THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2008
Managing Investigative Reporters
Has anyone ever asked you how you like to be managed? It takes a confident leader to ask such a question, because it presumes a few things:
- The employee actually has a say
- The employee's response won't be so self-serving that it will harm others
- The boss will respond in a way that benefits everyone
With a foundation of trust, managers can have that kind of conversation. They won't supervise others based on their own work habits or preferences. They'll customize their management to get the best from each person.
When does a boss ask a question like this? Some may ask it when interviewing job candidates. Some might do it after after a blowup. Or after they find staffers editor-shopping stories, hopes or concerns to other managers.
I'm betting many managers don't ask at all, because it seems awkward or because they fear they won't know how to handle the reply.
That's why I'm doing the asking for you. I'll ask "how do you like to be managed?" from time to time in this blog, especially of journalists who are really good at what they do. The ones you wouldn't want to find out love everything about the job
except their relationship with you.
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Today, I'm asking a top investigative reporter.
Anyone who has managed an I-Team or even a solo investigator knows the challenges. The more important the reporting, the greater the likelihood of creative tension along the way. Mistakes can damage the lives of subjects and the integrity and fiscal health of the news organization. This can lead to a rich stew of tension points. Secrecy. Trust. Timing. Sourcing. Probing for hidden agendas. Budgets. Critical thinking. Ethical decisions.
How do investigative reporters like to be managed? I asked
Bob Segall, of
WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. He's won a wall full of awards for the kind of reporting that makes an impact -- from investigating pervasive bullying in schools to faulty tornado sirens in communities, to lax security in the disposal of patient prescription records. He likes his work and workplace. In a 2007 interview for
TVWeek.com, he said:
"There just aren't a lot of TV stations around the country that have the type of commitment that WTHR does to investigative journalism, which is why I wanted to come here," Mr. Segall said. "The time and resources that our investigative unit is given, to not just find investigations but to then report those stories in a way that makes a difference in the community -- it's a wonderful place to be. We're very blessed."
Let's hear Bob describe how he prefers to be managed:
