Of cut columns and a Minister who treats the Press like a PR firm

Rocky's Bru Sunday, March 18, 2012

Rocky's Bru

This kind of practice will turn the best of newspaper companies into PR agencies.

Poor Marina Mahathir. Read her latest posting "Cut Again".

If they censor you again, M, I suggest that you and your fellow suffering columnists stop writing for that particular newspaper. Write for publications that will not edit your pieces or demand that you "tone down". When I was the boss of Business Times and later The Malay Mail, I ensured that my columnists had a free hand so long as they didn't defame others (some still did, nonetheless!).

Columnists must not forget, though, that it is the editor's right to edit or butcher your column as he/she sees fit. That's why he/she is the editor; he/she needs to protect the interest of the newspaper and its stakeholders. Courtesy begs that the columnist is at least informed beforehand, because the article carries the columnist's name. On the other hand, a columnist who insists that his/her column should not be touched at all should consider publishing his/her own newspaper.