Feedback

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In his lecture, Morganfield stressed the importance of understanding the value of feedback both on an internal and external level. Here are the major points he shared:

1. Get in tune with how you respond to feedback/criticism. This is important because what someone is saying and what you are hearing could be distorted based on your personal experience. One student admitted to me that any time I critiqued her work, she was reliving some of the criticism she had experienced from her father as a child.

2. Feedback is never personal. This obviously is up to the editor, but feedback should never be personal; it should be about the story. Some editors will praise something when it comes from one reporter and reject it when it comes from another. Be careful not to let personal biases creep into your editing.

3. Feedback is necessary. You’re here to learn; feedback is always intended to be constructive and help you improve, since we aim for the highest standard.

4. Let go.  It’s not your baby; it’s your work. It’s a shared ordeal.

5. Critique yourself.  Ask how you feel about what you’ve done and what you might do differently or additionally if time permitted (but don’t attack or belittle yourself or make excuses).

6. Be open to the ideas of others. The best feedback always starts here. Most editors get so busy talking that they don’t ever stop to listen. Editors should begin by asking the reporter how he or she feels about what has been submitted. This allows him or her to see where they might be connecting and where they might be missing each other. The editors then respectfully offer their perspective — not as law but as a means for moving the story forward.

7. Compare and clarify. Study the changes that are made in your story and compare the final product to the original. Seek clarity about points that you have questions about (each experience should help you get just that much better if you learn from what transpired).

8. Debate is OK. Editors are not always right; they just have the ultimate responsibility for decision-making. But pick your battles; learn to hear before you speak (as I said, this works both ways).

9. Get used to it. Feedback is a daily part of life as a reporter, whether it’s coming to you directly or indirectly. It comes from peers, from supervisors, from readers, from sources. You need to develop an ear to hear, and a thick skin, because it can sometimes be nasty. Also maintain a beginner’s mind, because it’s all about learning. If taken properly, you grow and get better at what you do and all parties involved benefit. Remember this is your career, your signature; you want to be proud of what you do, and so do those with whom you work.

10. Grow with the flow. Remember most editors won’t hold what you don’t know against you until you have had an opportunity to learn it. To not be the greatest – from the start – is not a crime. It’s only after you’ve had time and opportunity that the expectation changes.