This interview with Daniel Okrent, outgoing public editor of the New York Times (otherwise known as “ombudsman”), struck me as interesting. Especially the last quote in the article where Okrent talks about reactions to his departure:
Well, Phil Taubman, the Washington bureau chief, invited me back this March and said it was time for the exit interview. He told me, and I don’t remember the exact words, “We all survived this. We don’t think you’re a horrible human being.”
What’s interesting about this quote is that newspaper editors still aren’t interested in hearing any criticism. Taubman says he “survived” having a public editor critique his job. He should say he welcomes it. Public criticism of newspapers will only make them better. Why are so many editors scared of it. Don’t they want to improve their newspaper?
Post a Comment