I don't pretend to know the best way to make a newspaper function, but I think it's a bright thing that the Chicago Tribune, what with all the financial stresses, has hired Louise Kiernan (clips here, here and here) as a writing coach.
Here's the (exclusive?) memo.
Dear Colleagues:
We are delighted to announce that Louise Kiernan will become a senior editor of the newspaper overseeing staff writing development, an important new position that underscores our deep commitment to compelling storytelling and powerful journalism at the Chicago Tribune.
As a result of conversations with a number of our journalists, including those who have been leading the Craftworks initiative, we have been looking around the country for the best possible person to fill this role. We found that we have that person right here in our newsroom in Louise, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and polished editor.
Louise is a writer of exceptional grace and skill and a highly effective teacher. She is widely admired and respected by her colleagues in the newsroom and among journalists around the country.
Her wide-ranging responsibilities will include serving as a writing coach, occasional projects editor and all-around journalistic mentor for staff members from across the newsroom and features. Louise will act as an editing resource for colleagues on both the fourth and fifth floors, working closely with editors in each department and staff members spearheading our Craftworks program to foster excellent writing in every section of the newspaper. Over the coming months, as she moves into this new role, Louise will be working to strike the right balance between group and individual tutoring.
Even in her new job, Louise's byline will continue to grace the pages of the newspaper via occasional special reporting projects. She will report jointly to the managing editors for news and features and will assume her new responsibilities on October 1.
By assuming this position, Louise greatly helps us foster the kind of vivid writing and granular reporting that will distinguish and differentiate the Tribune. Please join us in congratulating Louise on her exciting new assignment.
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