Broadcast editorialists have 'signed' for years.To sign or not to sign editorials. Not much of an issue for those who broadcast editorials, since for them, there is no place to hide. But after writing newspaper editorials anonymously many years ago, and spending more than a few years broadcasting them, I think it is valuable to identify editorial writers with the work they do. Sign the editorials. First, those people in the know - public officials, academics, business and civic group leaders - generally know who writes what on the editorial pages of their newspaper. It's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have in the nature of their work to know who does what on editorial boards, as it is with the often-savvy PR people who work with them. The only people left to puzzle “Puzzle solving” redirects here. For the concept in Thomas Kuhn's philosophy of science, see normal science. A puzzle is a problem or enigma that challenges ingenuity. about who is who in the editorial "we" is the reader. I think we make a mistake leaving readers in the dark about who is responsible for writing editorials, when so many in leadership positions are in the know. Yes, it makes life more complicated for the writer. Those who do this work on television realize that recognition is double-edged dou·ble-edged adj. 1. Having two cutting edges: a double-edged blade. 2. a. Effective or capable of being interpreted in two ways: double-edged praise. , and have learned to be wary when a stranger says: "Aren't aren't Contraction of are not. See Usage Note at ain't. aren't are not aren't be you the guy . . .?" Still, being recognized as an editorial writer does raise similar questions, as for those who toil anonymously. Yes, you still have to explain how editorial boards are composed, how they sift through issues and form an agenda, and that writers have to collaborate with someone who has the final say, someone who acts as chief editorial writer or exercises that authority as delegated by top management. But when people know who writes the editorials, they can connect with a real, fallible fal·li·ble adj. 1. Capable of making an error: Humans are only fallible. 2. Tending or likely to be erroneous: fallible hypotheses. , and accountable human being. By signing editorials, I think, we stand a good chance of demystifying the editorial writing function in news media. Public disclosure. We (whoever "we" are) should be for that. Why not let your readers know what community leaders already know: Who writes what. NCEW NCEW National Conference of Editorial Writers member Peter Kohler Kohler, village (1990 pop. 1,817), Sheboygan co., E Wis., on the Sheboygan River; inc. 1912. The Kohler plumbing-fixtures plant there, which still produces its famous stainless-steel products, has been the scene of some of the longest and most bitter labor disputes is director of editorial services for Cablevision Systems Corporation in Woodbury, N.Y. |
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