While editor-in-chief at at Emap (now Bauer) and as a freelance consultant, I have often worked directly with struggling or inexperienced teams, sitting next to the editor and getting deeply involved in the magazine or newspaper-making process. From a publishing point of view, this has several benefits:
– Assessment of the editorial staff’s skills and potential
– Direct and immediate improvement of the editorial
– Systems introduced to ensure improvements remain after I leave
– Editor’s management of team improved by intensive coaching
With clear objectives and measures for my period on the title, this can be a cost-effective way of dramatically improving a struggling title.