It's important for leaders to give feedback to staff. Feedback is a sticking-point in many newsrooms. Get visual leaders to talk frankly about their anxieties, and giving feedback is often chief among them. Let's look at the design director's assumptions in reverse order.
Feedback is important.
The organization has a stake in my creative growth. Let's look at the example of Esther, a feature page designer. Esther's job involves different skills, which she no doubt has in different measures. She'll know also that the organization is looking for her to improve as an art director, time manager and collaborator. She knows where she stands.