Staff Editorial: Constructive criticism leads to better learning
Issue date: 7/23/09 Section: Opinions
The Internet has given mankind many useful tools to work with in a technology-crazed world.
One of these tools used most frequently by journalists is the reader commentary posted online underneath stories. These comments should show us where we need improvement in our stories and offer great words of wisdom, for journalism students especially.
What doesn't help us is reading "The DEN sucks." Not only is the comment immature and unintelligent, but also it is a waste of the poster's time because the comment does absolutely nothing to help us improve.
Understand that we are growing, learning journalists and we will make mistakes. That is why we are currently taking journalism classes-so that we can learn the ways of the profession. If we already knew everything there is to learn, there would be no point in going to school. We would be able to walk right into the New York Times and be offered a position.
We make every effort to do our jobs to the best of our abilities, and we do need help from the public to inform us of not only mistakes we have made, but also topics you would like to read about or topics we didn't cover enough.
Very rarely did we get any letters to the editor this summer. Instead, we were bombarded with many anonymous comments that were rude, insulting, and served no other purpose then to attack students that are learning how to do a job. It is a student newspaper; there will be mistakes along the way. If you can't stand reading the work of developing writers, then maybe it's time to subscribe to a professional publication.
We did receive a few e-mailed letters to the editor this summer that proved to be quite helpful in news judgment and in ways to better our articles. That is the only way we will learn. Anonymous bashing does nothing to help us.
The difference between anonymous posters and newspaper writers is that our words are published for the world to see with our names boldly stamped at the top. Anyone can easily write anything they want when they can make up a fake name. We must own up to everything we write.
In journalism classes we are taught to be accurate. Accuracy and honesty are two of the biggest things that make a great journalist. We will be the first to tell you that we do try our best, but that sometimes our accuracy is diminished.
Sometimes, the final product that you see is the result of things we cannot control. It is the summer, and there is not much news. Oftentimes, it is difficult to find sources; even more often, a source will completely blow us off. It comes with the territory, but when there's not much to report on to begin with, it's hard to drop any story, no matter how weak it has turned out.
We are only human and students at that. Many of us hold multiple jobs and go to school. The time just isn't there to make the stories as perfect as we would like.
Our staff also suffered this summer, with only a handful of contributing reporters and columnists, and no cartoonists. With such a small staff, many times one individual would be responsible for an entire section of the paper. With such a responsibility, the time just isn't there to make every story as perfect as we would like.
We opened our doors to anyone who would have liked to write or draw. We posted flyers around campus and advertisements within the paper. With nearly no one answering, we were left to make due.
One comment that we read time and time again was, "who reads the DEN anyways?" Although many comments at least gave us a smirk, none were more hilarious than this one. It was posted countless times, and every time we had the same thought: "well, apparently you just did!" The thought of someone so oblivious and ignorant is baffling.
Maybe some people do have a reason to stay anonymous.
To all that posted constructive comments and sent us e-mails, we thank you. It is you who fuel us to be better and do better.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
One of these tools used most frequently by journalists is the reader commentary posted online underneath stories. These comments should show us where we need improvement in our stories and offer great words of wisdom, for journalism students especially.
What doesn't help us is reading "The DEN sucks." Not only is the comment immature and unintelligent, but also it is a waste of the poster's time because the comment does absolutely nothing to help us improve.
Understand that we are growing, learning journalists and we will make mistakes. That is why we are currently taking journalism classes-so that we can learn the ways of the profession. If we already knew everything there is to learn, there would be no point in going to school. We would be able to walk right into the New York Times and be offered a position.
We make every effort to do our jobs to the best of our abilities, and we do need help from the public to inform us of not only mistakes we have made, but also topics you would like to read about or topics we didn't cover enough.
Very rarely did we get any letters to the editor this summer. Instead, we were bombarded with many anonymous comments that were rude, insulting, and served no other purpose then to attack students that are learning how to do a job. It is a student newspaper; there will be mistakes along the way. If you can't stand reading the work of developing writers, then maybe it's time to subscribe to a professional publication.
We did receive a few e-mailed letters to the editor this summer that proved to be quite helpful in news judgment and in ways to better our articles. That is the only way we will learn. Anonymous bashing does nothing to help us.
The difference between anonymous posters and newspaper writers is that our words are published for the world to see with our names boldly stamped at the top. Anyone can easily write anything they want when they can make up a fake name. We must own up to everything we write.
In journalism classes we are taught to be accurate. Accuracy and honesty are two of the biggest things that make a great journalist. We will be the first to tell you that we do try our best, but that sometimes our accuracy is diminished.
Sometimes, the final product that you see is the result of things we cannot control. It is the summer, and there is not much news. Oftentimes, it is difficult to find sources; even more often, a source will completely blow us off. It comes with the territory, but when there's not much to report on to begin with, it's hard to drop any story, no matter how weak it has turned out.
We are only human and students at that. Many of us hold multiple jobs and go to school. The time just isn't there to make the stories as perfect as we would like.
Our staff also suffered this summer, with only a handful of contributing reporters and columnists, and no cartoonists. With such a small staff, many times one individual would be responsible for an entire section of the paper. With such a responsibility, the time just isn't there to make every story as perfect as we would like.
We opened our doors to anyone who would have liked to write or draw. We posted flyers around campus and advertisements within the paper. With nearly no one answering, we were left to make due.
One comment that we read time and time again was, "who reads the DEN anyways?" Although many comments at least gave us a smirk, none were more hilarious than this one. It was posted countless times, and every time we had the same thought: "well, apparently you just did!" The thought of someone so oblivious and ignorant is baffling.
Maybe some people do have a reason to stay anonymous.
To all that posted constructive comments and sent us e-mails, we thank you. It is you who fuel us to be better and do better.
The editorial is the majority opinion of The DEN editorial board. Reach the opinions editor at: DENopinions@gmail.com.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Terrence S. Kiolbassa
posted 7/23/09 @ 4:54 AM CST
As I see it there should be 2 rules that are taught in U S education institutions.
A. Believe anything you want, just get a good land grant education first
B. (Continued…)
Townie
posted 7/23/09 @ 3:02 PM CST
Since you admit that the DEN makes mistakes WHY is it online? Do you realize what damage you could be doing to people? Most potential employers do a google search on someone to see what comes up. (Continued…)
anonymously agreeing
posted 7/23/09 @ 10:12 PM CST
Thank you, DEN staff, for finally sticking up for yourself. I'm sick of people being flat out rude and angry when airing their grievances about this paper; it's discouraging to journalism students. (Continued…)
moop
posted 7/26/09 @ 7:05 AM CST
I think the den functions fine as a school paper, yet people critique it like it's "The Economist." If you dont like what's in it, write your own op-ed. (Continued…)
Grad Student
posted 8/23/09 @ 2:21 PM CST
It is funny how the DEN says they can handle constructive criticism. I was in a meeting with several DEN staff members about one of their horrible cartoons. (Continued…)
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