Since joining Poynter in 2005, Butch has had the chance to share with hundreds of journalists the wisdom he first heard from a Wharton professor back in 1994 -- when most newsrooms hadn't heard of the Web. "From this day on," the professor told the seminar on managing change, "you will find nothing in your professional lives but white water." Helping journalists cope -- maybe even thrive -- in times of constant change has become the common aspiration of Butch's seminars.
Middle managers, here’s an early holiday gift suggestion for you, one you can give yourself.
Go get some clarity. You really need it — more than books, sweaters or even that new iPad mini.
Your need struck me (again) earlier … Read more
Looking back on the lessons of the 2012 campaign season, we clearly learned two things about polls:
You’ve just been assigned the job you’ve always wanted (or dreaded). Congratulations — you’re an editor. So what now?
Chances are, you’ve talked with your boss about your areas of responsibility, staff members who will help you carry out your … Read more
In his new memoir, “46 Frogs: Tales of a Serial Prankster,” former Poynter president Jim Naughton recalls how Doug Campbell, a member of The Philadelphia Inquirer’s crack night city desk, became an unlikely newsroom celebrity when he created … Read more
Hundreds of books have been written about how to save time. Fact is, saving time is not the leader’s goal — effectiveness is the objective. And we can become more effective if we make better choices about the way we … Read more
At some point this July 4 weekend, someone with a microphone will give a speech. Thank you, Thomas Jefferson. Thank you, Founding Fathers. Thank you for the Declaration that guaranteed freedom for us all.
And with that, we once again … Read more
During this week’s educator chat, Poynter’s Butch Ward and Barbara Nixon, assistant professor of communication arts at Georgia Southern University discussed journalism and its values, public relations and the relationship between the two professions.
You can revisit this link at … Read more
More than eight years have passed since I left the Dark Side and joined, well, the Dark Side.
Isn’t it interesting how people in journalism and public relations refer to one another in the same endearing way?
Truth is, I … Read more
Last week, we said goodbye to six of our colleagues here at Poynter. All elected to accept Poynter’s early retirement package of severance pay, extended medical benefits and career counseling in exchange for their jobs.
In her column last week on “The Private Hell of Managers,” my colleague Jill Geisler wrote of the emotional toll that laying off staff takes on many newsroom leaders.
I’ve heard plenty of those stories in my conversations … Read more