Comments on: Time to stop the unsigned editorial http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/ Media and news from the original river city Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:21:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: A Knight in Dragonland » Daily Times Dresses Down Both Mangan & 108 Board http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-103693 A Knight in Dragonland » Daily Times Dresses Down Both Mangan & 108 Board Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:33:24 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-103693 [...] editorial entitled “Consolidation controversy arises again.” I have to agree with Bill Dennis regarding unsigned editorials in the mainstream media … I’m not a fan. At a paper as small as the Daily Times, it [...] [...] editorial entitled “Consolidation controversy arises again.” I have to agree with Bill Dennis regarding unsigned editorials in the mainstream media … I’m not a fan. At a paper as small as the Daily Times, it [...]

]]> By: Billy Dennis http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-75382 Billy Dennis Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:00:18 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-75382 Rick: Thanks for writing a second time. Apology accepted. 'Nuff said. Anyway, on the subject of unsigned edits in newspapers: We'll have to agree to disagree on that subject. I just do not see any upside to "group-written" opinion that is somehow supposed to represent the opinion of the entire organization. It's an attempt to make the thoughts of a few people seem more thoughtful and weighty then they really deserve to be. How can the Journal Star or the Pekin Daily Times say THIS particular set of words represent the opinion of the organization? Did they take a poll of employees? Stockholders? Remember what it was like as a reporter when the edit page rattled off some nonsense that seemed to be based on someone's reporting othe than your own? I guarantee your own reporters at least occasionally roll their eyes at what appears on your edit page. Why not stop it and try something a bit more transparent? Rick: Thanks for writing a second time. Apology accepted. ‘Nuff said.

Anyway, on the subject of unsigned edits in newspapers: We’ll have to agree to disagree on that subject. I just do not see any upside to “group-written” opinion that is somehow supposed to represent the opinion of the entire organization. It’s an attempt to make the thoughts of a few people seem more thoughtful and weighty then they really deserve to be. How can the Journal Star or the Pekin Daily Times say THIS particular set of words represent the opinion of the organization? Did they take a poll of employees? Stockholders? Remember what it was like as a reporter when the edit page rattled off some nonsense that seemed to be based on someone’s reporting othe than your own? I guarantee your own reporters at least occasionally roll their eyes at what appears on your edit page.

Why not stop it and try something a bit more transparent?

]]> By: rick http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-75374 rick Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:40:23 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-75374 I stand by what I said. Anyone, employees, Jim Mangan, Don White, citizens -- with the exception of cowardly anonymous bloggers -- are welcome to respond. I print every letter, especially those that begin with "I know you won't print this, but ..." I would even print a letter from YOU, since you obviously have the guts to put your name on your opinions. That's bravery. That's taking responsibility. As for civility, i do apologize for taking a personal cheap shot at you. That was wrong. Mea culpa. Newspapers that ignore the "new media" will likely fail. Those that embrace it will survive and thrive. We here at the Times don't allow our personal grudges take control of our editorial. That's what columns are for, here at least. I think our lively letters to the editor section, including guest commentaries we call "special to the Times" are proof of that. In fact, we have started a blogging feature on our web site, which we hope to expand in the future to include reporters and editors, with their names attached. I stand by what I said. Anyone, employees, Jim Mangan, Don White, citizens — with the exception of cowardly anonymous bloggers — are welcome to respond. I print every letter, especially those that begin with “I know you won’t print this, but …” I would even print a letter from YOU, since you obviously have the guts to put your name on your opinions. That’s bravery. That’s taking responsibility. As for civility, i do apologize for taking a personal cheap shot at you. That was wrong. Mea culpa. Newspapers that ignore the “new media” will likely fail. Those that embrace it will survive and thrive. We here at the Times don’t allow our personal grudges take control of our editorial. That’s what columns are for, here at least. I think our lively letters to the editor section, including guest commentaries we call “special to the Times” are proof of that. In fact, we have started a blogging feature on our web site, which we hope to expand in the future to include reporters and editors, with their names attached.

]]> By: Billy Dennis http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-75247 Billy Dennis Thu, 11 Jan 2007 03:57:55 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-75247 Out of all the newspaper jobs I've had, there's been at least one or two that I walked away from rather than the other way around. But thanks for being so interested in my career, Rick. Anyway, I know enough about the "collaborative effort" of writing newspaper editorials to know that no matter what the editorial board says, sometimes the words that appear don't express the opinions of ANYONE on the editorial board. Perhaps the Pekin Daily Times is a rare exception. If so, kudos to you. What the public increasingly objects to is the lack of transparancy the main stream media demonstrates. The shell game newspapers play with having unsigned editorials written (maybe) by one of a handful of people whose names are on the masthead just isn't working anymore. Here in Peoria, we know there are members of that editorial board with personal grudges to settle. And it's a crock to try to present the majority opinion of a handful of select writers as the opinion of an entire organization. You might also want to check out some of my recent posts on civility, as well. Thanks for your input! Out of all the newspaper jobs I’ve had, there’s been at least one or two that I walked away from rather than the other way around. But thanks for being so interested in my career, Rick.

Anyway, I know enough about the “collaborative effort” of writing newspaper editorials to know that no matter what the editorial board says, sometimes the words that appear don’t express the opinions of ANYONE on the editorial board. Perhaps the Pekin Daily Times is a rare exception. If so, kudos to you.

What the public increasingly objects to is the lack of transparancy the main stream media demonstrates. The shell game newspapers play with having unsigned editorials written (maybe) by one of a handful of people whose names are on the masthead just isn’t working anymore. Here in Peoria, we know there are members of that editorial board with personal grudges to settle.

And it’s a crock to try to present the majority opinion of a handful of select writers as the opinion of an entire organization.

You might also want to check out some of my recent posts on civility, as well.

Thanks for your input!

]]> By: rick http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-75229 rick Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:41:19 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-75229 Unsigned editorials are not really unsigned. They are the work of the editorial board, whose names are listed on the opinion page right where anyone but a lazy blogger can see. At the Daily Times, anyway, editorials are a collaborative effort, with each member of the editorial board having input. I find it amusing that Mr. Dennis, who could never keep a job at a legitimate news organization to save his fat ass (just ask somebody at the Peoria Times-Observer), would be such an expert on newsroom culture. Unsigned editorials are not really unsigned. They are the work of the editorial board, whose names are listed on the opinion page right where anyone but a lazy blogger can see. At the Daily Times, anyway, editorials are a collaborative effort, with each member of the editorial board having input. I find it amusing that Mr. Dennis, who could never keep a job at a legitimate news organization to save his fat ass (just ask somebody at the Peoria Times-Observer), would be such an expert on newsroom culture.

]]> By: Don’t waste your vote on Topinka or Blagojevich » Peoria Pundit http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-44110 Don’t waste your vote on Topinka or Blagojevich » Peoria Pundit Mon, 23 Oct 2006 00:12:58 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-44110 [...] Well, I have news for the nameless gnome who penned this editorial: Topinka isn’t going to be the next governor, either. She’s run what may be the most unenthusiastic campaign I’ve seen in years. For months, she’s let Blago define her as a tool of George Ryan and she hasn’t really fought back. The conservative wing of her own party hasn’t helped, as they seems to be sitting this one out because one of their own didn’t get the nomination. [...] [...] Well, I have news for the nameless gnome who penned this editorial: Topinka isn’t going to be the next governor, either. She’s run what may be the most unenthusiastic campaign I’ve seen in years. For months, she’s let Blago define her as a tool of George Ryan and she hasn’t really fought back. The conservative wing of her own party hasn’t helped, as they seems to be sitting this one out because one of their own didn’t get the nomination. [...]

]]> By: Billy Dennis http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-40567 Billy Dennis Thu, 28 Sep 2006 02:03:40 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-40567 Sue: I sat through two meetings in which this was discussed. I haven't blogged about it yet because I've been under the weather and have been just too tired. The contract was awarded to the contractor that ended up ranked higher than all others according to a list of criteria. All bidders knew what the criteria was. Criteria that was to be evaluated included price, whether or not they bidders complied with EOO rules, etc. The contractor selected was the one that scored the BEST under these previously determined criteria. City staffers looked at these results and decided to award NONE of the bids to this contractor, and instead split the contracts among a two bidders who submitted lower bids. Remember, the price alone is not the only criteria the city said it would use to evaluate the bids. While I think price should have played a bigger role in the process, I also think the city should play by its own rules. And not change the criteria for awarding bids after the bids come in. Sue: I sat through two meetings in which this was discussed. I haven’t blogged about it yet because I’ve been under the weather and have been just too tired.

The contract was awarded to the contractor that ended up ranked higher than all others according to a list of criteria. All bidders knew what the criteria was. Criteria that was to be evaluated included price, whether or not they bidders complied with EOO rules, etc.

The contractor selected was the one that scored the BEST under these previously determined criteria. City staffers looked at these results and decided to award NONE of the bids to this contractor, and instead split the contracts among a two bidders who submitted lower bids.

Remember, the price alone is not the only criteria the city said it would use to evaluate the bids.

While I think price should have played a bigger role in the process, I also think the city should play by its own rules. And not change the criteria for awarding bids after the bids come in.

]]> By: sue http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-40566 sue Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:47:25 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-40566 the city council on 9/26/2006 awarded the janitorial contract for city building to the contractor thats had it for years back to him for sixty thousand more a year than any other contractor bid something iss definatly wrong with this picture someone need to look into this matter i dont know what else to do but post this for everyone to see the city council on 9/26/2006 awarded the janitorial contract for city building to the contractor thats had it for years back to him for sixty thousand more a year than any other contractor bid something iss definatly wrong with this picture someone need to look into this matter i dont know what else to do but post this for everyone to see

]]> By: sctobrien http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-40553 sctobrien Wed, 27 Sep 2006 23:57:48 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-40553 Hm, Think I ranted about this several weeks ago...... Hm,

Think I ranted about this several weeks ago……

]]> By: Jonathan Ahl http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/comment-page-1/#comment-40546 Jonathan Ahl Wed, 27 Sep 2006 23:01:37 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2006/09/27/time-to-stop-the-unsigned-editorial/#comment-40546 I agree editorials should be signed, because it give the argument more credibility, just as bloggers and commenters have more credibility if they post under their real identities. But I'm still puzzled over the outrage at the JS for not signing their editorials. The board is only three people, and they often collaborate on the final product. While I agree that they should be signed, at least we know it is some combination of three people. That's a much narrower set of possibilities than the anonymous bloggers and comenters enjoy. Still, its always better to stand behind your words with your name, in my opinion. That goes for newpaper editorials, blogs, or standing on the street corner speaking your mind. I agree editorials should be signed, because it give the argument more credibility, just as bloggers and commenters have more credibility if they post under their real identities.

But I’m still puzzled over the outrage at the JS for not signing their editorials. The board is only three people, and they often collaborate on the final product. While I agree that they should be signed, at least we know it is some combination of three people. That’s a much narrower set of possibilities than the anonymous bloggers and comenters enjoy.

Still, its always better to stand behind your words with your name, in my opinion. That goes for newpaper editorials, blogs, or standing on the street corner speaking your mind.

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