prior approval from the editor.
Frankly, using the e-mail is lazy on the reporter’s part and allows the person being questioned to “craft” their answers. Reporters write stories, not press releases.
The only legitimate exception I’ve come across in recent memory is in a community with local troops stationed in Iraq who have access to e-mail, but not telephones. These interactions give us the opportunity to keep our readers informed of what’s happening with local units.
Dress and act professionally
No torn clothing, no shirts crumbled up like last week’s laundry, no shoes with holes, and absolutely no T-shirts. Also, leave the cussing and slang like “Dude” in the dorm room. If you want to be taken seriously, act it. And, ladies, no low-cut shirts or high-cut splits.
Develop sources
Chat with the dispatchers and officers at the police station, spend time visiting with the court clerks at the courthouse (I even used to bring them a box of chocolates occasionally), spend time at the local breakfast or lunch hangouts, stop by city hall and chat up the receptionist, the person taking the water bill payments and others.
These people make up the backbone of the organizations they work for, and often, are the best sources of information. They’ll give you tips on what’s going on at city hall, and good ideas for feature stories. They’ll appreciate the attention, and will keep you in the loop once they trust you.
Always keep your ears open
Whether your shopping, having lunch or hanging out at the park, keep your eyes open for good stories from features on interested people to tips on new businesses or behind the scenes happenings at local government.
Explore your beat
Some reporters are natural explorers, while others need to be pushed out the door.
One of my favorite tasks for new reporters is to send them out somewhere and tell them to come back with three story ideas. It helps them to get to know an area, to hone their skills with developing stories, and gives the editor a good idea of their abilities.
Most come back with several story ideas. The few that don’t come back with any stories, usually aren’t cut out for this type of work.
The Internet is not the main source for a story
In the past few years, I’ve had reporters turn in stories with web sites as their main source. Now, I tell new reporters that the Web can be used for background information, to gather statistics from agencies, but never as the main source of the story.
Use other reporters to your advantage
In metro newsrooms, reporters often have a healthy competitive relationships with their colleagues. In small newsrooms, reporters work as a team and are more collaborative. Veteran reporters have worked the beats, they have the contacts, they know the community and they’re often living libraries of information. They’re also good to bounce story ideas off of.
Read Public Notices
Government agencies are required by law to run legal announcements notifying the public of property sales, tax levies, public hearings and a variety of other public business. In many states, however, they are not required to notify the newsroom.
I’ve read public notices daily since I started as a reporter fresh out of college and have found many stories in its small print.
A few other things I tell reporters (all of which have been an issue at some point in the past):
• Buy some cheap boots and a raincoat and keep both in the car. You’ll be trudging around a muddy field, a poultry house, tornado scene or wooded area before too long.
• Always keeps a notebook and pen with you, and preferably some kind of camera. You never know when news will happen.
• If your publisher tells you to do something, take it seriously. These people sign your paycheck. If they tell you to do a 1-inch write up on a fund-raising fish fry, don’t blow it off!
• Use the AP Stylebook and an unabridged dictionary daily.
• Be mindful of church ladies and little league moms. Be courteous in dealing with them and remember that their church announcement or kid’s picture in the paper is the most important thing going on in their lives. They are also the ones who will call the publisher at home on a Sunday morning to complain.
• No beating the phone on the receiver in anger or no pounding the mouse on the desk, it’s childish.
• No yelling at readers in the office, on the phone or in public. Conduct yourself professionally and don’t take it personally. Most of them just want someone to listen to their complaints.
• Print out stories for editing. Reporters learn much faster if they have to go back and make their own corrections.
I also keep a folder marked “New Reporter” in the file cabinet full of useful handouts I’ve developed over the years from information on the difference between felonies and misdemeanors, to web sites, to covering board meetings, to open meeting laws and HIPPA. I add to it regularly, and each new reporter gets a copy of its contents.
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