2008 Woodie Awards
What is a Public Editor, you ask?
By: Matt Welch
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Opinion
The newspaper you hold in your hand might look like a monologue the staff of The DePauw writes and then serves to its readers. In reality, though, you hold the beginning of a long conversation between the staff and the public that will continue throughout this semester. This is the first, small piece of what's supposed to be a complicated, intelligent dialogue. You are the public, and this newspaper is a public forum for ideas - not just ours, but yours, as well.
That's where I come in. Hi, my name is Matt Welch, and I'm the public editor for The DePauw. It's my job this semester to analyze and improve our conversation. I won't be writing any news articles for the paper, and I won't be making any editorial decisions or serving as a writer for any other part of the paper. I am the reader's representative in the newsroom; I'm here to help readers understand the paper's workings at times, and I'm also here to critique and criticize the words printed on the pages of The DePauw.
I'll be taking your letters, comments, and complaints, and you'll see them printed in this section just like always. I will consider what you say about our coverage, and I will address any issues in my columns across the semester. As I said, this newspaper is just one part of a conversation, and it's my job to evaluate and synthesize reader comments, complaints and accolades into columns that should help to improve the newspaper as a whole.
The DePauw created the position of public editor in the fall of 2006, inspired by a similar position on the New York Times' staff. The position isn't new, but I hope to reinvigorate it this semester by returning to the initial goals for it. As a Media Fellow, I love newspapers, media and news, and I know that The DePauw has many areas to improve in serving the needs of its readers. That's why I'm here - and I hope you'll let us know what you think, so we can do a better job for you.
In his column announcing the creation of the position, then Editor in Chief Brandon Gee wrote that the new public editor "will also be studying and asking some tough questions of The DePauw itself, in an effort to determine if we are serving our readers as well as we could. We're bound to be doing at least a few things wrong."
It's still true. The DePauw's not perfect in any way. But I hope that, like every conversation, it can develop, with input from readers like you.
That's where I come in. Hi, my name is Matt Welch, and I'm the public editor for The DePauw. It's my job this semester to analyze and improve our conversation. I won't be writing any news articles for the paper, and I won't be making any editorial decisions or serving as a writer for any other part of the paper. I am the reader's representative in the newsroom; I'm here to help readers understand the paper's workings at times, and I'm also here to critique and criticize the words printed on the pages of The DePauw.
I'll be taking your letters, comments, and complaints, and you'll see them printed in this section just like always. I will consider what you say about our coverage, and I will address any issues in my columns across the semester. As I said, this newspaper is just one part of a conversation, and it's my job to evaluate and synthesize reader comments, complaints and accolades into columns that should help to improve the newspaper as a whole.
The DePauw created the position of public editor in the fall of 2006, inspired by a similar position on the New York Times' staff. The position isn't new, but I hope to reinvigorate it this semester by returning to the initial goals for it. As a Media Fellow, I love newspapers, media and news, and I know that The DePauw has many areas to improve in serving the needs of its readers. That's why I'm here - and I hope you'll let us know what you think, so we can do a better job for you.
In his column announcing the creation of the position, then Editor in Chief Brandon Gee wrote that the new public editor "will also be studying and asking some tough questions of The DePauw itself, in an effort to determine if we are serving our readers as well as we could. We're bound to be doing at least a few things wrong."
It's still true. The DePauw's not perfect in any way. But I hope that, like every conversation, it can develop, with input from readers like you.
Be the first to comment on this story