Saturday, August 14, 2004

Grammatical bias

The debate over liberal bias in the media rages endlessly, but rarely does one hear much about other sorts of media bias. As, for example, the bias shown by the (ahem) editor of The Billings Outpost when he edited this letter.

The standard rule in newspapers is that letters to the editor are edited for typos and grammatical misfires, just like any other copy. But when a letter writer makes grammatical errors in a letter that criticizes the editor for having pointed out earlier grammar lapses, then, well, the editor tends to weaken. Call it bias. Or call it fair warning to readers who might be considering buying the letter writer's book.

1 comment:

Chuck Rightmire said...

David, there's always been an argument about how far an editor should go in correcting the language of direct quotations or letters. I've always felt the fairest way was to go with the quote or the letter. Then let the readers decide using their own biases. You done good.