How to survive in a newsroom

Understand the newsroom hierarchy and

nuances

• Copy editors v. reporters

• Sports v. hard news• Pay attention to the

personalities and who does what

• Get to know everyone

Find a mentor (or mentors)

• Ask for advice• Listen to old war stories (and smile)• Stay in touch

Be good at your job

• A well-edited story is a work of art• The best copy editors are the ones with

questions.• Study grammar as a matter of habit

– http://www.newsroom101.com/– Sign up for Grammar Girl e-mails

• Become a journophile– The history: The Paper and “All the Presidents Men”– The here and now: trade news (RSS feeds) -- Romenesko

• Become an expert in something• Become invaluable and use your summer wisely

Be ethical

• Use your instincts• Be skeptical• Don’t be in a hurry – take a

breath and avoid the pressure to go to press

• Know the code• Be aware of sticky areas

• Police items• Unidentified sources• Accuracy in headlines• Verify, verify, verify• Plagiarism• Photographs

Have a great attitude

• Come to work with story ideas – show initiative

• Don’t complain or whine in public• Be enthusiastic at all times• Earn a nickname

Enjoy!

• No better job in world• Rejoice in the idiosyncrasies of the

newsroom personalities• Laugh a lot• Camaraderie• Newsroom as a refuge

• michellehassler.wordpress.com