Behind the scenes
St. Paul Pioneer Press Editor Mike Burbach explains the ins and outs of his position
By Jasmine Johnson
Mike Burbach leaned back in his black swivel office chair, resting his feet on the edge of the desk and clasping both hands behind his neck. He gazed out the window at the St. Paul skyline as he searched his mind for the words to describe his life as an editor. He wasn’t planning to study journalism until his professor saw that gift in him and encouraged him to pursue it. Now, Burbach is the Editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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Q: What does a typical work day look like?
A: I start by checking the website, newspaper, email and Twitter in the morning. Then I do any necessary follow-ups from that. I check on analytics and make rounds with staff. I poke around on the opinion pages, hold afternoon meetings and talk with circulation people about immediate needs and long-term goals. I talk with the ads, marketing and sales departments to see what they’re up to. I have not been to every afternoon news meeting because I want them to do it. I take phone calls about opinion submissions and chat with five to 10 of the newsroom staff. I have strategic resource conversations with Mike Decaire and Phil Pina. There’s only so much a person can do, so you have to make the most of what you’re good at. I’m better at working the room. I focus on staying in touch with readers and colleagues, making decisions and advancing the cause.
Q: What do you enjoy about being an editor? What are the role’s challenges?
A: I’m working all the time, but not every minute. These jobs can take everything you have, but you get to decide. You have to impose balance on yourself by necessity and desire. The less reliant the organization is on me, the better. I enjoy early talks with the interns, sharing in the benefit of learning. You get to find stuff out. I enjoy being responsible for people who figure things out, seeing someone’s mom be happy because of a story and finding the value in public systems. It’s amazing how much opportunity there is, but some of it comes in rough packaging. Life is dynamic, people are people and each person is messy. Ten years of fast shrinking has been hard logistically and emotionally. Another challenge is being as strategic and humane as possible. All decisions are arguable, so I have to be able to provide reasoning for everything. Dealing with customers who say they’re getting less but paying more is difficult because they’re right.
Q: What has your career path been before this?
A: I took a reporting class because I was interested, and the professor encouraged me to do the student newspaper. I took on both the assistant and head editor positions there. I worked at the Grand Forks Herald as a copy editor and got to work for its magazine. Later, I was an editor in Minot, North Dakota. When I moved to Detroit, I was a line editor in a bigger newsroom. I took the same position in Columbus, Georgia. The publisher emphasized responsibility and opportunity in that position. I went to Akron, Ohio, and became managing editor at the local paper. I taught a newsroom management class at the University of Akron about how every conversation is strategic in communicating your values and operations. I got a call about an editorial position at the Pioneer Press. I spent another five years here before I received a promotion to head the company.
Q: What advice would you give to students interested in becoming an editor?
A: Find what you’re good at and do that. Know your goals and be able to articulate how you plan to get there. It involves intention and clear vision. How high you rise depends on how you handle stress. Sometimes the things that are the best don’t come at you in a straight line and take a good dose of humility.
Q: What drives you?
A: I look into the abyss and can’t help but be grateful. All great religions have principles of gratitude. Do actions and feelings will follow. The business is rough, but the work is good and worth it. This place has been through worse times, and I can’t know how tomorrow’s going to be. I try to be relentlessly positive, seeing both the risks and advantages. My starting point is an attitude of abundance. We thought resources were scarce with 230 people in the newsroom. Now, we have 40. I want to take care of it with the belief that there’s something better on the other side.
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Burbach has seen ups and downs within his editing career, but it’s his mindset that keeps him getting up in the morning.
