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Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 7/8/2008 7:18:33 AM
Title: Tampa Tribune reorganization memo
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
Structure:
The Interactive Newsroom is built on the organizational principles of collaboration, self-direction and expertise. This is a flatter organization than the one we have now, one that relies less on bosses telling people what to do and more on personal responsibility.

The structure looks like this:

News Leadership – the three managers at the top of the organizational chart who share responsibility for the newsroom’s operation, while maintaining strict responsibility for each platform. Members are the managing editor/print, the managing editor/online and the news director/television.

Audience Editors – the advocates for the audience and the group responsible for setting daily coverage priorities, ensuring that both quality and quantity standards are met. This group reports as a unit to the news leadership group.

News Circles – the units where news is produced. Each group is composed of reporters, editors, television and online producers and visual journalists who are working to create the stories we’ll use across all platforms. Reporters receive their story assignments from within these groups, and the front-line editing occurs here. Photographers work within these groups, and the first cut at photo and video selection occurs here. The managers in this unit get performance feedback from the audience editors and the news leadership, as well as their direct reports.

Finishing Circles – the units where content is made ready for publication, broadcast and posting. These groups are responsible for melding the knowledge of audience with an understanding of what the audience expects from print, television and the Website. The finishing circles act as advocates for the individual platforms. The managers in this group get performance feedback from the audience editors and the news leadership.


Job roles and responsibilities

News Leadership
· Managing Editor/Online
· Managing Editor/Print
· News Director/Television

These leaders have a common job description and shared responsibility for the mission of the news department:

· Oversight of content. The news leadership sets standards for the journalism, both day to day and over the longer term. The leadership reviews and critiques performance and sets specific goals for improvement. Each leader immerses himself in audience information for his particular platform, and also develops a strong understanding of what moves audience on the other platforms. The leaders work together to set coverage priorities and allocate all resources based on that knowledge.
· Budget and personnel oversight. The news leadership is responsible for the financial budget of the newsgathering operation. The leadership negotiates contracts with vendors, services and news personnel. The news leadership monitors issues of job performance among the journalists and works with human resources on personnel matters.
· Leading innovation. The news leadership is focused on innovation – in technology, in technique and in learning and training for the staff. The leadership advocates for investment in the technology and tools the newsroom needs to compete effectively. The leadership develops ongoing learning programs to keep the staff current in the best thinking about how to serve audience needs.
· Liaison to other departments. The news leaders work with the leaders of other departments to solve problems and think creatively about the best way to position the entire company to focus first on audience.
· The public face of the newsroom. The news leaders serve as the public face of the newsroom to the community and the industry. The news leaders resolve audience complaints and concerns, reach out to underserved communities, and share our best practices with the larger industry./CONTINUED

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