Editor’s Note
Back in the old days — that’s less than a decade and before there were such things as blogs and interactive conversations with readers — editors used to respond to their newspaper readers with an “editor’s note.” Sometimes it clarified a point made in a letter to the editor. Sometimes it offered a correction. Sometimes it was just a simple explanation. An editor’s note was a handful of sentences; maybe a four or five paragraphs. It was always a personal link between the editor and the reader. Only difference between it and today’s blog is the immediacy and the platform. Welcome to Editor’s Note.

An apology and a promise

August 25th, 2009 at 05:56pm Linda Grist Cunningham

Over three decades of writing newspaper columns, I’ve learned three lessons: (1) keep it local and if it’s not local make it personal; (2) be respectful and go full out, straight on, or in slang language, “tell it like it is”; and, (3) never attempt humor or satire; no one gets it.

And, there’s lesson number four, learned over a decade of posting online: What passes for “respectful but straight on” online does not work in print. And, I have casually resorted to oh-too-clever, antagonistic, short-hand asides in some blog posts that flat out did not translate well to print.

Posting online is fast, quick and often off-the-cuff. That’s not what we expect from newspaper columnists. We expect them to be thought-provoking, not simply provoking. I forgot that and it got me in trouble with police and firefighters. It got me in trouble with the tax collectors. It got me in trouble with the PETA people.

I never intended to insult cops and firefighters when I said we need two-tier pension reforms in Illinois. But, the way I phrased it did. I never intended to insult property tax assessors, but the way I phrased my annoyance at my assessment increase did.

The anger, frustration and disconnect that underlies our community conversations today — from health care reform to library closings — will push us into hard-line camps from which nothing good can come. When I fall into the trap of using “fighting words” just for effect, I contribute to the hyperbole and hyperventilating that I so abhor.

Hence, my apology. Now the promise: I will remember that the words we choose to come from the News Tower have the power to do great good and the power to do great harm. We will chose well. I promise.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized

4 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Curtis Newport  |  August 25th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    Hmm.

    You referred to assessment officials as “low-down, greedy, disingenuous dirty dogs.”

    And then you claim you never intended to insult them.

    That’s a little hard to swallow, but ok. I’ll take your apology at face value.

    My mother used to tell me not to write when you’re angry. Calm down first, maybe sleep on it, then put your thoughts together.

    Food for thought.

  • 2. Juice  |  August 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    I wish you would use your journalistic talent (and executive power) to put a nice big color spread into the newspaper explaining, IN DETAIL, the healh care proposal in the US H of R. For example: I work for a large company in Rockford and we are all very pleased with our plans. I’ve heard the gov’t plan will maybe force me away from it and penalize my company, with a very substancial tax like 8% of payroll for not singing up for it, which will raise my rates. I have seen nothing from the newspaper investigating the facts of the bill. I’m surprised since it is such an important issue. Why the silence and lack of investigative spirit?

  • 3. Linda Grist Cunningham  |  August 27th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    @ Curtis. You are dead on. When I write my newspaper column, I do just that. The danger of blogging is that it’s so quick and easy. I learned some good lessons.

    @Juice. Good idea. We are, indeed, doing just that. It’s harder than we had hoped to pull it together, especially with the last couple weeks of breaking news. But, we are doing it. In the meantime, two suggestions: We are constantly compiling updated information in our special online section at www.healthyrockford.com. And, one of the best links I have found to compare the plans is through the non-profit, non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation. http://healthreform.kff.org/

  • 4. Kathy Biasi  |  August 31st, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    Don’t be so quick to apologize to tax assessors. I recently went to my township office to get some information about my assessment and that of a home of the same model as mine in the Linden Pointe Subdivision. I had sent an email requesting information about all of the models like mine. When I got to the township office they had prepared printouts (Visual PAMSPro Property Valuation Worksheet) for every home except the one that I was most interested in. I couldn’t have that one, I was told. I explained I was planning on appealing my assessment. Sorry, can’t use that particular home. I’ve been accumulating information from the internet site for Assessor and Treasurer. I’m shocked. The county isn’t getting what they are due from my subdivision. I’ve found decks not accounted for (if they didn’t get a permit they can’t assess it??). To make a long story short, it has been at least 6 years since anyone physically walked this subdivision looking for taxable home improvements. I know this because my home was built in 2003. The home directly behind mine is of the same model and yes, there is a deck and central AC that is not listed on the Valuation Worksheet. My question: How can you adequately assess property from a chair?? This is the first year we did not get a new assessment since we moved here. I pay handsomely for a screened in porch we had built on right after our home was completed. We got a permit, hence we pay taxes. If my assessor isn’t doing their job, I bet lots of others aren’t either.

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