Reuters’ DC bureau launches speed team

Tim Ahmann, Reuters economics editor in Washington, and Karey Van Hall, interim Washington bureau chief for Reuters, sent out the following message:

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the Washington bureau’s new Speed Team effective tomorrow. In this first phase, we are focusing on improving our monitoring capacity and our speed in launching and developing major breaking news.

To meet our mission, Emily Stephenson and Lisa Lambert are being brought on for nine months to join the members of the current Breaking News Team to create our new Speed Team. Both Emily and Lisa bring sharp news judgment, a proven ability to move quickly with breaking news and a deep comfort with social media and new technologies. Once the team is up and running, we will evaluate whether further expansion is needed.

Building on the current BNT structure, we are putting in place two fully equipped slot desks that will be staffed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The slot reporters will act as the bureau’s eyes and ears with a mandate to monitor news sources actively and move with speed to launch breaking stories. During those hours, the desk can be reached at 898-8322. The phones will be switched after hours so callers would reach a Reuters’ editing desk 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

We have asked Emily and Peter Cooney to serve as shift leaders to direct our offense when major stories break and to ensure robust plans are in place for monitoring and snapping set news events. While we will add Emily and Lisa to the schedule beginning this week, we do not anticipate changing any of the BNT shifts that are currently scheduled through the week of Feb. 15.

The Speed Team will have three primary duties: snapping/monitoring, launching coverage when major news breaks, and editing Reuters America service copy. It will also have some trunk-writing duties.

To help the team operate more effectively, we will be restructuring the fourth floor seating plan within a few weeks so that team members can sit together in the center of the newsroom. We hope to be able to communicate any new seating assignments in the next week or two, and will aim to minimize any disruptions.

Improving our speed and monitoring is a top Reuters’ priority, but this new team is only one part of the effort our bureau needs to make. It is the responsibility of every reporter and editor to think ahead and follow best practices when it comes to speed. When you see something, say something. Don’t assume someone else is handling it. Tim Ahmann will be overseeing the bureau’s speed efforts, and you will be hearing a lot more about this in the weeks ahead.

As part of this focus, we are launching a monthly $2500 “Snapper of the Month” award to recognize reporters, filers and news assistants who have gone that extra step to give our subscribers one more reason never to think of shifting to the competition.