AR&D Reinventing Local Media

It’s holiday season, and it’s time to think about giving. I’m going to suggest a list of five gifts you give your staff. Before you end reading right there, please be assured I’m not going to come up with anything that costs you money. The presents all represent the Gift of Change. As we go into 2010, change is the best present you can give your staff.

1. The Gift of Experimentation: Too often we hear about stations where “it” can’t be done because of various policies. “It” can be lots of things – trying new collaborative sites online, experimenting with new tools of the trade or using their own tech to contribute. Have a contest for the best experimental idea, and give a day off to the winner.

2. The Gift of a Scissors for Red Tape: I worked with a client whose policy was simple – “If someone in the company says it can’t be done, you come directly to me.” Inevitably, he got it done. Be that person or identify that person. You will hear lots of reasons why something new can’t be done. Chances are it can — especially if some other company is doing it already.

3. The Gift of Social Leadership: Nothing says “let’s be using social media” like doing it yourself. We hear a lot of talk about stations’ needs for rules around social media, but the best way to establish the rules is to set the tone yourself. Bonus: you’ll really like doing this and you’ll connect with your audience. (Double Bonus: You’ll find an old friend you actually want to hear from.)

4. The Gift of Fewer and Shorter Meetings: In our book “Live. Local. BROKEN News,” we found that, by far, the most time wasted in newsrooms was in meetings. There are a number of books on how to hold efficient meetings. Pick one up at the library and set some ground rules. Shave just ten minutes off a meeting and you’re saving real money.

5. The Gift of Training: Terry and I have been pounding on this like it was a Christmas walnut. You have got to train your people more. This doesn’t have to cost much. Bring in a local journalism professor to talk about writing. Hell – you’re smart enough – put together a few sessions yourself and put on that old, dusty journalist hat of yours. Get someone from the Web to hold a seminar on what they are up to and how their colleagues can help. Find the people who can truly educate and inform. That, after all, is what we do for a living.