December 16, 2002
Unlike reporters, the job of newspaper columnists is to tell you how they feel. It is more than a duty. It is a freedom sacred to U.S. journalists and should be to the American public as well. Columnists, including those at The San Diego Union-Tribune, are by their nature opinionated. It’s their job to tell readers where they stand on issues, even if they disagree with an editorial position taken by the newspaper.
But when two writers for The New York Times did just that, their columns were killed, jeopardizing the newspaper’s credibility. The writers disagreed with the Times’ editorial position on issues stemming from the men-only policy at the Augusta National Golf Course, the home of the prestigious Masters tournament.
When word that the columns had been spiked reached the media, there was an outcry. In the face of criticism, Times editors backpedaled, and the updated columns appeared last week.
What appears to be an effort by the Times to muzzle two columnists, one of them a Pulitzer Prize winner, is baffling to those who see the Times as a standard-bearer. Journalists are relieved by the about-face in favor of freedom of expression.
What got the attention of journalists was an apparent attempt by the Times to allow only opinions that agree with its editorial stance.
Newspaper columnists, like all journalists, are subject to editing. But to censor a columnist because what he or she writes disagrees with the newspaper’s editorial position flies in the face of traditional journalism values.
It takes integrity on the part of an editor and tolerance on part of a publisher to allow publication of columns that disagree with the editorial position taken by the newspaper. That integrity and tolerance are displayed regularly in the Union-Tribune.
While editorials attempt to persuade readers that whatever the publisher believes in or supports be it a candidate, a new ballpark, or the firing of a college professor is in their best interests, columnists are not required to agree.
Karin Winner, San Diego Union-Tribune editor, said the diversity of opinion is “what newspapers are all about.” News stories give readers factual information; columns give them a range of opinions. Both are intended to give readers the information they need to make informed decisions. “It’s healthy to have a marketplace of ideas,” Winner said.
The Union-Tribune editorial position does not dictate what information is printed on the news pages. Some readers do not understand the purposes of news versus editorials and wrongly assume the editorial stance dictates what news stories say.
News stories are based on facts. Columnists determine their own points of view, unlike editorials, “which are the sacred purview of the publisher and reflect his point of view. That will always be,” Winner said.
But with the privilege to express opinion comes responsibility. When questions are raised about a column, it is checked for taste and libel. Columns that cross the boundaries of good taste or that could libel someone are unacceptable, Winner said.
Writers who appear on the Opinion pages are sometimes selected because they oppose the editorial position (just as sometimes they are selected because they agree with it). Columnists who appear in other sections of the newspaper whether it be Sports or Business also are paid to write their own opinions.
In October, when it came to light that UCSD professor and California poet laureate designee Quincy Troupe falsified his academic record on his resum, an editorial called for his dismissal or resignation. Eight days later, the Currents section ran a commentary headlined “Legacy of a true laureate.” A secondary headline said “Let’s not forget what Quincy Troupe did for us.”
The commentary was labeled and was researched and reported by arts critics, who share the duty of columnists to give their opinions. It said: “What has been drowned out in all the zero-tolerance tub-thumping is Troupe’s inestimable contribution to the cultural life of San Diego.” It concluded that whatever UCSD decided, losing him “would be the real tragedy for San Diego.” Troupe later resigned.
Readers of the Business section are familiar with Don Bauder’s column and his take on the ballpark and stadium, which are spectacularly at odds with Union-Tribune editorial policy.
Columnist Peter Rowe, who writes for the Currents section, says he does not set out to disagree with an editorial position. In fact, he does not concern himself with editorial position. Instead, he evaluates whether the issue will work as a column, determines how he feels about it and whether he can support his position.
Whether you agree with the editorial position or with dissenting writers, the diversity of opinion offered by columnists gives the Union-Tribune what all newspapers need credibility.
Gina Lubrano’s column commenting on the media appears Mondays. It is the policy of The San Diego Union-Tribune to correct all errors. To discuss accuracy or fairness in the news, please write to Gina Lubrano, readers representative, Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191, or telephone (619) 293-1525. Send e-mail to:
readers.rep@uniontrib.com.
Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
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