Re: Bogus Headlines

Tivers@aol.com
Mon, 9 Dec 1996 21:13:07 -0500

In a message dated 96-12-09 11:45:58 EST, you write:

<< I subscribe to ridecamp as a source of supplemental information for my
job and my interest in this sport. It is my job to write headlines, not
yours. Please leave this work to the objective professionals. Your
headline was intended to promote bias, and the field of journalism,
especially newspaper reporting, there are strict ethical guidelines
against that. >>

Egad, Jennifer. I was enjoying your post until the "Please leave...
professionals". There are very few genuine journalists out there anymore.
This is just a listserv. It's an area for everyone to express opinions and
once in a great while, of late, transfer knowledge. But, everybody here has
an absolute to write whatever they want in whatever format they please. By
the way, I have never met an objective professional--including you, if your
post is representative of your objectivity. Jschool grads certainly don't
have a monopoly on objectivity, nor do those who are not Jschool grads but
who play journalists on TV (or in magazines).

I just had a big fist fight with a so-called journalist who writes for Equus
who wanted input from the Harness Racing group for an article entitled "Win
At Any Cost". I told her I'd already read her unwritten article a hundred
times and suggested she go to the racetrack and actually research her piece
before writing it. She was insulted.

I'm a cranky old fart who tends to demand clear, rational thinking, so don't
take offense. If it gets too foggy here, I'll retreat quickly to my databases
and leave you guys alone--I'm not out to offend.

ti