Life is interesting. I started my journalism career in the 1970's, as a student. I roamed the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus shooting my own video stories for the local CBS affiliate. (My segment in WISC-TV's news was called "What's New at the U?") The camera was heavy as a bowling ball. The film had to be processed, then spliced and glued, before it could air on the 6pm news.

Three decades later, I've been roaming the halls of the RTNDA convention in Las Vegas, once again recording my stories. But this time the camera fits in the palm of my hand. I can record my own "standup" on the webcam built into my MacBook and then edit it on my own machine. I can post quickly to the web.

For me, the digital learning curve was sharp. It took me a while to become comfortable, if not yet fully proficient at the technical side of digital reporting. But for today's college students, it's like breathing. They are bringing a 24/7, give-it-a-try, digital mindset to their journalism.

But they want and need coaching on their reporting, writing and storytelling skills. That's the challenge for today's newsroom leaders. How to put the best of the millennial generation's skills to work -- while growing those that need honing.

Millennials are different. Some managers say they're more difficult and demanding. I'll share some advice for you - both in this video report and some resources that follow it. Let's go to the videotape:


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I've had interesting conversations with managers who would prefer to moan about millennials than manage them. They want to talk about how hard THEY worked, how tyrannical their bosses might have been, their low pay and lousy hours -- and how they accepted it unquestioningly. These Gen Y kids keep questioning. What's wrong with them?

To understand why they do, why they're not YOU (but may be the kids you raised), I suggest you read the great cover story Stacey wrote for the RTNDA Communicator last fall on Millennials. It is well-researched and very practical. You could also take a look at "Boomer Bosses, Meet Your New Employees," which I wrote for Poynter.org.

Correction:  Boy, would I be in trouble in Stacey's class. in the video, I misspoke when talking about the name of the station.  The call letters are KOMU-TV. And I knew that!  Here's a link to its website.

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