Tips for New Managers
Kathy Foley
Editor of Information Services
or
The Top Ten
Ways to Show Why You're Making the Big Bucks
- With thanks to David Letterman
Number Ten
STRIVE FOR BALANCE IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE
10. Balancing Act
- Healthy body & mind
- Eat well, exercise and sleep enough
- SMOOZE in the Newsroom
- Maintain supportive personal relationships
Number Nine
Be an Excellent Financial Manager
9. Financial Wizard
Get to know the bean counters. Do special favors for them. Take them to lunch. Make SURE they understand your department's mission, plans and issues.
Number Eight
WHAT YOU CALL YOURSELF AND YOUR DEPARTMENT IS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT!
8. What's In A Name?
- Let me eat a little crow
- Archivist or Librarian is a burden you shouldn't bear
- Maybe you should be hiring journalists!
- Editor - usually means power in the newsroom
Number Seven
The Online Vendor Connection -
Make sure that YOU are the KEY PLAYER
7. Online Vendors
- You understand and have a better idea of what is appropriate in this relationship
- Develop an information strategy for your company. Try to make money for the company
- Flat-rate contracts are not always best
Number Six
Be a Technology Leader in Your Company
6. Technology Leadership
- Don't Fight Them, Lead Them
- Archives are finally coming into their own - Be the EXPERT and the GUARDIAN!
- Make friends with the Systems guys
6. Technology Leadership
- Get involved with computer assisted reporting
- Develop Systems and Information Training Classes
- Publish User Guides
Number Five
Deal Effectively with Your Management
5. Dealing with the Boss(es)
- Learn where the power resides - Managing Editor, Executive Editor, Publisher, Corporate Headquarters
- Bring solutions not problems
Number Four
Don't Hesitate To Volunteer for More Work and Responsibility
4. Volunteer / Pile it On!
- Remember Number 10, and adjust accordingly
- Don't pass on excess work to your staff. Keep them effective
- Prioritize - Readjust priorities - Be Flexible
Number Three
De-Centralize Your Operation
Create A Virtual Resource Center
3. Decentralize!
- Develop a crew of desk researchers
- Spread resources around the newsroom
- Be visible in all newsroom areas - if not with staff, at least with resources and signage
Number Two
Hire Well and Treat Your Staff the Way You Want Them To Be Treated By The Newsoom
2. Staff / Team Building
- Journalism background a plus
- Seek good writing skills
- Go for statistics and data expertise
- Look for computer-savvy folks
- Train them to be EXPERTS
2. Staff / Team Building
- Put your researchers on newsroom project teams
- Demand bylines and credits
TeamWork
- Be a good role model
- Party together to celebrate the team.
Number One
Promote Yourself!
You Could Be a Publisher Someday!
1. It's Your Career
- Expect to be treated as a Newsroom Middle Manager - on the way up
- Why shouldn't some of us in this room be a publisher?
1. Act Like a Manager
- Attend budget and news conference meetings
- Interview newsroom job candidates / ask other desk editors to interview your candidates
1. "I'm the Greatest Star..."
- It's smart to make your colleagues or your bosses look good - be generous with your support
- Understand, but don't rub it in that you are a better- trained manager than your journalist colleagues
1. Accentuate Your Talents!
- Write effective memos and reports
- Get yourself or your department written up in in-house newsletters
- Publish
1996 News Division Program for the SLA Annual Conference
SLA News Division Home
Reformatted on 03/23/03
Jessica Baumgart
newsdivisionweb@yahoo.com