4 ways to inspire ourselves and others
not teaching,
still THINKING …
Inspiration makes our jobs worthwhile. So does feedback.
It’s true of journalism, but we think everyone can relate.
With that general idea in mind, here are some key questions we can ask ourselves on a regular basis.
What purpose is my work serving in my community and for my audience?
- It’s not enough to hear people say you “cover the news” or your niche topic.
- How are you helping people? One way to find out: Ask them.
How can readers and consumers act on my work?
- This is especially important in our digital world. Yes, we reach out and involve people in our organization’s work. We also employ them as sources and voices. We tap them for ideas. All good.
- Importantly, though, we must regularly show them what they can do to get involved in their communities.
How have I inspired others, whether they are peers and colleagues or readers and consumers?
- Inspired readers are return readers. We want people to have an emotional reaction to what we do. Do they?
- We don’t mean that we publish stories that make people laugh or cry. But good work should regularly evoke reactions of all kinds.
What do people need to know and how can I deliver it to them?
- We must anticipate. If we do, we are filling a need.
- It used to be that a key question in morning news meetings would be: “What stories do we need to follow today?” Now the question — whether in a news meeting or while working solo — more likely is this: “What do people need to know tomorrow?”
Today’s news is fleeting. Everyone is in a hurry. People need to know how today’s news will affect them beyond the moment. We must inspire people to understand. And when we succeed, the hope is that their feedback will continue to inspire us.
(These two profs are no longer teaching at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, but we are still thinking.)
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