Visual Editors
Visual Editors, NFP was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2004.
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John Zhu
Maestro
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 275
Location: Durham, NC
Posted:
Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:51 pm
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Instead of just pitching the alternative form as something that's good for the paper or the readers, try to sell it to the editors and writers as something that's good for them too. Think about it: If you're a writer who's constantly dealing with byline counts, ungrateful readers, and cheap-ass management, you're likely to be more receptive to a suggestion if it's presented as being a benefit to you rather than just a benefit to the a-hole reader who just called with a moronic complaint or the newspaper that just announced that your health benefits are getting trimmed.
For example: Alternative story forms often mean less text than a traditional narrative story. You can point it out to the writers that this means less work for them, and if they are just writing small blocks of text, they don't have to spend as much time worrying about lede, transition, etc. Or pitch it to them as: "This can save you from having to spend the time to write 17 inches and then having a third of it cut for space reasons. It's less work for you, and more of what you write gets in." And it saves the copy desk from having to spend the time to cut it down. I know, this approach isn't exactly dripping with high journalistic ideals, but I've found that it has gotten the job done for me in some cases. And once the writers and editors see that these alternative story forms can work, they're more likely to be receptive to future suggestions.
_________________
Let this be a lesson to you: Never Try. |
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