Hello,
Our paper is interested in screening writers before hiring them. We have tried requesting a writing example with each application, but this hasn't revealed an applicants journalistic aptitude.
How does your paper screen applicants?
- Michael Grabowski
The North Wind
Responses
Stephen, 9/29/2005, 11:24:48 AM
While not a practice for our paper, why not have them interview a member of the staff they've never met before and write an on-the-spot piece about it?
You can gain a lot from their ability to approach questions with unfamiliar faces and how they reflect the subject they cover. Then meet with them and discuss their writing style and how well they handled the assignment.
A lot of local papers do this for potential staff writers.
Michelle, The Oswegonian, 10/21/2005, 1:20:47 AM
How about a writing test? You can administer say a 60 minute writing test for people who want to write. Make up the facts for a story and see what they do with the facts.
I like Stephen's idea too. It's pretty much the same thing, but you can control the facts and stuff.
Jay, 10/23/2005, 12:42:10 PM
I like Stephen's because it means I don't even have to put down my coffee to do it.
Michael Grabowski, 10/23/2005, 6:38:11 PM
I settled on this screening process:
1) Prospective writers edit 15 sentences for spelling, punctuation, grammar, word usage and wordiness. I used sentences from http://www.copydesk.com/guidelines.htm.
2) I took an old story from our paper and inserted inconsistencies, as well as mistakes in spelling, punctuation, grammar and accuracy. Prospective writers have to clean up the story.
The goal of these two exercises is to gauge a writer’s ability to eliminate verbosity and spot inconsistencies and inaccuracies. We want careful reporters. Hopefully this process will screen out the rest.
If you're interested in the screening materials, contact me at editor@thenorthwind.org.
Michael Grabowski
The North Wind
Northern Michigan University
CK, 10/24/2005, 2:22:35 AM
I'm from the school of it-never-hurts-to-have-as-many-on-staff-as-possible.
Therefore, on a writer's first story, we make sure there is adequate time to do it, and then we have a trifecta of editors (the section ed., the copy desk chief, and the EIC) look it over.
Trial by fire, yes, but extremely effective in separating the hardy from the hardly.
Regards,
CK
