Miller speaks on diversity, leadership and The Dallas Morning News

The Dallas Morning News delivers daily reports on a wide array of stories, covering anything from the Metroplex hustle and bustle to neighborhood concerns. Headed by focused leaders and maintaining an all-encompassing attitude, the newspaper is a strong competitor in the media industry. With the constant change of demographics in the United States, it is the job of media outlets like The Dallas Morning News to recognize, adapt and provide inclusive coverage.

“It’s important to understand what consumers and advertisers want. From a business standpoint, you need diversity of thought to help you capitalize on those opportunities,” said Evelyn Henry Miller, Dallas Morning News executive vice president. “Inclusiveness has long been one of the company’s core values, as a recognition that the unique contributions of a diverse talent pool not only maximizes the potential of all of the employees - but as research has shown - those companies that are successful in this regard experience better financial performance in the long run.”

Miller continued, “The diversity at The News has resulted in a variety of viewpoints that have been instrumental in our approach to providing news and information to our audience and which has been beneficial in crafting ‘go-tomarket’ strategies.”

Miller joined The Dallas Morning News f i v e years ago and since has served as both an executive figure and an on-hand mentor. Her responsibilities include those of the chief financial off i c e r, as well as overseeing accounting, finance, strategic planning, human resources and many of the c o m p a n y ’s administrative functions. She is also responsible for the Denton Record - C h ro n i c l e , a subsidiary of T h e Dallas Morning News’ p a r e n t c o m p a n y, A. H. Belo Corporation.

According to Miller, the most prevalent challenge facing the newspaper business today is the changing habits in how individuals consume news and information, which has negatively impacted the newspaper business model.

“Many consumers now get their news online,” Miller explained. “While we have a viable online component, the transition to the Internet-centric model does not correlate one-to-one from the perspective of revenue generation. Compounding this effect is the fact the expense model has historically had a high fixed-cost base.”

S t i l l, DMN has been “one of the more progressive newspapers in the nation in innovation.” Miller believes future success will be centered on three key components: relentless innovation, mutually beneficial alliances and effective cost-management.

“It’s like that cliché, ‘You cannot save your way into prosperity,’” she said. “Innovation and revenue growth are vital.”

Although Miller has already worked her way through most of the thicket, she feels a strong calling to help others find their paths.

“It’s critically important for others to help people along their journey,” she said. “It just comes naturally for me.”

The executive vice president offers her support to others both inside and outside the company. As an African-American woman, she finds that people of various ethnicities and age groups seek her guidance, particularly many women.

“Even in 2008, many women are still trying to find their place in the corporate arena. I try to help them craft their personal visions for success,” Miller said, and defined her leadership style as having the ability to motivate others toward the visualized goal and articulating the reasoning behind it.

Miller also stressed the importance of recognizing the contribution once a job has been executed and added that “compartmentalizing is key” for her personal leadership, as it helps her focus and manage her time purposefully. She said that helping lead the company in a challenging arena brings out the best in her but admitted it’s not for everyone.

“I’ve always been in roles that are challenging and I thrive in that environment. There are challenges you have to execute your way out of and I came in knowing this was a challenging industry,” she said.

And a challenging industry it is - with news consumption shifting from print to the Internet, newspapers have been struggling to stay ahead of the game. Miller said the DMN is working toward a model for the transition, but there will still be some bumps along the way.

“Our biggest challenge is trying to transition while maintaining our core,” she said while also emphasizing the importance of focusing on the next critical steps and performing them well.

But even with the transition, changes and evolution of the industry, there is one thing that remains a constant for Miller: her personal standards and approach to life.

“I bring my A-game every day and maintain a positive but pragmatic outlook,” she said.

Looking into the future of the media industry, Miller said companies will naturally gravitate toward their core competencies. And while she emphasized the need to capitalize on those competencies, she feels that diversity will remain an important factor for future media success, citing an inclusive, resilient workforce as a mechanism for providing a more precise marketing strategy based on current and projected demographics.

Her piece of advice for future media industry leaders is simple: “Focus, innovate and execute!”

Up Close with Evelyn Henry Miller

The last book I read was: I read the Bible  regularly, so technically, that was the last book I  read - besides that, The Okinawa Program.

My favorite business role model is:

Sarah Breedlove Walker

The five people I most admire are:

Jesus Christ My mother, B. Ruth Henry Gaines Nelson Mandela My daughter, Evan Miller All those from whom I learned a great deal along the way

My source of strength is: my faith.

Most people don’t know I: love to dance.

My proudest moments are: every time my daughter achieves a new milestone.

I am happiest when: I am with my family and friends, especially when we are traveling to some exotic place.

My favorite expression or quote is: “Do not live life in a hurry; be here now; get in your own lane and run your best race.”