Toward Creativity Management: Idea Generation and Newsroom Meetings

Abstract

This study combines theories of creativity with an empirical examination of newsroom practices at a Finnish newspaper. The focus is especially on newsrooms meetings, the “morning meeting,” and a special idea-generation meeting. The method used is participant observation and discourse analysis. Research indicates that (a) trust and encouragement, (b) appropriate levels of challenge and resources, (c) variety, in general and especially in team composition, together with (d) the idea that freedom and autonomy at work can have a direct, positive effect on organizational creativity. The empirical results reveal the many sides of creativity. Based on the data, creativity at ordinary newsroom meetings is rather limited, but not extraneous. Idea development occurs at meetings, but idea generation mostly takes place outside of formal meetings. Many meetings are limited to discussing what other news media have already covered. Ideas based on reporters’ personal experiences are infrequent. Occasionally, it seems to be more important to demonstrate your knowledge, rather than acquiring it by asking open-minded questions. Detailed analysis of communicative practices can provide a more solid understanding of the complexities of creativity in various media settings.