Tools and behaviors of a MoJo
A MoJo in another part of the country gave Amy Dominello some well-considered advice for her new assignment.
1) Be fearless. You're starting something new at your paper and your editors will really have no idea what you should be doing. Most of them started in the biz with typewriters. Start talking about wireless cards, multimedia, etc. and they will think you are a super genius (or slightly crazy). You'll find that you will succeed much more often than you will fail and people will forgive the failings. They won't expect you to be a world-class videographer overnight. Ed. note: We already think Amy is slightly crazy.
2) Be fast. Get the basic facts up ASAP and then fill in detail later. I often write a lede and post it. Then I might update the online story 6-10 times, adding information, photos, audio, links, etc. Then I rewrite it for the next day's paper. You want your website to be the place people go for breaking news. You want them to know you'll have it up as fast as your local TV stations and that your information will be the most reliable/complete.
3) Be flexible. As noted above, most of the editors there won't really understand what you're doing. They have ideas about what reporters do, and it will take them some time to figure out you're a platypus -- part reporter, part photographer, part copy editor, part web guru. Expect them to try to pull you away from the Web to write for the paper. They'll see you as an available body. Try to find a good advocate to shield you from some of this if you can. You'll want to use your "down time" (when you get it) to work on mastering your photo/video/multimedia skills and to work on those projects. Don't let it get you down, though, if you get pulled in a hundred different directions. It's going to happen.
4) Be understanding. Other reporters may feel a bit threatened when you jump into stories on their beats. I make communicating with my colleagues here a top priority. It's important that they aren't surprised by what I'm writing. I also remind them that if I'm writing the breaking news story for the Web, they have that much more time to focus on writing the "second-day" story for the paper. It's a real benefit for the readers. They get something right away and a much more advanced story the next day. You'll also be surprised by how often your colleagues are just relieved to get a little help. Editors may not like the idea of you posting copy directly to the Web without their once-over. Speed is essential, so it's much better to get it up and let them edit after the fact. I hope that isn't a problem for you. And (I know it's a surprise) some journalists still don't see the value of online journalism. You probably won't be able to convince them. Don't worry about that.
5) Have fun. You're on the cutting edge of this business. Revel in it. Take lots of photos and video. Create audio slideshows. Post online quizzes. Take chances.
6) Learn code. You are going to want to be able to post stories, photos, links, documents, etc. directly to your site. Knowing some code is going to be essential.
One last word on equipment. You said you have wireless, but you MUST get a Verizon card for you computer if you don't already have one. That way you're not reliant on finding a wireless signal. You'll be able to get online anywhere you can get a cell signal. Also, it's imperative that you be able to post directly to your site from the field. You don't want to have a story and photo sitting there because you can't find an editor to transfer it from e-mail to the Web.