Tips from the "What Jerk Wrote This?" session
   By Frank Fee, Ron Smith, Dick Thien, Thad Ogburn
 

10 Ways You Can Improve Communication in the Newsroom
Thad Ogburn, news editor, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.

1. Introduce people. Sounds simple, but so many papers don't do it well,
particularly when some folks work during the day and others at night. It
is very important that each new copy editor and reporter gets introduced
to everyone. It makes those midnight phone calls much easier if you can
place the voice on the other end of the line.

2. Work a stint in the other person's shoes. Even if it's just for a
week, there's nothing like a little job swap to make you appreciate and
understand what others are going through. Although there are great copy
editors who have never been a reporter, for the most part, reporting
experience is a big plus for those of us in this business. And those
reporters who have done a stint on the rim are always better friends to
the desk.

3. Level the playing field. Don't let your paper treat copy editors like
second-class citizens. Imagine the anger of a 10-year copy desk veteran
several years ago when she had to keep all her work "stuff" in one desk
drawer, while a new reporter fresh out of college got a large desk that
he proceeded to decorate with photos, personal effects, etc. This sounds
like a minor complaint, but these things add up and foster discontent.
Fight for your editors to get at least a shared desk, voice mail,
Internet hookup, etc. -- just like the reporters.

4. Say nice things from time to time. Too often, we're always bringing
bad news. Editors should make a point to send reporters a quick note
when they write a nice lede or get a good scoop. Reporters can send a
message to the entire desk when they like a specific headline or when a
catch saved their butt.

5. Don't wallow in anonymity. Too often, copy editors become shy forest
creatures when they should be blowing their own horns. From time to
time, the news editor should let the top bosses know who on the desk is
doing what. List the week's top catches and headlines and name the names
of the copy editors who did good work.

6. Make copy editors accountable when they screw up. You don't want to
flog them publicly, but when editors edit in a mistake, they should face
the individual reporter to explain it. A simple, personal apology can go
a long way toward heading off a long-simmering feud.

7. Let copy editors have their fun, just not publicly. It is in copy
editors' nature to want to share their war stories about bad ledes, dumb
mistakes by reporters, etc. This is fine. But don't let them carry on
these discussions in the newsroom, where everyone can hear. Save it for
the favorite watering hole. (Where the stories probably get better
through exaggeration anyway.) And don't forget to keep track of your own
dumb stories, too. A file in your bottom desk drawer of all those goofs
and blunders that made it into print can go a long way toward keeping
you humble.

8. If there is time -- and ONLY if there is time -- try giving the
reporter a chance to rewrite the lede or troublesome paragraph. Clearly
explain your problem with the way it is and give the reporter a set time
for getting back to you with a change. The result might make both the
copy editor and the reporter happy.

9. Don't forget the middle man and woman. If you have a really combative
or prima donna reporter, it's sometimes best to get the assigning editor
involved in helping you fight a battle.

10. Live up to your end of the bargain. We always harp about wanting
accurate lengths and budgets. If your reporters start giving them to
you, plan your space accordingly and try to get everything in. If you
commit at 7 p.m. to a 20-inch story, try not to cut it to 15 inches at
11 p.m.
 

Copy Desk Diplomacy
Ron Smith, copy editor, national desk, The Los Angeles Times
 

   Consider yourself part of the team -- in other words, a complete
journalist. Read a variety of publications. Become an expert on various
issues. Never be afraid to suggest story ideas. But remember to be
conservative, not destructive. There is a difference. Learn it.

  Opportunities abound in your newsroom for you to connect with
reporters and line editors. But you have to get off your butt to do so. No one
likes criticism, but people tend to respond more favorably when they
know the person. Compliment reporters and editors on things that you
feel they deserve praise on. That way, when you call them at midnight
you are not an unknown gremlin out to spoil their attempts at a life
outside of work.

   Present your questions -- whether they are written or oral --
professionally. Treat others as you would wish to be treated. Don't show
off, show how. Show the editor how the story could  be made better.
Remember to be polite, remember to be persistent. But above all, be
tactful.

   Your credibility goes a long way. If you introduce errors in a story
or are just unpleasant to be around, you are not going to go very far. No
matter how good your questions may be (and let's make sure they are
good; there is such a thing as a stupid question), if your reputation
gets in the way, you will not get a good response.

   Evaluate the situation. Is it really worth calling a reporter or
editor for one question? Can you write around it or fudge? Can this be answered
by the library? Make your questions count.

   Do your homework! If you find a problem, try finding or stating a
possible solution. Just saying "This is wrong" simply won't do. We
all went to college, flex those brain muscles.

    Instead of complaining about problem reporters/editors, be
proactive. Find ways to let them know about persistent problems you have in their
copy, without being confrontational. Again, establishing relationships
throughout the newsroom is important in getting the job done. It is who
you know that ultimately counts.

   Try to put yourself in the line editor's or reporter's shoes. Are
there opportunities for you to do their job? Why not go to a council meeting
to understand the city budget? Why not sit in for a line editor during
holidays or vacations? Speak up. Be heard. By going to "the other side"
you have a more realistic sense of their jobs. You might be surprised.

   Organize your thoughts and questions in a coherent fashion. Don't be
a scatterbrain. Respect the time of editors and reporters. Ask questions
that are relevant.

   Remember the readers. That's why we got into this business. And
everything we do should be done with them in mind.
 

Managing Newsroom Civility
Notes from Frank E. Fee Jr., Ohio University, and Dick Thien, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Coach your staff on diplomacy. Monitor performance. Provide
information that will help them in difficult moments. You may clip items on good
writing and editing from the trade publications, but do not pass on any
information about improving interpersonal communication?
   Have non-crisis meetings at which problems can be discussed
constructively by copy editors, reporters, and editors. Limit the
agenda; don't try to solve every problem in one sitting. Insist that the
participants respect each other. Guide them to seeing the other
stakeholder's viewpoints. And don't forget that the readers are
stakeholders who want quality newspapers, not turf wars.
   Encourage cooperation and mutual respect by creating copy
editor-reporter task forces that examine newsroom operations and
recommend changes. And then listen to those recommendations and take
action,even if it's to explain why the recommendations cannot be carried
out.
   Make sure you provide staffers time and your ungrudging support to
participate  in these critical but "extra-curricular" activities.
   Insist on -- even organize -- writing seminars and workshops on other
topics for your copy editors. It makes no sense to train reporters to
higher levels of writing if the copy editors are in the dark about
what's going on.
   As your examine the demeanor of your newsroom, ask yourself: Is this
the way you would want your daughter or son (or kid-sister or kid-brother)
to be treated?
   Is deadline pressure being used to excuse bad behavior? It shouldn't.
We waste enough time every cycle that we can spare some for civility.
  Make sure everyone knows what is expected of everyone in the newsroom.
Too often, some of the discord, disagreement or just plain nastiness is
because the supervisor assumes the junior (or senior) desk people know
the standards, the expectations, the traditions. Or that they picked
them up by osmosis. Neither ever happens. Talking those things out
beyond some style handout (or mission statement) at a brown bag or two
might head off some sticky situations.
  Criticism always hurts--and always gets heard in the newsroom, whether
we really meant it or not. In a workplace where the problem almost
always comes down to rudeness and where we never say we're sorry,
"customary banter" and "we were only kidding" only add to long-lasting
bitterness. An old Quakers' test of speech may be helpful to keep in
mind: Is the comment true? Is it fair? Is it necessary?