Good editors need to develop skills to understand the diverse needs of reporters. Missteps often occur when they assume all reporters desire the same editing approach. Editors must build trust and connect with their reporters, recognizing that effective support varies between individuals. Early-career editors often limit their roles to editing copy rather than nurturing talent and story development. Building strong relationships is fundamental for editors to empower their reporters effectively and foster a collaborative environment that strengthens journalism as a whole.
"One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was assuming that everyone wanted to be edited the same way I did," said Kathleen McGrory, an editor for The New York Times' Local Investigations Fellowship. "When I was a reporter, I liked to have my editor in the trenches with me. And when I turned in a first draft, I would be disappointed if the editor didn't rip it up. As it turns out, some reporters feel quite differently. While some want to talk multiple times per day, others need time to digest what they're learning in the field. Reporters have different styles, strengths and needs. Part of the job of the editor is to figure out what kind of support will help empower each individual reporter to do his or her best work."
"Definitely one of mine was thinking, early on, that my job was just to fix copy," said Maria Carrillo, who retired as a projects and enterprise editor from the Tampa Bay Times. "I didn't understand the larger role I could - and should - play in nurturing talent and developing stronger stories. As a reporter, my relationships with editors had been transactional and mostly back-end conversations."
"I now know that you have to build trust and demonstrate that you have the reporter's best interests in mind," said Tom Huang, assistant managing editor for journalism initiatives at The Dallas Morning News. "Focusing solely on the editing part of the job can hinder the overall relationship and development of the reporter's capabilities."
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