Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jan 2002 Source: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (MS) Copyright: 2002 Journal Publishing Company Contact: http://www.djournal.com/djournal/site/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/823 Author: Lloyd Gray Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) COLUMNS, EDITORIALS ARE DIFFERENT ANIMALS A reader called the other day upset about an opinion expressed by one of our staff columnists. "If that's the way the Journal feels about it, then I'm not sure I want to subscribe anymore," the caller said. I explained that personal columns are just that - personal. They are the views of the writer. Only the opinions in the unsigned editorial (like the one to the left on this page) represent the newspaper's official position. I'm not sure that satisfied the caller, but at least he had a better understanding of those distinctions. And it got me to thinking, once again, that newspapers don't do a very good job of explaining how we work and what's what. What's the purpose of personal columns of opinion? It varies from columnist to columnist. Some attempt to persuade, some to shed light on an event, some to inform from a particular perspective. Others hope to connect with readers in some way through sharing observations on life. Others simply want to entertain. Ultimately we hope the common denominator is that they move the minds or hearts of readers to thought, feeling or some combination of the two. Notice that I didn't say agreement, though that's always welcomed by columnists. We have several columns written by staffers, such as this one, that run at least once a week. Others run less frequently. They're in easily recognizable form, always with the writer's picture, whether on the editorial page, the local section under a "Local Lines" heading, or in sports, features, business or religion. In addition to stimulating thinking and eliciting emotion, we hope our columns also help "personalize" the newspaper by letting you get to know our staffers better. Newspaper industry surveys and our own here at the Daily Journal over the years indicate that readers, though they may complain about particular writers, enjoy reading personal columns. They're among the best read items in the newspaper, and many readers enjoy even columnists they disagree with or, in some cases, love to hate. Besides our staff writers, we publish many state and national columnists. Some are regulars on the editorial page, others in our feature sections. Not all the editorial page columnists have a photo with their pieces if they're only one-time or occasional contributors. We strive for a diversity of opinion, both among our staff columnists and the ones we buy from other sources. No one tells a columnist what to write, as long as it's not libelous or in particularly bad taste. Readers sometimes ask why a staffer is "allowed" to express an opinion in a column that differs from the Journal's official stance, or why we would run a national columnist who expresses contrary opinions. My answer is always that a newspaper has a responsibility to offer a variety of viewpoints, including - and perhaps especially - those contrary to its own. Which brings us to the Daily Journal editorials - those "anonymous" pieces on the left side of the page each day. They're not signed because they don't represent an individual opinion; they're institutional in nature. Responsibility for those opinions lies primarily with the editor and editorial page editor, working in consultation with the publisher, with other editors contributing to the process. Just as individual writers don't necessarily reflect the Daily Journal's editorial opinions in their personal columns, it can surely be said that the Journal's official opinions aren't always shared by every staff member. The Journal's editorials aren't meant to tell people what to think, but simply to get people to thinking - about our community and state primarily, but about the wider world as well. We don't claim a monopoly on truth or correct opinion. But we do believe it's important for constructive discussion and debate to be ongoing. We welcome engaged readers who want to challenge opinions in the Daily Journal, whether editorials or personal columns. Call us when you don't like an editorial. Write or email us a letter for publication. Tell a columnist directly why you disagree. We may not satisfy you, but I promise you'll be heard. Lloyd Gray is editor of the Daily Journal. E-mail him at --- MAP posted-by: Jackl