Editorial

Inside The Monument: Professional Development

"If you think training is expensive, try ignorance." Tom Peters

The Monument contributor Jeanne Adams and I attended a pot luck supper at the home of WCSH Channel 6 Kathleen Shannon on Sunday. Attending were other broadcasters from channel 6, broadcast journalist Bob Dyk from WMTW, Irwin Gratz of Maine Public Radio, Jess Kilby formerly of Portland Phoenix and currently of USM's Free Press, among others. The purpose was a seminar sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists with Sig Schutz of PretiFlaherty law firm in Portland. Mr. Schutz is a media lawyer and the topic was reporters and subpoenas, the current climate regarding confidential sources and the changing legal landscape that may impact how reporters go about the business of newsgathering.

I mention this for two reasons. 'Inside The Monument' columns expose the inner workings of this newspaper. As www.journalism.org states, "Journalism's first obligation is to the truth. Democracy depends on citizens having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context…Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information." In that spirit of transparency we occasionally write about what we're doing and what we're thinking behind the scenes.

Second, equal to commitment to the truth is an obligation to you, the citizenry. Writing about transparent journalism methods is no good if we haven't undertaken any professional training in which to practice those methods. Professional development is a given in any career. For example, the Town Managers of Gray and New Gloucester Town spent a few days at the annual Municipal Conference last month. This week Gray Councilor Skip Crane and New Gloucester Selectmen David Lunt are attending a day-long regionalization seminar in Auburn. Professional development is an expected action and an important investment not only for the person attending but for the organization to whom the employee or official is expected to impart their newly acquired knowledge.

I also undertake these professional development opportunities to ensure quality control here at The Monument. If it is expected that professionals regularly undergo training, then it is logical for you to expect your editor to participate in professional courses, that your editor stays connected with the issues of the day, and that your editor spends time networking among colleagues to stay abreast of ethical issues and gain important education from peers in the field. If your editor doesn't, there is something amiss.

The pot luck was one recent seminar we have attended. Over the years, we have had opportunity to participate in several SPJ functions, including a meeting at SALT in Portland with Maine Chief Justice Leigh Saufley regarding cameras in the courtroom, a SPJ/Bloomberg News ethics training in New York City, and we each take annual classes at the New England Press Association's conference in Boston.

At Sunday's gathering, Irwin asked us what upcoming professional development training session topics we would like SPJ to schedule for this program year. The consensus was that we need to get a stronger basis on economic reporting. Reporters are usually great with words but not so great with numbers, and we all felt we could benefit from a session on economics. I know I could. That session will be coming up in December, we hope, and then there's the annual Ethics Week in January. And so it goes.

Lifelong learning is part of our culture. In 1993, the Freedom Forum published a seminal study called "No Train, No Gain." The study documented the universal need for professional development training among journalists. It's not always easy, inexpensive, or convenient to attend seminars and to take time out for day long classes, not to mention traveling to lengthier conferences in Boston or New York. But The Monument is committed to doing a good job, and that means always participating in training that helps us improve in our chosen profession.

As motivational speaker Tom Peters said, "If you think training is expensive, try ignorance." Professional development is important, because nobody likes an unprofessional newspaper.

To respond: editor@monumentnews.com, 657 5353