Warren Watson is director of the J-Ideas high school initiative at Ball State University, Muncie, Ind.

GLENN PROCTOR AIMS FOR PERFECTION in his role as vice president and executive editor of the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch, a position he has held since November 2005.

He admits, however, that perfection is unattainable. “But being very good is worth achieving,” he told The American Editor. “With my name at the top (of the masthead), that’s what I want. I am very proud of our hard-working and dedicated staff.”

His mantra for the T-D newsroom: “Get It First, Get It Right, Make It Matter.”

Previously, Proctor was an associate editor at The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J. He was also the newspaper’s assistant managing editor/local news and city editor.

Before joining the Ledger, Proctor was assistant managing editor/metro at the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat & Chronicle, night metro editor and business editor at The Louisville Courier-Journal and a suburban reporter, business reporter and night metro editor at the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal. He was also a reporter and city editor at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa.

At the Beacon Journal, Proctor was part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987 for coverage of the Goodyear takeover. He was a Pulitzer juror in 2006, 2001 and 2000.

Proctor also worked as a press secretary for former U.S. Rep. Dan Mica of Florida.

A frequent speaker around the country on journalism careers, management and motivation, Proctor is a national board member of the Oakland-based Maynard Institute of Journalism Education. He also serves on the national advisory boards of the Kent State University School of Journalism and the American Press Institute. He previously served on the board of the Associated Press Managing Editors.

As a Marine and Vietnam veteran, Proctor spent six years on active duty and six years as a reservist, leaving the Corps as a gunnery sergeant.

His activities include reading and writing poetry, playing basketball and staying active. When he has time, he works on several dusty manuscripts.

Q. As an editor of a metro daily in a fast-growing region, you deal with changing needs of changing readers. Explain the changes you face and how you cope.

A. I don't fear the changes as much as I accept the challenges. If I stopped to worry about how to cope, I wouldn't be doing the job. We have to change and most newspapers, I believe, we have accepted the challenge. The key is to talk to readers — face-to-face, on the phone and in e-mail. Ask them want they want and then deliver the best print and online products possible.”

Before I started at the Times-Dispatch, I reviewed local research as well as my knowledge of the Northwestern Readership Institute study.

Shortly after my arrival a year ago, we established News Roundtable, an ongoing public forum about how we cover the news, as well as having dozens of "visits" with readers at my office and outside the building. The roundtables have been a good vehicle for readers to tell us specifically what they like and don't like about our coverage. With many of our staff members as panelists or in the audience, the message is direct and unfiltered. And, the news leadership team attends a lot of events and we invite readers, students and foreign visitors to our news meetings.

Q. How does today's editor deal with tightening staffs and budgets?

A. In a reorganization meeting with the entire staff last month, I was asked about filling vacancies and this was my response: "When my editors can guarantee that every single staffer is performing at 80 percent to 100 percent, then they can talk to me about staffing." In short, do the best with what you have, use the resources wisely and don't whine about staffing levels. And, put some good people in place to help me manage the message.

Q. Why did you decide on journalism as a career, and why would you promote it for others?

A. Initially, it was to focus on stories which would help change racial and social attitudes and perceptions. Once I became a bit seasoned, I loved seeing my name in the paper, getting kudos for good work and doing something different every day. After becoming an editor, there was no turning back.

It's a great career, especially now. Journalism is changing quickly and we need journalists with wide-ranging skill sets — online literacy, multimedia training, foreign language skills and open minds. In the future, newsrooms will be hiring more journalists with specializations such as architecture, law, demography, science, politics, genetics and others.

Q. What skills does the journalist of tomorrow need to possess?

A. World and cultural understanding, unlimited technology skills, creativity and an open mind.

Q. How important is diversity to an editor today?

A. Very important. To cover America's diverse communities, we need a better understanding of various cultures, races and religions. But not only racial diversity, but gender, age and mindset. Every news organization should somehow reflect the demographics of its audience.

Q. Many believe that popular attitudes toward the First Amendment and openness in government have weakened. Why should we care about the First Amendment and governing in the sunshine?

A. I don't believe the attitude toward the First Amendment has weakened so much as I think it is less of a discussion topic today. I don't believe it's a focal point in schools and universities, except for history and political science majors and journalism programs. For journalists, it's remains the crux of our mission statement and something which allows us to practice our craft with less encumbrance and protection.

Attempts will continue to silence the press and make less information available to us, but we must continue to fight in our legislatures and courts. It remains incumbent upon us to not only be strong watchdogs of government, but to explain — in concise terms — to readers and online viewers what officials are doing with the dollars and authority with which they have been entrusted. Make government stories worth reading with fewer words and more visual points and numbers.

Q. How can editors of today attract the very best and brightest into the profession?

A. Sell the craft in middle school, high school and the early years of college. Editors need to tell students about their experiences, good and bad, and how journalism can help shape and change public opinion. Invite student and faculty groups into your newsroom and visit their schools and show them examples of journalists — of all colors, ages and gender — who have excelled.

Q. Explain your personal outreach efforts with readers in your circulation area?

A. I've made it a personal mission to meet as many folks — leaders and regular folks alike — in the Richmond area during my first year. That as well as the News Roundtable forums, inviting folks to our news meetings and to meet our news team as well as communicating with dozens of readers weekly via phone and e-mail.

Q. Is it important for an editor to be active in the community?

A. It's extremely important. It's the best way to reach readers, put a face with the newspaper and extinguish the impression that journalists are aloof from their readers and viewers.

Q. How is being an executive editor different from all the positions you've held?

A. I'm honored to be a top editor. I've had a number of good senior-level positions, but this one has my name at the top. I am very proud of our hard-working and dedicated staff, but I take it personal when we have not done our best in that day's newspaper. I take responsibility for every item of news content in the Times-Dispatch. When it's good, I take a minute to smile and thank others and when it's bad — the slightest typographical error, bad cutline or confusing headline or story lead — I take it personal. Not for long, but long enough. Perfection is unattainable, but being very good is worth achieving. With my name at the top, that's what I want. I'm in charge and I take full responsibility for the work we produce. That's the difference.

Q. What are your newsroom priorities for the next five years and your plan for achieving them?

A. Become a multimedia information machine, grow print circulation and online viewership, become a much better community watchdog and help train and prepare levels of editors and journalists for their next opportunities.

To get there takes a plan, strategy and execution. And, a team that wants to WIN.

Q. As we move deeper into the information/ digital age, what will be the future of the printed newspapers?

A. Printed newspapers will be around for a while - at least another 100 years - but their structure, content and look will be different. There will be more tabloids of different sizes — even down to comic book size — and less of the standard - news, metro, business, sports — chronological sections as well as more citizen-generated content. The key to survival is to complement the electronic and the printed information, which means the printed information will be more graphic tidbits and fewer text packages. Although, I believe "good" compelling stories about people and tales of government abuse will still be mainstays of the printed product.

Q. If you were to compare your newspaper to an automobile (make, year and model), what might it be? And why?

A. A '57 Chevrolet, garaged and well-kept, but in need of a serious tune-up and an engine upgrade. The tune-up and the engine overhaul is underway, a full makeover is planned in the spring and the car-hungry audience waits for the reworked vehicle to hit the street.

Q. If you had it to do again, would you still seek a career in journalism?

A. Absolutely. *