Mark Armstrong, the editor of Nieman Storyboard, interviewed Bloomberg News senior editor Ken Armstrong about the importance of storytelling in writing.
Here is an excerpt:
Embracing the role of editor and coach (but not manager)
The one condition I asked when I took a job at Bloomberg was that I not be a manager. I would be terrible at it. I’d be unhappy. I don’t want to supervise anyone. I want to work with people on stories… It changes the dynamic. It changes the relationship. I’ve spent almost the entirety of my career as a reporter, so it’s very easy for me to relate to what reporters are going through because I’ve been there many times.
You’ve probably talked with other reporters on the podcast who tell you what a head-spinning experience it is. There are few things that are more likely to bring out every kind of anxiety that we have than doing investigative reporting in the form of long-form storytelling, right?
We question everything. Is this still a story? Why did I ever start this? Why did I go into journalism? Why didn’t I go into architecture? What am I doing? Will this ever end? All of those questions come into play, and since I’ve had all those questions, I think it’s just easier for me to relate to what reporters are going through at particular points in the process and perhaps help encourage, support, whatever might be needed at any given time.
And it’s easier to do that if you’re not the supervisor, but you’re a colleague.
To listen, go here.
