Training is More Important Than Ever

One response by newspapers to these tough economic times has been to cut training budgets, an act I consider self-defeating.

But you may think me biased, so don’t take my word for it. Instead, with apologies to David Letterman, I offer the Top 10 reasons why training is more important now than ever.

10. Training boosts morale. Staff members feel better and more motivated about working at your paper if you show your belief that they can improve.

9. Training emphasizes priorities. In a dollar-strapped newspaper, the needs of the current staff can be directed toward specific training.

8. Training is cheap – certainly cheaper than recruiting and hiring. Whatever the budget crunch your newsroom is facing, eliminating your training budget isn’t going to solve it. Also, if your request to attend a seminar has been turned down, consider paying your own way. If you itemize your taxes, it’s deductible.

7. Training is a stimulant, while eliminating training can enforce mediocrity.

6. Training helps keep pace with a changing business. You need to stay on top of new developments in order to stay competitive.

5. Training develops teamwork. If you’ve got fewer copy editors than you’re used to, a refresher course on headlines and cutlines can help the existing team zero in on the essentials and work together more efficiently.

4. Training shares the good habits on your staff and reinforces your best work. If you can only send one person to a workshop have him or her lead a session for the other staffers when they return.

3. Training brings in money. Focused training can pay for itself many times over by raising morale, boosting efficiency, and maintaining high standards.

2. Training treats your staff like professionals. People who believe they are valued enough for you to invest in developing their skills might stay with your newspaper a little while longer.

And the No. 1 reason why training is more important now than ever: Training helps maintain and improve quality and productivity.

From the copy desk to the classified sales desk, newspapers are asking staff members to do more with less. Without improved training, that’s almost a guarantee of declining quality. Readers notice declining quality, and that leads to declining circulation. And that leads to declining revenue.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess I didn’t think up this list on my own. The bulk of it was suggested by writing coaches Steve Butry and Rosalie Stemer, with embellishments by other newsroom trainers from around the country.

Williams is the Virginia Press Association’s professional development director. Reprinted from Virginia’s Press.