Lee Wolverton, 55
Vice President of News and Executive Editor, HD Media, LLC, Charleston, W.VA.
First job in news:
Sportswriter, Beaver County Times, Beaver, Pa.
What are some of the most important lessons you have learned while working in news?
The most important lesson has been understanding that the pursuit of truth isn’t just fundamental to the work of journalism but also to leading people. Robert Caro said, “What is a great reporter? Someone who never stops trying to get as close to the truth as possible.” That’s the mission.
Understanding that gets rid of the things that hurt us and make us look like bigger fools than we naturally are already. Because I am pursuing truth, I must admit when I’m wrong, which is more often than I’d like. It’s what we do when we make a mistake in our work. We correct errors promptly. We face it. That discipline is important because the sting of getting it wrong is such that we don’t want to feel it again. Admitting wrongs as part of pursuing truth as a leader helps me get it right the next time, and it blocks the egoism to which I am inclined and which prevents me from growing.
I’ve also learned how important having fun and sharing laughter is to our work. My laughs with reporters and editors are among my most treasured memories and a favorite part of my day.
When you reflect on your career to date, what brings you the greatest sense of accomplishment?
First, seeing so many people with whom I’ve worked doing so well.
One of my best reporters, Katy Evans, is now an editor at the Washington Post. Elliott Robinson, an assistant city editor at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, is the news director for VPM in Richmond, Virginia. Tony Gonzalez, another former reporter, is an editor at NPR in Nashville. His best friend, Chase Purdy, who also worked for me, has written a book. The list goes on. Our people here at HD Media have done great things and will do more.
Their accomplishments aren’t mine, but I feel a deep sense of accomplishment in their success. Helping people fulfill their potential is ultimately why editors are here.
Second, I am gratified by the leadership shown by HD Media in filing an antitrust claim against Google and Facebook. Doug Reynolds, our company owner, determined to pursue this course after he and I talked in my office last year. Many of us in this business, including our former publisher, have talked about this problem for years. Doug listened and acted.
This claim can be a salvation for our industry. We’ve been locked out of digital advertising’s skyrocketing growth. This could change that. What could be bigger?
What are your predictions for where news publishing/news media is heading?
I predict trouble if we don’t break the duopoly of Google and Facebook and if we don’t get our fair share of the billions of dollars in digital advertising that are going to a few companies while thousands of us scramble for crumbs.
If we don’t stand up and fight, and that means in the courtroom, rather than relying on help from Congress, our business is headed for ruin. If you think otherwise, look at the Pew Research Center data on advertising revenue and tell me I’m wrong. I’m not. We must fight.
If we do and win, we can be stronger than ever.
We must be fully digital. But we must remember, digital isn’t counter to journalism. Journalism works. Great reporting and great writing work. The analytics prove this. The Washington Post, New York Times and Wall
Street Journal excel at these things and have more digital subscriptions than anybody. Great stories are great business.