Working effectively with reporters when you don't have time to brainstorm

Most editors promise themselves (and often their reporters) that they will have weekly brainstorming meetings on story ideas, frequent coaching sessions on writing techniques and daily post-story critiques to identify and reinforce the lessons learned. Those are worthy goals, and the editors who meet them no doubt are some of the best editors. For many editors, though, the daily grind does not allow that and never will. Sometimes you'll make time for a few of those sessions, but never enough. You do, however, talk to your reporters every day, a minute here, a couple minutes there, five minutes when it's really important. You need to learn to use those few minutes to help steer the reporter on a path to learn for herself how to improve. Even if you succeed in making time for longer sessions with reporters, much of your most important editing still is done in these brief daily encounters.

If you ask, rather than tell, you guide the reporter in learning reporting and writing techniques. Don't tell a reporter to check with a news subject's previous employers and employees and check the courthouse for any criminal or civil actions. Ask the reporter how he's going to find out about the person's background. If the reporter doesn't provide the specific answers you want, ask more specific questions: How do we know this guy hasn't been picked up somewhere for drugs?

Use this technique at every step of the storytelling process. At the idea stage, don't just give an assignment. Ask the reporter how you should follow up on the situation. Ask how we can find out how much similar projects have cost in other cities. In the reporting process, ask how it's going. If the reporter isn't checking all the bases, ask a question that directs her to the neglected area. In the writing stage, ask what the main points are going to be. Ask how he's going to explain a complex issue. Ask what the story is about. The answer may lead the reporter to her lede. In the rewriting process, ask if there's a way the reporter can make a particular passage simpler. Ask if the reporter can help you see the scene.

Hope for a story that exceeds your expectations. Don’t shackle the reporter or the story with your preconceived notions. Share with the reporter the excitement and surprises of discovering the story.

Suggest that the reporter write as he reports. This saves time. It focuses the later stages of the reporting effort. It gets more of the story written while the interviews are fresh. It results in more rewriting and better stories.

Identify one skill for the reporter to work on in each story. It may be a weakness. Or you may challenge the reporter to improve in an area where she is already strong. This is how good reporters become great reporters. Make it a specific challenge: Try to use more active verbs in this story. Be more demanding of your quotes this time. Paraphrase and tighten where you can, using quotes only when the words are particularly strong or where it's important to have a character speaking.

Try to give one specific piece of feedback on each story. Not just "good story," but "that description really made me feel like I was there." If your feedback is criticism, make sure it also is specific. And ask yourself whether you can accompany it with a specific piece of praise as well, or with a suggestion on how to address the criticism in the future.

Every now and then tell the reporter, "Make this story special."