Getting a jump on the followup story

Colin Barr of Fortune magazine followed Ken Lewis’s retirement announcement on Wednesday with a story about Lewis’s potential retirement pay.

It starts:

"Ken Lewis doesn't have a golden parachute, but he's all set for a comfortable landing -- unlike his long-suffering shareholders.
The Bank of America chief executive officer said Wednesday he'll step aside at year-end after eight years at the helm. Based on the company's most recent proxy statement, he will have $53 million in pension benefits waiting for him when he leaves."

Today’s Tip: Start thinking about the follow up story when you’re working on the big news story.

Other news outlets wrote about possible successors as well as the legal battles that lay ahead for Lewis and Bank of America.

By focusing on retirement income, Colin provided a unique perspective on the CEO’s departure. He found the data using proxy statements.

More:
Keep your eyes out for proxy statements, by Rosland Gammon

Proxy Digging, by Chris Roush