The Editors Job
It is an editors job to report the news not to make it, not to judge it, and not tell the readers who or what to believe.
The editor has a responsibility to confirm the authorship of a letter. That's it. Period. Confirmation does not require publishing of private information and is no ones concern so long as no criminal charges are at issue.
There may be plenty of reasons to reject a letter to the editor, but on principle, disclosing the privacy of a home address, telephone number, or picture to the public should not enter into it. A policy such as that is rejected by virtually every newspaper standard in the civilized world, by every womens and children's abuse organizations, by every school system and state government's that I am aware of, and all Federal Agencies.
Rupert Murdoch in regard to Privacy said, Privacy laws are for the protection of people who are already privileged; they are not for the ordinary man and woman.
Your privacy, and security is most important. However, I do believe that restraint and common sense should be used when posting.
Safeguarding Family, Privacy, Rights
Would you request of your local newspaper to publish the following information?:
Your Home Address, Your Children's Names, Date of Birth, Annual Income, Social Security Number, (In a few states your Drivers License number may be the same as your Social Security umber, another risk to ones safety.)
Now, if the risks are mere paranoia, you should have no hesitation! Even in death it would be foolhardy.
Consider the risk you may be taking when permitting announcements to be published in the newspaper. Letters to the Editor should never include the family's home address. Having your address published increases the potential of threat from any reader with a tendency to crime or violence with an opposing opinion. You should assume that when someone asks you for your name, phone number, address, and other information, they may or do share that information with others. You should be aware that virtually everything published in the paper is also posted on the INTERNET, sharing with the world. Identity theft is not the only crime that begins with a name and address.
From a random survey of daily newspapers, one from every state in the union, I found only one single newspaper published the home address of those sending letters to the editor.
From a survey of 26 Iowa daily newspapers, only one published the home address of those sending letters to the editor.
It is evident the vast majority of newspapers provide it's readers and subscribers with safety, privacy, courtesy, and the dignity that is due them.
An Iowa State Legislator has stated, "As long as the (newspapers name withheld) can contact the author of a letter and verify its authenticity, there's no reason to print the address."
A chapter of the ACLU spoke saying, "It might not be good policy, but from a constitutional standpoint, the paper is under no obligation or restraint whatsoever--it can require writers of letters to the editor to stand on their heads prior to publication if it wants to."
Isn't that a comforting thought!
Children and parents must understand general security issues, and never give out identifying information, home address, school name, or telephone number, in a public message.
Because you can’t see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him or herself. Also know that everything you read may not be true.
The United States Department of Justice (www.usdoj.gov/) tells us, DON'T give any personal information, such as your Social Security number, address, phone number, credit card or calling card numbers, your school's name, or your picture to anyone that you don't personally know.
The Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org/) says, AVOID giving personal information on public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items for sale).
The Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov/) has this:
People aren't always who they seem to be. Be careful about giving out your credit card number, Social Security number, phone number and home address.
Need More?:
Safe Kids .... www.safekids.com
Stalkers home Page ... www.glr.com/stalk.html
What can be the harm in doing what the leaders of our country suggest. Perhaps they are correct in this matter. Consider an end to publishing the address. The information needed to confirm authenticity serves no legitimate purpose by being published.
Editors across the nation in the letters department say that they ask for the writers' addresses and daytime phone numbers so they can verify that the letters are genuine, and advise them that their letters are under consideration for publication. The contact info is kept confidential, and kept only temporarily, in case something comes up. Addresses are NOT published. This is GOOD policy!
The editor has a responsibility to confirm the authorship of a letter. That's it. Period. Confirmation does not require publishing of private information and is no ones concern so long as no criminal charges are at issue.
There may be plenty of reasons to reject a letter to the editor, but on principle, disclosing the privacy of a home address, telephone number, or picture to the public should not enter into it. A policy such as that is rejected by virtually every newspaper standard in the civilized world, by every womens and children's abuse organizations, by every school system and state government's that I am aware of, and all Federal Agencies.
Rupert Murdoch in regard to Privacy said, Privacy laws are for the protection of people who are already privileged; they are not for the ordinary man and woman.
Your privacy, and security is most important. However, I do believe that restraint and common sense should be used when posting.
Safeguarding Family, Privacy, Rights
Would you request of your local newspaper to publish the following information?:
Your Home Address, Your Children's Names, Date of Birth, Annual Income, Social Security Number, (In a few states your Drivers License number may be the same as your Social Security umber, another risk to ones safety.)
Now, if the risks are mere paranoia, you should have no hesitation! Even in death it would be foolhardy.
Consider the risk you may be taking when permitting announcements to be published in the newspaper. Letters to the Editor should never include the family's home address. Having your address published increases the potential of threat from any reader with a tendency to crime or violence with an opposing opinion. You should assume that when someone asks you for your name, phone number, address, and other information, they may or do share that information with others. You should be aware that virtually everything published in the paper is also posted on the INTERNET, sharing with the world. Identity theft is not the only crime that begins with a name and address.
From a random survey of daily newspapers, one from every state in the union, I found only one single newspaper published the home address of those sending letters to the editor.
From a survey of 26 Iowa daily newspapers, only one published the home address of those sending letters to the editor.
It is evident the vast majority of newspapers provide it's readers and subscribers with safety, privacy, courtesy, and the dignity that is due them.
An Iowa State Legislator has stated, "As long as the (newspapers name withheld) can contact the author of a letter and verify its authenticity, there's no reason to print the address."
A chapter of the ACLU spoke saying, "It might not be good policy, but from a constitutional standpoint, the paper is under no obligation or restraint whatsoever--it can require writers of letters to the editor to stand on their heads prior to publication if it wants to."
Isn't that a comforting thought!
Children and parents must understand general security issues, and never give out identifying information, home address, school name, or telephone number, in a public message.
Because you can’t see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him or herself. Also know that everything you read may not be true.
The United States Department of Justice (www.usdoj.gov/) tells us, DON'T give any personal information, such as your Social Security number, address, phone number, credit card or calling card numbers, your school's name, or your picture to anyone that you don't personally know.
The Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org/) says, AVOID giving personal information on public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items for sale).
The Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov/) has this:
People aren't always who they seem to be. Be careful about giving out your credit card number, Social Security number, phone number and home address.
Need More?:
Safe Kids .... www.safekids.com
Stalkers home Page ... www.glr.com/stalk.html
What can be the harm in doing what the leaders of our country suggest. Perhaps they are correct in this matter. Consider an end to publishing the address. The information needed to confirm authenticity serves no legitimate purpose by being published.
Editors across the nation in the letters department say that they ask for the writers' addresses and daytime phone numbers so they can verify that the letters are genuine, and advise them that their letters are under consideration for publication. The contact info is kept confidential, and kept only temporarily, in case something comes up. Addresses are NOT published. This is GOOD policy!
posted by wmjr at
2:44 PM
