Teresa Leonard
The News and Observer
June 8, 2004
Training Lessons Learned
Give it time
Consistently, our reporters say the most important benefit of the fellowship is the luxury of time to learn.
Excel excels
As software has improved and we have learned more, Excel is meeting our needs better. Easier to learn, more accessible, easier to query.
It's all CAR
We don't even count them anymore. Reporters are familiar with databases; they can hit the ground running with a project.
Meet them where they are
They can do their own database work start to finish, they can do it alongside a researcher getting help where needed, or they can ask us to do it for them.
Seize the moment
- If you want to learn CAR, you have to learn other researcher techniques.
- For editors: learn what you should expect from your reporters, but also learn what it takes to get it.
Be flexible
Look for opportunities to make it work, even around the legislature, basketball season, and maternity leave.
Branding
Stickers, mouse pads, testimonials