How this project happened

It started with an editor's query to the NCEW online listserv.

About twenty members'responses helped him with his column. Another member did an online column as well.

This intrigued my class at Roosevelt College in Chicago. As a result, my students sent e-mail inquiries to editors at sixty dai lies across the country. We invited them to answer by quotable e-mail or anonymously via an online poll. We got twenty-three valid online responses, a handful more by e-mail.

The poll is not statistically sound, but some of the results may be interesting anyway. Numbers are based on those who answered that question.

Has your paper published racist mail? Yes, 21 (84%)

Does it have a policy regarding the publication of racist letters? Yes, 14 (56%)

Do you agree with the policy? Yes 8, No 3, Partly 4.

The participants include nine newspapers with weekday circulation under 50,000, five under 100,000, two under 200,000, and seven papers with more than 200,000 weekday subscribers.

The Midwest and Plains states dominated the participants list at 10 (42%).

There were seven editorial page editors who responded, as well as four letters editors, and twelve journalists who held a variety of other positions.

In terms of experience, forty-two percent had at least twelve years in the business, and none less than four years.

The survey questions, extensive excerpts from the responses, and more can be found online at faculty.roosevelt.edu/mcclelland/letters

John McClelland teaches at Roosevelt University, Chicago. Master's degree candidates who contributed include Sharnell Berry, Brandon Bomis, Sylvia Daniels, TaliaPennington, and Matt Reynolds.

Copyright MASTHEAD National Conference of Editorial Writers Autumn 2005
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