| Write On: A discussion about writing with this year's contest winners |
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Moderator Mary C. Curtis, executive features editor/columnist, The
Charlotte Observer, lead a post-lunch discussion with writing contest
winners about good writing, interviewing and storytelling.
Better editors encourage better stories LAS VEGAS -- From a decidedly understated conference room at the lavish Aladdin Resort and Casino, a small group of journalists and editors held a tete a tete for the good of the newspaper business. Their goal: better stories. Their mission: to improve reporter-editor relationships. During an hour-long panel discussion, seven award-winning writers doled out advice and explained their techniques to a diverse group of editors from across the nation. The seven AASFE award winners described their philosophies and pet peeves during the lively, sometimes edgy discussion. The following is a list of their top 10 tips and turn-offs: 1. DO talk with reporters during every phase of the story process. Communication from beginning to end is important. 2. DON'T force an assignment on a reporter if they are uncomfortable with the story or unable to cover it properly. Quality will suffer. 3. DO try to get out of the office to get enterprising stories. "Navel-gazing" approaches to idea gathering don't work in any newsroom. 4. DON'T use the same methods or management style with everyone on your staff. Consider their personalities and individual strengths when assigning stories. 5. DO use other neighborhood papers and classified ads as sources for stories. The three-inch brief in a local rag could become a riveting 90-inch feature. 6. DON'T encourage boiler-plate reporting. Offer praise to reporters who think creatively and use unconventional story structures. 7. DO pick topics and ideas that resonate with readers. "Hold on to the humanity" of every story. 8. DON'T demand a great story from a half-baked assignment. A piece will crumble (and reporters will become frustrated) if the story idea is fundamentally weak. Recognize when you've handed out a dud and move on to a better idea. 9. DO re-analyze popular news stories to look for hidden angles. 10. DON'T tell your reporters to "write down" for young readers. Write "smart stuff" for the 18-34 demographic and they will respond. ------------------Sarah Schaffer, a journalism student at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism, is one of eight fellows attending the convention and filing reports from it. |