E-Mail Misunderstandings and Newspaper Next

I call your attention to Jill Geisler's column, "E-Mail Misunderstandings." She includes this advice on writing e-mails when you're angry: "If you care enough about something to stand up for it, then care enough to speak with someone personally - and come prepared to listen as well as speak. E-mail arguments only complicate and escalate a bad situation." I would add this: Your e-mail will last a lot longer than your anger." And, if you should happen to use a bad choice of words in a face-to-face conversation, the offended party cannot show the rest of the world what a jerk you are as quickly by word of mouth as by hitting the forward button.

Also, if you aren't familiar with API's Newspaper Next project, I encourage you to learn about it, especially if you are discouraged about our business. This is one of the most encouraging signs I've seen in a while. At the Newspaper Next Symposium earlier this month, I wrote about the theme of the first day, doing the job for the reader, and about an important point of the second day, adjusting and learning instead of following our gut feelings.

And consider this one more appeal to share with the new editors at out New Editors' Survival Guide seminar some of your valuable lessons from your early days as an editor. I won't repeat the pitch here, just link you to the last one:

I will, however, repeat my pitch that if you have a new editor on your staff, this seminar would be a valuable experience. For too long this industry has relied on training new editors by immersion.

I will be taking a brief break from passing along tips. I have surgery tomorrow and then will be recovering in the hospital and at home for at least a couple weeks.