How to be an effective editor

What are the key attributes of an effective editor in a time of constant and dramatic upheaval in the news business? David Boardman, Dean of the School of Media and Communication at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA, shared his formula for the effective evolving editor at the World Editors Forum in Torino today.

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by WAN-IFRA Staff executivenews@wan-ifra.org | June 10, 2014

IN THE NEWSROOM:

1. Be your newsroom’s top recruiter and hire people smarter than you.
2. Know what you don’t know.
3. Know what your people – especially ‘young techies’ – don’t know.
4. Be strategic: mission, vision, strategy, innovation.
5. Practice innovation as a means, not an end.
6. Be the ‘spiritual leader’ of your newsroom.

IN THE COMPANY:

1. Be an advocate but not an adversary.
2. Learn the principles, tools and language of business.
3. Initiate and embrace revenue-producing ideas.
4. Create resources instead of just asking for them.

IN THE COMMUNITY:

1. Be of the community, not apart from it.
2. Respect and use the knowledge and power of the crowd.
3. Make your organisation the hub, the town square, the convenor.
4. Be public and transparent.

WAN-IFRA Staff

executivenews@wan-ifra.org