former reporter and writing coach starts Web-based mentoring program

For those aspiring to a higher level of news writing or reporting, there’s a new option for journalism tutoring—one that’s entirely Web-based and free of public criticism. Writing and reporting coach John Wicklein recently launched his latest project in the news world: a Web site that provides written feedback for journalists and one-on-one copyediting advice for editors.

For a fee, interested writers may submit seven articles for review and editing. They receive back a marked-up copy of their work with a detailed evaluation of their work as a whole. After reviewing the edits, writers have the opportunity for a one-hour phone consultation to discuss the suggestions and ask questions. To save space, time and paper, all work and feedback must be submitted and mailed electronically.

Why should we care what Mr. Wicklein has to say? His resume says it all. Over the years, Wicklein has worked in a host of positions, from editing and reporting for the New York Times and the Washington Post to writing and producing film documentaries for television news. He is also the creator of the Frontline news program and has plenty of experience coaching and mentoring writers. Wicklein has taught journalism at the university level, as a professor at Columbia University and as dean of Communications at Boston University. Throughout his lengthy career, Wicklein has published more than 2 million words in various papers and journals. But the content of his writing is of even more interest than the sheer volume of his work.

Wicklein, who currently lives in Exeter, was working as a copyeditor for the New York Times when he decided he was ready to get back into reporting again. “The editor decided that we needed to start covering the sermon/church beat with a more political perspective,” he explained in a recent phone interview. “I did a lot of work in the civil rights movement covering the work of denominations and churches, and in that time I got to know Martin Luther King Jr. pretty well through my reporting.” 

Wicklein covered King’s actions consistently until the time of the assassination. “When Martin Luther King was about to start his Poor People’s Campaign, I called him and I asked if I could keep a camera with him during it.” King agreed, and Wicklein traveled south to take a bunch of pictures at the start of the campaign, leaving one reporter and cameraman behind to follow King on his tour. “I had one writer down there who would call me every once in a while,” said Wicklein. “This reporter, Joe Louw, was actually on the balcony when King was shot.”

Wicklein also covered the Kennedy election, which he remembers as some of the most interesting reporting he’s ever done. “In 1960, the Kennedy election turned on the anti-Catholic issue in that campaign, and (the editor) said we had to cover it. I got to do some trend stories about which way the election was leaning,” he said. He recalls his acquaintances during this time with an ease that must only come with experience. “I interviewed Jack Kennedy and I got to know Bobby pretty well,” he said.

After a highly successful career, Wicklein’s interests have gone from being in the field to coaching those who aspire to be in the field. Since moving to Exeter in March 2006, he has kept up his freelance work for the Atlantic Monthly and some journalism reviews. He took up the coaching project to impart his knowledge to papers that are becoming less and less capable of providing instruction for their employees.

“Newspapers are being pressured by Wall Street to make bigger and bigger profits, and they’re cutting back on expenses and cutting staff. This is an inexpensive, alternative way to have reporters coached,” said Wicklein, who is still waiting to see how the idea will pan out. He’s never tried anything over the Internet before, and he admits that he doesn’t have “the foggiest how it will go.” But Wicklein’s hopes are high, and he could very well help usher in a new generation of ambitious journalists. More information is available at www.wickleinwritingcoach.com.