It doesn’t seem like that long ago when the perfect management doctor prescription could be heard coming from the distinctive twang of Randy Galloway, then a columinst with the Dallas Morning News.
"Dave, just give us space, give us money, and get out of the way," was Randy’s mantra to Dave Smith back in the old newspaper war days between the Morning News and Times Herald some 20 years ago.
Now, we all have a shrinking news hole for our print product, most of us are facing budget cuts and if we offered to get out of the way, someone might think that’s a good way to reduce payroll.
So, when Mike Anastasi asked for a management doctor story for the newsletter, I wasn’t sure if there were any words of wisdom that I had that wouldn’t come off sounding too obvious, too dumb, too whatever. After all, we’re all out there trying to do our best.
But there have been several phrases from some of the editors I’ve worked with over the years that have stuck and still have some relevance, although maybe not in the way they were originally intended. I’ll let the authors remain anonymous.
"Let me be quite frank …" I probably heard this way too many times, usually because I might have messed up. I think in today’s climate, it can only help us all if we are open and frank about why we’re doing something, or not doing something. If we can all understand what our goal is, then it’s easier to get everyone rowing in the same direction.
"What’s a layout editor do?" I was never sure what to make of this after having spent the previous day working until 1 a.m. putting out a 30-page Sunday section. But now I find myself asking different versions of that question. I don’t do it to pick on anyone’s role, but if we’re overlooking any inefficiencies or spreading someone to thin, whatever the role, it can only help to know and find ways to rearrange duties to make it smoother.
"Let’s do something real … give me one good story instead of two average ones." This one pretty much stands the test of time. But I think has more importance today. Our space is often too valuable to use it on the 16-inch daily from our pro team on the left tackle. Give us just the notebook one day to work on the better story for the next.
"We may have to be like a real newspaper and let the stories fight it out and only the best get in." Believe it or not, this was uttered one afternoon at the National Sports Daily. It came with the sidebar of "Sometimes smaller papers seem to have better news judgement than larger ones." I can always see that sometimes when larger papers sometimes get locked in on only having staff content on the cover, they can miss the fun or more interesting wire story.
"Let’s make it look like we planned it." We can always be quick on our feet and react to news (or just the unexpected like when one of your two pitchers doesn’t win the Cy Young award.). It’s pretty fun sometimes and makes us remember why we do it.
"Win-win." An excellent negotiating plan when working with some of your high-maintenance types.
"He has a style, it may be an obtuse style, but it’s his style." Sometimes, you have to support some of your more veteran columnists or writers against some overzealous editing.
"That’s why they call it work." Every now and then, there are things that just have to do whether we, or anyone else, likes it or not. It comes with the corollary, "You can do it and like it, or do it and not like it, but you still have to do it."
"Can’t make decisions in a vacuum." Just because it seems like we always put subject x on the cover, doesn’t mean we have to today. That’s one of the exciting things we have in this business. It’s not always black and white.
"Always better to be there." Sure, we can get trapped into trying to do a feature by phone but never underestimate the power of being there to provide that extra detail or nugget that only we can see. It can be what separates us from the bloggers in the basement.
"If it weren’t for newspapers, I’m not sure what TV or radio would put on the air." A noted TV exec with a major sports television network said this a little over 10 years ago. And despite all the hires of newspaper folks by that network, it’s still true more times than not. Let’s not forget that we’ve still got more people on the ground than most TV or radio stations in our markets and we can still set the agenda.
"It will all work out in the end." I have to admit to being the author of this one. I can’t recall exactly where it came from, probably on a day when the planning and the resources weren’t quite going as planned.
But the fun of putting out a sports section is just wait a minute and something can happen … a surprise Cy Young winner, a dramatic goal in overtime for your hockey team, an 80-yard pass on the last play of the game for a high school football game. And we can react and tell the story better than anyone. Still.
