Features

• Top Ten Commentary Topics of the Decade

  Published Tuesday, December 22, 2009

  A discussion on the list-serv about the most important commentary topics of the decade lead to many ideas from NCEW members. Frank Partsch, former editorial page editor of The Omaha World-Herald, took that list and combined it into 10 topic areas. As you prepare your year- and decade-end pieces, this list might come in handy. Also, vote on which one you

• Spelling it out for the governor

  Published Sunday, November 22, 2009

  First, let me spare you the trouble: There is no hidden message in this posting, whether you read it forward, backward, sideways or pick out every eighth character. There was, however, a concealed twist in California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent veto message of legislation by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano that would have provided financing help for the

• Why we do what we do

  Published Wednesday, August 5, 2009

  (Editor's note: David Holwerk, an NCEW member for 20 years and until June NCEW president, wrote this for the Sunday, June 7, 2009, editorial page of the Sacramento Bee. Published with permission of the Sacramento Bee.) All good things, the old proverb says, must come to an end. I can attest that it's true, because my newspaper career has been a very good

• When editors were trading card stars

  Published Tuesday, July 28, 2009

  In 1887, enterprising tobacco barons began placing cards picturing professional baseball players in cigarette packs to encourage sales. It was the start of a collecting boom that continues today, mostly among youngsters with big-league dreams. Newspaper editors joined the ballplayers that year as advertising icons. For them, it was a moment of glory.

• No villains here, just sadness

  Published Wednesday, July 15, 2009

  By Linda Seebach  The Rocky Mountain News is dead, and I mourn it.  It would have been 150 years old on April 23, and it didn't deserve to die. It was a great paper, and a great place to work. When I joined the staff, in June 1997, there were three people writing editorials - editorial page editor Vincent Carroll, Peter Blake and me. We also had an

• I won't 'friend' someone online if I wouldn't be friends in real life

  Published Wednesday, July 15, 2009

  I haven't warmed to the idea of becoming Facebook friends with politicians, sources, subjects and flaks. I really do not need them to know about my recent trip to Walla Walla for a bit of wine tasting. Nor do they need to read the spirited banter between my college friends and me.   This separation between who I am during working hours and who I am at

• Students staff nonprofit paper

  Published Wednesday, July 15, 2009

  In November, New York's Gov. David Paterson visited the South Bronx to announce a plan to curb the asthma epidemic that afflicts the neighborhood. The city's press corps was out in force, but all the reporters wanted to talk about was who the governor would name to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate. Only two news outlets produced more than a brief on

• Shield law pro/con

  Published Wednesday, July 15, 2009

  Congress is again considering the Free Flow of Information Act ­- a federal press shield law. Its passage is long overdue. Though most states have such laws, they are easily evaded by filing suits in federal courts where judges can compel journalists to name their sources.   Last year, NCEW joined dozens of other journalism organizations in support of the