Thanks for the sound advice. This would apply to any business having it rough today. I'd like to share your points with readers of my weekly business blog, "It's Your Business." You can reach me at JerryBellune@yahoo,com
Thanks so much! This is a great post. Just to double down on transparency: First, YES we are supposed to be in the business of transparency! I've never understood why we expect reporters to be intent listeners & smart questioners to one group of people (sources) and not to another (their own management). Second: People should have a clear understanding how their own business works. Some of the challenges of the past have occurred because we operated as if reporters (and others) didn't need to understand the fundamentals of our own business. On the flipside: staff should have a baseline requirement that their organization/management are helping them grow and deepen their skills. That way, if the business has bleak times, people emerge from stronger.
💯 to the part about being very transparent with the newsroom with the financials; I would add to this that management should be willing to take questions (and be honest with answers). And a corollary: editorial employees should not see this as some sort of church/state violation; indeed, they should insist on seeing the numbers. Curious:
Do you think differently on these matters depending on whether a (non-profit) newsroom is unionized?
Good advice. I think any editor or publisher should let themselves be held accountable by their newsroom, it's uncomfortable but long-term leads to healthier organizations. For all Gawker's flaws, I thought Nick Denton was particularly good at practicing this skill.
Thanks for the sound advice. This would apply to any business having it rough today. I'd like to share your points with readers of my weekly business blog, "It's Your Business." You can reach me at JerryBellune@yahoo,com
Applicable to many workplaces.
Thanks so much! This is a great post. Just to double down on transparency: First, YES we are supposed to be in the business of transparency! I've never understood why we expect reporters to be intent listeners & smart questioners to one group of people (sources) and not to another (their own management). Second: People should have a clear understanding how their own business works. Some of the challenges of the past have occurred because we operated as if reporters (and others) didn't need to understand the fundamentals of our own business. On the flipside: staff should have a baseline requirement that their organization/management are helping them grow and deepen their skills. That way, if the business has bleak times, people emerge from stronger.
💯 to the part about being very transparent with the newsroom with the financials; I would add to this that management should be willing to take questions (and be honest with answers). And a corollary: editorial employees should not see this as some sort of church/state violation; indeed, they should insist on seeing the numbers. Curious:
Do you think differently on these matters depending on whether a (non-profit) newsroom is unionized?
Good advice. I think any editor or publisher should let themselves be held accountable by their newsroom, it's uncomfortable but long-term leads to healthier organizations. For all Gawker's flaws, I thought Nick Denton was particularly good at practicing this skill.
Amen.
The Man (who is often The Woman) just don't care.