That’s a great one to add. Thanks.

I was just thinking about a related topic today. I remember the days when newspapers first got e-mail, and the editors debated whether to let readers know our e-mail addresses. Can you imagine today — it would be inconceivable not to let the public know our e-mail addresses.

So we’ve come a long way but still have a long way to go.

– Gina

You kind of touch on this in #9, but 9.3 could be “Let people tell you what they think about what you write, for all the world to see.”

Few things. First I’m an editor now at a newspaper, and I’ve spent 12 of my 20-year career in newspapers as an editor. I’m not advocating the death of editors at all.

My point is that the rules for blogs are different than for a traditional news story — and they should be different because the two media are different.

I truly believe blogs will eventually professionalize, and people will hire editors. But at a typical newsroom having an editor, copy editor, rim and slot look at every blog post would make it impossible to be immediate.

My point is: I read blogs whose authors have a cogent point to make. I don’t read blogs because they are slick and massaged and perfect.
I think that’s the case for many.

– Gina

Editors have reasons for the rules – and not simple, but complex, multi-angled reasons. Writers would prefer editors go away, thus the appeal of blogs. For one of the many reasons the death of the editor is not a good thing, look at the third line of item #3.