Monday, September 17, 2007

If It's Not Broken (Op Ed)

If it's not broken, - Viewpoint

Came across this, it's from an Illinois State University student newspaper. It rankled me. You would think college journalists would be a little less "simplistic". Someone who didn't give a shit had a deadline to meet.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a current college journalist who writes opinion pieces:

ARGH WHERE IS YOUR RESEARCH AND SOURCING AND QUOTATIONS FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW THINGS?!

It's like someone never told this person that you have to base a viewpoint opinion on FACTS, not vague platitudes.

Just Me said...

I think this kid is probably one of those people who have never been around someone mentally ill, who think there is an easy answer. "Just snap out of it"; "You need to take herbals. Herbals are so much safer than ________" (even though the one herbal I've taken is no longer on the market due to being unsafe). For someone like me there are many religious variations, all boiling down to "if you had enough faith you would not be ill and if you want proof of that look at me, I'm fine".

Also, many years ago I was the editor of a tiny high school paper. Anyone who wanted to write could and did write and I edited to the best of my ability given some articles weren't very well done. That article would never have made it into my paper.

Jon said...

Meredith - I agree completely.

Justme - You just wrote the 5 words that I hate more than any others:
"Just snap out of it".

Thanks both for your comments.