Beat the Clock

Darrel Adams works "24 hours a day, 365 days a year." As executive editor and news director for Waterman Broadcasting, he oversees TV news production for both ABC-7 and NBC-2. His cell phone and e-mail allow him to stay in constant contact with the station, and he manages his time by "dealing with things immediately," he says. "Make sure you return phone calls immediately and stay on top of e-mails."

The news never stops-and neither does Adams. Days are filled with watching the news on two stations and staying up to date on what is happening. "A new computer program will allow me to watch the on-air product anywhere I can sign onto a computer," he says. "In the past eight years, I have been out of contact with the station three times when I went out of the country." When he is on vacation in the United States, he always stays in touch.

His priorities are making sure ABC-7 and NBC-2 provide "fair and balanced coverage," and handling staff members' issues by providing them with resources and feedback. Although he spends time dealing with staff groups, he says, "I wish I had more time to focus on helping individuals on my staff grow."

His least favorite duties are "dealing with budgets and negotiating with vendors, because it takes me out of covering the news," he says. He also responds to viewers, works on stories with reporters, meets with media partners, and develops reliable information sources.

Adams has served on the boards of several community organizations in the past couple of years but is currently taking a break. "I'm making sure I'm comfortable with my job responsibilities before serving on another board." He adds, "I spend time volunteering and serving on boards for the period of time they can use my expertise, and then I move on."

Adams' trick to save time: "Hire the right people in the positions you rely on in the company, [who] want to take responsibility and who can point to things they have accomplished as individuals."

-Kristen Poppenhouse