http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach Just another Freedom Forum Diversity Institute weblog Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:43:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Dear Coach, Some readers in our conservative community don’t like it when we publish certain stories, particularly about race and sexual orientation. Is there a danger in feeding your readers stories many don’t want to see? How do you weigh that against keeping people in your community informed? --Too Much News Dear ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/09/01/close-minded-customers/ Dear Coach, There’s a great reporter in my newsroom whose work I really respect. However, I haven’t developed a relationship with him. He’s fairly busy and somewhat serious, and we have barely spoken two words to one another. I would like to shadow him and seek advice. How can I approach ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/08/12/finding-a-mentor/ Dear Coach, My internship experience isn't what I expected it to be. I'm working in an isolated closet-like office down the hall from everyone and I share it with a part-time reporter. It's my third week and I haven't produced anything original. My paper might be coming up for sale. Things are ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/07/27/just-show-up/ Dear Coach, This is a weird one. Before my internship, a reporter at the paper, whom I know from school, made arrangements to have her editor (and her) meet me for lunch. I got the time wrong. I showed up at 1:30, instead of 12:30. They were just finishing. The editor ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/07/13/late-for-lunch/ Dear Coach, I sometimes leave key information out of a story. Not essential information, or anything that would make the story inaccurate, but things that, in retrospect, would increase reader understanding. Is there a checklist for making sure a story is “complete?” -- Forgetful Dear Forgetful, The fact that you are being ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/06/17/two-tips-for-writing-a-%e2%80%98complete%e2%80%99-story/ Dear Coach, I am in a graduate school program that is unrelated to journalism. My fear: That I will lose touch with the news business and won’t have any clips to show hiring editors when I graduate. How can I keep my hand in journalism while in school so that ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/05/27/grad-school-crunch/ Dear Coach, I feel depressed, disenchanted, disengaged. I am questioning whether I should stay in journalism. My newsroom is half the size it was a year ago. My editors are so overwhelmed they can’t give reporters feedback. We’re doing zero innovation. We’re just treading water. The truth is I feel trapped. ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/04/07/depressed-disenchanted-and-doubting/ Dear Coach, I find that many reporters, both in print and TV, put opinion into their stories. One story will say Jones “fell and broke a bone” while another will say he “skipped along.” The reader is left to determine the truth. You also see this on TV with two pundits facing off. ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2010/03/18/searching-for-truth/ Dear Coach, I've just been hired as an entry reporter, but I also want to explore other facets of the job such as photography, multimedia, design, etc. What's the best way to approach your editor about working in those areas? Should you offer to do some work on the side ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2009/09/16/more-multimedia/ Dear Coach, I got an angry letter from a reader saying I was insensitive for printing a quote that used the word “retarded” to mean “idiotic.” The quote came from a 16-year-old girl who was describing the actions of a competing volleyball team. Her quote ended with “The whole thing was ... http://freedomforumdiversity.org/ask-the-coach/2009/08/13/use-of-quote-prompts-angry-letter/