P3D Re: Advice for editors and members

[Tom Deering <tmd@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Quoting Tom Deering, George A. Themelis said:

>>It's certainly NOT the editor's job to track down
>>writers and stories.
>
>Oh, yes, it is!  I have a bit of editing experience myself (nothing
>compared to SW's 5000 copy circulation, more like 125) and have
>interacted with editors of a few stereo magazines and I can see
>that the editor's job is exactly this:  Track down writers and
>stories.  And email has done this job MUCH easier!

The editor's job is to transform the scribblings of his often amateur
writers into readable form.  This involves a complex mixture of typography,
proofreading, photography, production, distribution.  Sure, an editor has
to cajole his writers and other volunteer staff, but that's hardly his
primary job.

>That's life.  When I hear that publication A was terminated due
>to the lack of interest from members to submit articles, I always
>blame the editor, not the members.  It is the editor's job to get
>the material in.  Period.

A newsletter is the voice of the membership.  It's not the editor's fault
if the members have nothing to say.

An editor's job is to edit--hence the name.  The role described above is
"babysitter."

Respectfully,

Tom



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