Volstead Lounge
Go Ahead, Lament Us
RECEIVED Mon., Nov. 3, 2003
Yoohoo! Any editors out there? Who decided it was news that strapping, young Southern Baptists are traveling to South America ["Journey Woman," Oct. 31] because the natives need God "not like they need gravy with their mashed potatoes, but like they need bread and water"? Sure, there's a place in the world for compelling profiles, but "Journey Woman" is – at best – suitable for a community newsletter, not the city weekly.
There's actual news in Austin that needs reporting and readers who are eager to read it. There are also plenty of people worth profiling. If Kara Kemmerling is one of those people, Lucius Lomax's article makes it impossible to tell. The story was badly written and pointless – it was single-sourced, barely made sense, had no point of view, and told us nothing about Kemmerling's work, the people she works with, the place she lives, or who she is. Show a little respect for your readers (and your writers, who would benefit immensely from a sound edit and a solid refusal to publish sub-par work) and give us a reason to keep reading the Chron instead of lamenting it.
There's actual news in Austin that needs reporting and readers who are eager to read it. There are also plenty of people worth profiling. If Kara Kemmerling is one of those people, Lucius Lomax's article makes it impossible to tell. The story was badly written and pointless – it was single-sourced, barely made sense, had no point of view, and told us nothing about Kemmerling's work, the people she works with, the place she lives, or who she is. Show a little respect for your readers (and your writers, who would benefit immensely from a sound edit and a solid refusal to publish sub-par work) and give us a reason to keep reading the Chron instead of lamenting it.
Sincerely,
Ashley Craddock
Ashley Craddock
