This handout accompanies a training session and slides of the same name taught by Chris Coates at Illinois NewsTrain. He is the executive editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and former Central Illinois editor for Lee Enterprises. For more information on the News Leaders Association's NewsTrain, see https://www.newsleaders.org/newstrain.

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How to do more enterprise reporting
while still feeding the daily beast
Chris Coates | @ByChrisCoates | chris.coates@lee.net
Eliminate the “muddy middle”
● Audit lengths of high- and low-performing stories; challenge anything in the “muddy middle.”
● Analyze audience data to decide which kinds of material to scale back or eliminate.
● Make a list of items you can stop doing.
● Create a list of enterprise-story ideas with high-engagement potential.
Planning big projects
• Use the right language; avoid “investigation,” which can stifle brainstorming.
• Be as flexible as you can with run dates; stuff happens.
• Have “big-idea” pitch sessions.
• Think beyond text and plan visuals early. Consider these questions in planning enterprise
stories.
• Have refresher courses for staff on content-management systems, video, data visualization, etc.
For more tips, click to see: