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Article: Should public officials have op-ed access? Pro: fleshing out the debate.
- Article from:
- The Masthead
- Article date:
- March 22, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 National Conference of Editorial Writers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Some editors are reluctant to offer public officials an opportunity to advocate their views on the op-ed page. They argue that officials have ample opportunity tO explain their views and proposals through news coverage, news releases, and newsletters. Save the space for analysts and critics who have a tougher time getting their views out, they say.
Judging from the newspapers I read, they're wrong.
Sure, sometimes a newspaper will devote considerable space to an Official's explanation of a proposal, but more likely we'll give the official a couple of quotes, then a summary that represents our reporters view of what the idea is and what prompts it, and ...