Sullivan Shares Her Vision
for "Indispensable" Newspaper

By Sue Schulman

In her first staff meeting since being named managing editor, Margaret M. Sullivan laid out a vision for the future that challenges The News to be a great paper - but probably without additional staff.

Newsroom staff packed into the first floor auditorium heard Sullivan offer assurances that she's interested in in-depth, hard news coverage, and is not, as some have feared, intending to transform the front page of The News into fluff and features.

"Please know that I do not want to turn The News into USA Today Lite, or to make the front page into a haven for feature stories," Sullivan said.

What she wants, Sullivan said, is a paper that strives for excellence, is indispensable to readers, and emphasizes local coverage.

"What is the thing that will make us indispensable," she said. "The answer seems clear. The best possible local news, local analysis, local arts and entertainment coverage, local sports, local commentary. So that's where the emphasis is going to be."

For the short term, Sullivan said, she plans to focus on the front page, on which she wants to feature a great local story every day.

As an incentive to the staff, Sullivan said that, starting Feb. 1, and extending for a 3-month period, the News will offer a $100 award each week for the best piece of local enterprise.

Also, in response to staff requests for ongoing training and inspiration, the News will be starting monthly sessions featuring visiting experts.

Following Sullivan's remarks, she opened the floor to questions, many of which focused on staffing, and content of the paper.

Staff size, she said, is not likely to increase, although Sullivan and Editor and Senior Vice President Murray B. Light said they are dedicated to increasing minority representation on the staff, and that exceptions to the hiring limit can be made for minorities.

Light said the failure to have a more diverse staff is one of the disappointments of his tenure. Sullivan said many of the interns being hired this summer are minorities. She hopes they will provide a pool of minority applicants for full-time jobs in the future.

The continued resistance to expand the staff left many in the room frustrated, wondering how much more The News was going to try to squeeze out of a staff that is already stretched too thin.

Several reporters in the audience spoke about The News' commitment to meeting coverage, offering varying views. Some suggested it might make more sense to place less emphasis on meetings, and redirect the staff toward more hard-hitting stories .

Others felt meeting coverage is a necessity and often leads to interesting follow stories. Sullivan was asked her view on the issue. She said she has not yet fully considered it. Light, however, spoke up, and said Buffalo News readers continuously let him know they want more news on their local governments and communities.

He said the News currently covers about 100 meetings a week, and that emphasis will not change.

Following the session, reaction to Sullivan's meeting was mixed. The new managing editor was generally praised for recognizing staff concerns about the direction she plans to take the newspaper, as well as her stated commitment to excellence.