The blogger and the columnist
By adamg - Sun, 03/11/2007 - 1:56pm.
Ryan Adams has had an interesting e-mail exchange with the Globe's Joan Vennochi about the intersection of columnists and bloggers (although I question his assertion that columnists are supposed to be unbiased, and I wonder if Vennochi assented to have her e-mail made public).
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Yes, She Did
I always ask permission before I quote from any email.
On the other hand, "unbiased" is perhaps ambiguous. Fair would probably more adaquately describe what I meant.
In my own opinion, a columnist merely uses the news to create opinions. That doesn't necessitate any particular bias or prejudice. Certainly, there could be a liberal, conservative or other ideology of the writer, but that doesn't change the fact that any good columnist is going to be
a) thoughtful
b) very factual
c) fair
Based on the three criteria above, I think Eileen McNamara usually fits the bill as a "good columnist." Despite the fact that she is somewhat liberal, she's not afraid to criticize people coming from the liberal side of the isle.
Thanks
For the clarification.
As for McNamara, yes, see her column today (although I'm not sure that she presented enough evidence to make her case - why should we believe anything ICE says at this point?).
I agree
That was definitely not one of McNamara's best columns; I was a little disappointed in it.