The rigors of a weekly section

jjmoney62 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2003 11:48 am

The Chicago Tribune used the term "anti-choice" in a headline in its WomaNews (cq) section.The section's editor said the use of the term was "just a poor choice of words on deadline."I suspect the staffing level of that weekly section rivals those of some small daily newspaper copy desks and that their deadline pressures are never intense enough to be used as an excuse.

Rio · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2003 8:02 pm

But do you honestly believe that "deadline pressure" was the real reason that this headline made it in print?Is it a coincidence that this latest alleged lapse of judgment comes within weeks of a pro-lifer's letter to the editor that had every instance of "pro-life" changed to "anti-abortion"?Amazing. Most large newspapers like the Tribune at least put up a pretense of objectivity..

Craig Lancaster · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2003 9:31 pm

To borrow a quote from R.E.M., I'd sooner chew my leg off than get trapped in this.But ...What's the problem with "anti-abortion," Gary? Didn't you use the term "pro-abortion" in another thread?Surely you're not going to suggest that readers' letters can't be edited ...

Wayne Countryman · **Posted:** Sat Nov 08, 2003 10:03 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Craig Lancaster:
To borrow a quote from R.E.M., I'd sooner chew my leg off than get trapped in this.But ...What's the problem with "anti-abortion," Gary? Didn't you use the term "pro-abortion" in another thread?Surely you're not going to suggest that readers' letters can't be edited ...<hr></blockquote>Letters to the editor need not be edited to match news-page style, if that's what happened here.A paper can avoid libel and outright factual inaccuracy by not running a letter. Some letters might need to be condensed to fit the space (I would hope this is done with consultation). But to reword letters to the editor seems wrong.

Rio · **Posted:** Sun Nov 09, 2003 11:38 am

What Wayne said.Another problem with the letter-editing is that "pro-life" and "anti-abortion" aren't always synonymous. Right to Life groups are concerned about issues other than abortion; if the letter was trying to make a point about the group's overal agenda, then the editing has the effect of changing the letter's meaning.

ADKbrown · **Posted:** Wed Nov 12, 2003 6:32 pm

<blockquote>quote:<hr>Originally posted by Wayne Countryman:
But to reword letters to the editor seems wrong.<hr></blockquote>Rewording (editing) letters to the editor is not always wrong, but it was in this case.

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