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Show If editor liked by all, he's not doing his job By JOYCE KLUG If an editor is beloved by every member of his community, he simply is not doing his job. If he is completely happy extolling the virtues of his community and completely ignoring its faults, he is failing in his responsibilities. Such an editor basically feels he is too close to his readers to write anything controversial. His timidity slants his entire newspaper. He mustn't tell what really happens for fear someone will be upset. For it is uncomfortable to be a storm center in a community. Personal relationships might be disrupted, the community tranquility shattered. And this is all true. It should be true. Something is very wrong with good will between people when based on dishonesty. And when an editor overlooks injustices, he is choosing to be dishonest, rather than uncomfortable. Such glossing over of community evils or bad conduct, particularly by those in public office, is not a mark of concern but rather proof of indifference. Someone has said that it is only for those whom we care nothing that we demand happiness at any price and complete freedom from criticism. Because we personally know individuals in a small community and may be involved with them on a social level, this places us under the sternest kind of obligation to be forthright and honest in our evaluation of their performance as citizens. There is a genuine challenge to this sort of journalistic responsibility in that we have to learn to accept people as individuals, even while differing vigorously on occasion with their public actions. The small-town editor must learn to "speak the truth in love," as the New Testament phrases it. Otherwise, he might speak judgmentally, or even vindictively. If this kind of editorial stance can be maintained, then the editor will fulfill, in the highest sense, his function as a journalist and a human being. By doing what has to be done, one does not wreck meaningful personal relationships; one. deepens and improves them. Superficial relationships are unimportant stacked up against the need for journalistic integrity. It is the editor's job to fight the people's battles and protect their rights as citizens. The larger interests can hire legal council, but the little guy depends on his hometown newspaper to publicize and help correct undesirable situations. The preceding was excerpted from Klug's recent address to the members of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors as she ended her term as president of the group. Klug is editor of the Lake Zurich (111.) Enterprise. |