Put large numbers in context
We have brought up this topic before — how context and background can greatly benefit the telling of a story. Writers and editors learn to keep this top of mind when gathering, writing and editing content. A story in today’s New York Times about the devastating effects of the flooding in Pakistan is a good [...]
Keep your credibility
Credibility is vital to journalists and their news organizations. That’s not news. But it is a valuable mantra worth repeating — often. Consider this statement by Lucio Guerrero, former spokesman for Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, as reported in a New York Times story today: “Once you lose credibility, that’s the kiss of death.” Guerrero was [...]
Know when to be flexible: Video
A powerful trait in the workplace is flexibility. When you are flexible, you adapt to change, you are a productive member of the team and you work well with others. In today’s evolving profession, journalists must adapt more and more. Perhaps you have found yourself in that situation: adapt (or be left behind), produce (or [...]
Connect with us at AEJMC
We have connected with many former journalism colleagues who also are here with us in Denver at the AEJMC conference. The sessions have been informative and interesting, and many of them have covered the very issues that inspired us to write our book, “Think Like an Editor: 50 Strategies for the Print and Digital World.” [...]
Young journalist? Stick with it
Someone asked me yesterday, “Are you glad you became a journalist?” I answered without hesitation, “Yes,” adding, “Why do you ask?” The reply: “I’m just curious.” That conversation didn’t happen with a student in the “boot camp” writing course that I’m currently teaching at the Newhouse School, nor with a colleague, nor during an interview [...]
Take 10 steps to better enterprise ideas
In thinking about enterprise story ideas — as master’s students are doing now in their six-week news writing boot camp at the Newhouse School — I am reminded how difficult it is sometimes to develop, as some say, “a story from nothing.” Or so it may seem. But, in fact, the beauty of enterprise ideas [...]
