Grit. By far, this quality drives performance.
While talent, creativity, curiosity and skill are critical needs in any org, grit sets people apart. Grit is perseverance and passion to get the job done, face challenges, overcome setbacks, and chase down tough stories.
You need people with grit — because they just won’t quit.
CoreBeliefs
Purpose
A great news org shares the same qualities as a best friend. Smarts to learn and share what a reader needs to know today. Courage to tell uncomfortable truths. Desire to help those in need. Ability to produce delight and laughter on occasion. Discipline to act with consistency and intention. And the humility to fess up when mistakes are made.
News
Local news serves a vital role in knitting the fabric of a community together, reminding us of our connections and responsibilities to the neighborhoods, schools and businesses we share with our neighbors. I believe in agenda-setting public service coverage, well-told stories about the extraordinary struggles of ordinary people, news and features that make a difference in people’s lives, reporting that exposes injustice and rights wrongs, and commentary that provokes thought. And in our fast-paced, competitive world, we must be “on the spot” with the info people need right now.
Talent
Every teammate deserves training, actionable feedback, encouragement, coaching, simple systems, and clear goals. I consider myself a coach. Everything flows from this mindset. I've always believed in the "teaching newsroom." I value grit, curiosity, and the ability to write a helluva story over fancy credentials. I believe we should each strive to be a little bit better than we were the day before.
Metrics
You can't manage what you don't measure, but metrics alone don't tell a full story, only part of a story. I look at data the way a doctor examines an array of test results. With context, data can help us diagnose health or weakness in people, tactics and strategy. Realtime and long-view data must be shared and discussed up and down the org so everyone understands how success is achieved and where we see opportunities for improvement.
Results
Inspect what you expect. When people know you're watching, they know you care.
