To determine how journalists at two metropolitan newspapers view good writing and writing coaches, questionnaires were distributed to all full-time newsroom personnel (including journalists and editors) involved in preparation of news at two large dailies under the same ownership in the same city, in July, 1986. The total number of respondents was 125, half responding from the morning paper, and half from the evening paper (an overall response rate of 66%). The papers did not employ internal writing coaches but on occasion brought in an outside coach. Findings indicated that many journalists at both newspapers felt their papers had a strong commitment to good writing. Most of the respondents said their writing had been praised, if infrequently. However, journalists perceived little evidence of rewriting or willingness to experiment with writing at their papers. The major contributors to good writing in the newsroom were seen as experienced/motivated reporters and good editor-reporter rapport. One-half of the reporters said editors are more likely to hurt writing than to help it. Newsroom procedures and deadline pressures were identified as the greatest obstacles to good writing. The vast majority of journalists felt that a writing coach could make a more in favor of coaches than were their colleagues on the morning paper, and reporters were more supportive of the idea than were editors. (Twenty-nine notes and six tables of data are attached.) (ARH)