The Language of Coaching

Having trouble finding just the right words when coaching a reporter. These commonsense tips can help guide editors through the reporting, writing, and editing process.

PHASE 1: Assigning the Story
• What are you interested in working on?
• Tell me your ideas.
• That sounds like an interesting idea. How much time do you think you'll need and how can I help get you going?
• How do you plan to approach this story?

PHASE 2: During Reporting
• What happened?
• What did it look like? Help me visualize that.
• How's it going?
• Tell me what you're learning.

PHASE 3: Before the First Draft
• What is the story about?
• What is the point of the story? Have you found your focus?
• What does the reader need to know about this?
• Who is the reader of this piece?
• What's the news here?
• What's the one thing you want your readers to remember?
• What's your best quote?
• What did it look like?

PHASE 4: At Delivery of Draft
• How do YOU feel about the story?
• What is working and what needs work?

PHASE 5: After Reading the Draft
• Give an overall comment, being specific.
• Say, "I have some suggestions on how you can make your story better. Let's sit down and go over them together."

PHASE 6: After Publication
• Provide feedback -- and BE SPECIFIC
Example 1. The lead worked well because you avoided the temptation to use an anecdote but got right to the point with a single, snappy sentence.

Example 2. I liked your overall story concept, but the nut graph just didn't work hard enough. A couple more sharp and focused sentences would have helped the reader navigate your long and complex story a lot more easily.

-- Margie Lundstrom is a senior editor, columnist, and writing coach at the Sacramento Bee. This tip was adapted from materials presented at The Poynter Institute's High Performance Management seminar in Oakland, Calif., April 2-7, 2000.