I'll be mentoring a couple of college students at the Online News Association conference (link?) this week here in D.C. One is Morgan Young, a senior at West Virginia University and secretary of WVU's chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (link?). The other is Paula Echevarria, a graduate student at the University of Miami and originally from Spain.

I've already started working with them but I'll use this as an opportunity to list a few things that I have heard myself saying out loud. Not to Morgan or Paula per se, but to many people during much of this year.  Each suggestion on the list was often predicated by my exclaiming the phrase, "C'mon man!"

To wit:

1.  If you have been offered funding for your project, don't wait for them to call you for financial specifics. You call them, immediately.  You do want the money right?

2.  If someone asks you for some information that is vital to your project, respond in a timely manner.  Have it there "yesterday."

3.  Please have someone else look at your work before submitting it.  Make sure that person someone whom you respect and will listen to.

4.  Spell check the name of the recipients of any of your correspondence.

5.  Upon first formal reference, do not call me "Doug."  That is my name but I haven't given you permission to use it yet.

6.  If you truly don't know something, admit it, and find out the answer to get back to them in a couple hours.  Not days or weeks.

7.  Be enthusiastic. Be passionate.  Both are highly contagious.

8.  If you are building a team, mix extroverts and introverts.  And don't think less of people who do not like public speaking.

9.  Ask people how to say their name and try to pronounce it.  Also, ask people which name do they prefer that you use.

10. Let others speak while you listen.

I'm not a huge fan of Top Ten lists.  My family is "southern" and we teach life and work lessons by telling (sometimes long-winded) stories first and then making the point. You may have noticed that in this blog.

If you are at ONA this week.  Look for me.  No lectures will be offered but thoughtful conversation will be guaranteed.

*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog