Common-sense tips for everyone

Here are some tips for anyone looking to apply some common sense to their journalism.

Swallow your pride. Get ready to be edited. Help editors polish your work.

Tell the story the right way. Match the approach to the story.

Simple ideas make great stories.

Tackle a project. Tackle a series. Your portfolio needs it, and so does the paper.

Tell us if you are part of the story.

Admit any conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

Greet visitors. Answer the phone.

You never know how you might be blessed with a great story.

Be considerate of your colleagues.

Pick up after yourself, and keep the personal drama in check.

It’s human to jump to conclusions. But journalists should try not to. Even management decisions aren’t as black-and-white as you might think.

Before you reply to that flaming e-mail, take some time — an hour, a night — before you pull the trigger. Remember, you’re the mature one.

Remember who pays the way. Appreciate the advertising staff, and patronize our advertisers.

Suggest ideas for other departments.

Feel free to disagree. But when you do, suggest a constructive option.

Read our paper.

Read the adviser’s critiques. Ask for translations. Then challenge them.

Consume news from elsewhere.

The New York Times and National Public Radio capture the pulse of the nation.

Recruit for the paper. Secure your worthy successor.

If big news breaks, call the newsroom. Better yet, go to the newsroom.

Meet deadlines.

Break campus news first.

Outshine your predecessors.

Leave the place better than you found it.