September 21 - 23, 2014
Mobile, AL
The Masthead
This main page (below) links to recent editions.
The navigation bars at left get older material.
(Link to Masthead's masthead and member info, far below)
For newest items, see the Features box on the AOJ main page.
Masthead 2014 summer (in progress; current June 11)
Looking ahead to September: A peek at the fall AOJ Symposium (refocused, more educational, successor to the NCEW-AOJ conventions of 1948-2013)
Do Editors Print FaceBook Posts? Online discussion leans toward caution, editing; likely fall gathering topic, too.
Another editor stops online comments: Trolls take tolls, this time National Journal.
AOJ water-war briefings now seem prescient: Several 2013 speakers quoted in Masthead predicted rising risk of conflict, reaffirmed by May 2014 report.
Book offers pre-gathering peek at The South: "Liberating Dixie, an Editor's Life from Ole Miss to Obama" by Ed Williams
Masthead 2014 spring
AOJ and AOJ Foundation are on the move We’re moving. To Nashville. With an address in the First Amendment Center.
AOJ member wins Pulitzer for commentary Stephen Henderson, editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press and long-time NCEW-AOJ member won the Pulitzer in April and journalist of the year from NABJ in May
A giant among us, Zakarian
...you have crossed paths with some of the greats. John J. Zakarian, Hartford, ex-NCEW president...
AOJ's Tony Messenger wins twice
Tony Messenger of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and AOJ board member … ASNE leadership award, share of Scripps award
State Department AOJ Briefings package
- Poverty breeds security threats Why poverty across the world matters to Americans
- Climate-change briefing was timely St.Louis P-D editorial with links to prior Masthead articles
- Strategic rebalancing to continue By David D. Haynes ...administration committed to strategic efforts in Asia
- Afghan election encourages State Dept. By Miriam Pepper As the hand counting of ballots continued in Afghanistan
- Diplomats frustrated by media performance ...three major humanitarian crises: but only one gets much media attention, so thousands of children may die needlessly
Masthead 2014 winter
A package about opinionizers, black history and civil rights (Feb. 18)
- Racial blinkers in the press
(A sampling from AOJ diversity chairman Richard Prince and other sources) Commenting on the behavior of white establishment media in the... - 'Lost Cause' myth endures
One AOJ member whose recent work has dealt with lingering Confederate sympathy and symbolism is Steve Matrazzo of the Dundalk (Md.) Eagle, who... - Hateful voicemail & Confederate symbols
By John McClelland OK, so Valentine’s Day is past, but Black History Month continues. And it has enduring lessons for all of us about the... - Do Reb symbols invite editorial attack?
Our package this month began with diversity chairman Richard Prince's inquiry about whether or how newspaper and news site opinionizers had discussed...
Getting readable op-eds from academe (Feb 19-20) A Magic Word for effective op-eds By David Jarmul A professor recently used the magic word in a published op-ed*, resulting in an invitation to...
Relevant and factual letters? One of the most interesting jobs in journalism is vetting letters, especially now and among hot topics...
Killing the great editorials (Feb21, reposted Feb23). By Paul Greenberg. The thundering voices of old are gone, and the great pieces are killed in committee by the dull knife of terminal boredom
If a would-be op-ed stinks, why keep asking? (Feb25) "Is the quality of an op-ed inversely proportional to the number of follow-up emails the writer-publicist sends to inquire as to its status?" asked...
Retracting endorsements (Feb25) What can editors do when the publication wishes it could take back an endorsement? This is a hot topic again, with new Lone Star signs of remorse. A...
Those horrid online comment trolls, again (March 9) By Thea Joselow Why are online comments so horrible? Online comments seemed like such a fine idea at first. What better way to engage with your...
We are in Sunshine, with a job to do (March 7) Sunshine Week has added AOJ to the participants list. Sunshine Week, the annual celebration of government transparency and the people’s right...
Minority writers workshop awaits (March 7) Apply by March 24 at MinorityWritersSeminar.org for May 1-4 event. Experienced minority journalists are invited to apply for the intensive seminar...
AOJ's Tony Messenger wins ASNE leader award with links to announcement and five winning entries (March 14).
Masthead 2013 fall-winter
Celebrate a century of sunlight (Dec. 31) Open-government term's birth, and conception long before.
Is it the message, or the messenger? (Dec. 12) There may be good reason opinion writers are older...
Editors differ on handling of 'fact-challenged' letters (Nov. 15) What's fact? Opinion? Do we spike, edit, rebut with a note, rebut later, run as-is...?
AOJ backs White House photo-limits protest (Nov 22)
Update: November 2013 national security exercise recalls AOJ 2012 event
NY Times on power-grid attack ("just a test")
Masthead fall 2012 ("terroristifying" exercise)
or directly to the extended features list
For member information, Masthead's masthead, etc
2013 convention issue:
Neil Heinen honored (life member)(updated with citation 10/23)
Senator decries damage to oceans
Bailey gets Pulliam for 'brownfield' study
AOJ Foundation celebration
Behind Arab Spring, World Water Wars?
Water & climate change a top threat for future wars
Vanessa Shelton wins Bingham Fellowship
AOJ election results
Bay-saver cruise opens AOJ eyes
Water issues intersect energy issues
Scientists need to tell truth well
Spouse-guest cruise from Newport
Digital nuts and bolts
Plain talk in water science
Short-staffed? Coping tips!
Robinson: Embrace new media
Boards: Merger might be hard
DC politics called 'act of war' on science
Masthead 2013 summer
Hispanics lead just 5 metro editorial-pages (One has "been the pinata for 22 years.")
Pulitzer Prize leader seeks more opinion entries, encourages small outlets, multimedia; with members' link to tips
Community journalism still matters -- 'isn't that the unique calling of a local newspaper of whatever magnitude or technological era?' 8/24
Real-time (fast) editorials Publish-when-ready now becoming more common 8/24
Social log-in deters trolls' comments on letters 8/24
Online discussion list serves well New standing webpage describes the members-only benefit and helps with getting signed in (8/24)
Deep background or not? State Dept. requests raise issue for AOJ briefings; members' views welcomed
Study: Vile commenters do offend. Trolls cut readers' letter participation; local focus reinforced
Edit-page blog no longer 'like skydiving naked' Dallas pioneer says after 10th anniversary; tips offered for members
Nominees for AOJ directors and future president includes info for absentee ballot return by Oct. 1 (9/5)
Masthead 2013 spring
State Dept briefings:
Kerry: U.S. credibility is crucial
Afghans living longer, better
Aid guru: U.S. will 'develop our way out'
Africa expert: Things are generally looking up
And more:
Columnists Day honors the great Ernie Pyle
Masthead 2013 winter-spring
Minority writers invited Foundation-assisted seminar in Nashville
A place for editorials in digital newsrooms
The editorial voice: (Syracuse Post-Standard, by permission)
Three quotables Aristotle, Pulitzer and Newhouse. March 2, 2013
Opinionizing's role, revisited Newspapers ending editorial endorsements provoked vigorous discussion on AOJ's discussion list
Sunshine is all-year
Masthead 2012 fall extended issue
A boy, a dead dog, and a letter So you’re the bigshot editor ... a think-well, feel-good story, questioning standard practices
A new 'house divided' threatens U.S. future The worst possible outcome of this election is that our own house remains divided. (11/11/2012)
Masthead 2012 (fall) convention issue
(Most articles have photo, link to video, or both)
Slavery still in U.S., just different Slavery still flourishes everywhere, even "near here" in Florida
Security, diplomacy ... Iran again Israeli or U.S. strike at Iran's nuclear program unpredictable, decision is not urgent
TV critic: cable niche-casting erodes trust Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times and former Poynter Ethics fellow: narrow ideological slant hurts
Terroristifying 'what-if' exercise How would you cope if everyone's electrical devices and machines died? What if... (Updated twice)
Climate change threatens U.S. Despite its seriousness, climate change is missing in our election season
In member news: Association condition looking up, new shop-talk initiatives, new officers
Congressional politics? stink-o! It’s dirty and negative. It exposes one’s family to public criticism. It just plain costs too much. That’s real life
Small nations need help In a world where giant nations -- Brazil, Russia, India China -- dominate the rising socio-economic headlines
Partisanship destroying Congress Keynoter Mickey Edwards, former Republican representative, author of “The Parties Versus the People
Awards highlights at AOJ 2012 Bingham and Pulliam fellowships, annual column and opinion pages awards, 2 life memberships
Hiroshima survivor stuns writers ... a speech that completely blows you away
Everglades irrevocably spoiled but partly recovering How the once "worthless" River of Grass became agricultural, urbanized, "war on nature"
U.S. diplomacy challenged by unusually difficult situations with Syria and Iran
4 big economies a mixed bag BRIC nations -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- are growing their economies with a greater government roles
Interaction gets upbeat views The future of opinion journalism will bring more efforts to engage the reader
2 broadcasters get life memberships Margie Arons-Barron and Chuck Stokes, received AOJ's highest honor
We need politics for grown-ups! James Bacchus says Americans need to grow up and do what the world expect is: lead
Future looking up The AOJ Board of Directors met just before the Orlando convention
Presidential race, old hat new way Many Republicans never wanted a moderate nominee...
Citizen journalism by actual journalists Twitter and Facebook coverage of the AOJ 2012 convention in Orlando Sept. 20-22.
Masthead Summer 2012
Veteran and newcomer review 'Out of the News' book
Pulliam Fellowship goes to Sandra Shea of Philly
Editors & writers again decry recently growing trend to eliminate newspaper election endorsements.
Online polling and other research fables debunked, with guide to good poll coverage basics
For op-eds, or any newsroom diversity effort, give the gift of editing-mentoring.(updated 9/8/2012 re 0.5% major op-eds by Hispanics)
AOJ Election results
Masthead Spring 2012
Short contents: State Department briefings; Amazon shopping via AOJ; Doonesbury abortion cartoon flap; AOJ board matters; old link to 1993-2009 Masthead articles.
Masthead Winter 2012
Short contents: Sunshine, robo-turf, endorsements, Civilitas update, leaving the digital cesspool, civic engagement, Statement of Principles, edit note, prior issues.
Member info, Masthead's masthead
If you are an AOJ member and have lost your log-in or need a password re-set, please ask for help from our association manager via the Contact Us link at top right of most AOJ website pages. If you are not a member, please take a look at the membership links on the main page. For info on the members-only discussion list.
To send the editor a brief email (without uninvited attachments, please) john.r.mcclelland_at_gmail.com (replace the _at_ with the ampersand; this is a spam-buster to prevent automated junk mail).
John McClelland was photographer-reporter, columnist, and various kinds of editor at community and mid-sized daily newspapers in the Midwest and South for 22 years; he taught journalism at Roosevelt University in Chicago for 24 years, now emeritus (almost entirely retired).
ABOUT THE MASTHEAD
The National Conference of Editorial Writers, born in 1947, began a mimeo journal in 1948. For most of the next five-plus decades, The Masthead was a quarterly magazine for members and subscribers (including several research libraries). The transition from print to online publication began in 2010 and continues with updating of this site under the organization's new name and broader focus, Association of Opinion Journalists, adopted in 2012.
This page is continually in transition, even before a change in association management, May 2014, and probable extensive website revision in coming months. We know you might like to comment on articles, and we are eager to accommodate. However, we learned last year that the software persistently makes the process difficult and unreliable. We will joyously announce the advent of reliable commenting, possibly during summer 2014.
The Masthead, published since 1948-49 by the National Conference of Editorial Writers, now the Association of Opinion Journalists. http://opinionjournalists.org/masthead. (c) 2012-13-14 AOJ. This page extensively updated 2014-04-09 at 6:10 p.m. cDt, updated 2014-06-11-16:12cdt
