When They Want Your Opinion

Summary

The author, a seasoned writer, reflects on the challenges of maintaining one's opinion in op-ed pieces submitted to major publications, where editors may impose their own views, leading to a compromise in the writer's original stance.

Abstract

The author humorously draws a parallel between the strictness of Sam Levenson's father in dictating opinions and the experience with editors at local dailies. Despite the prestige of having op-eds published in major newspapers, the writer expresses a sense of frustration with the editorial process, which can involve editors having agendas that conflict with the writer's expressed opinions. This tension is exemplified by an incident where the author's critical view of public school food was softened by an editor who provided a link to a five-year-old story about organic meals, despite the author's firsthand experience with the food's quality. The piece was eventually published with a tempered opinion to maintain a good relationship with the editor, illustrating the delicate balance between a writer's authentic voice and editorial influence.

Opinions

The author values the opportunity to be published in major newspapers but feels that editors can overstep by imposing their own agendas on the writer's work.
Editors may accept a piece for its style and flow but later challenge the writer's opinions if they do not align with their own.
The author experienced this opinion-shaping firsthand when an editor suggested that their critique of public school food was too harsh, despite the author's direct experience.
The author compromised by revising the piece to be less critical, indicating a willingness to adapt for the sake of maintaining a professional relationship.
The author notes a difference in the level of professionalism and the nature of editorial suggestions between big-time media editors and those of publications on the writer's platform.

They’ll give it to you

Sam Levenson, an old-time comedian, had a line I loved. Talking about his strict dad, he joked “When my father wanted my opinion, he gave it to me.” And I’m beginning to feel as if the editors I’ve been dealing with at the local dailies (I won’t name them) are morphing into father figures.

Appearing on the op-ed page of major league publications would be a big deal for most writers on this platform. And don't get me wrong — I appreciate the opportunities given me — even if I feel I’ve more than paid my dues to get them.

But writing op-eds, is by definition, expressing your opinion. Often, editors have an agenda. And what happens is that they might like a writer's approach, flow, and style enough to accept a piece, but then upon further study, find an opinion they don’t necessarily share. That’s when Sam’s old joke kicks in.

I had it happen at the NY Times (there, I named one), and again this week at another city daily. The story idea came to me one morning this week when I saw a feature in yet another NY daily that contended public school food just might be of a lower quality than the meals served at Rikers Island.

Having consumed both (and shelter food) enough to express an opinion, I did just that, sent the piece, and in 15 minutes, received a return email accepting my work for publication.

We (the editor and I) did the usual light editing (this editor doesn’t rewrite submissions, thankfully), but that wasn’t the end of it. Two days later, he wrote back (before publication) that maybe I was being a little hard on school food, and then directed me to a link on the internet from five years ago with a story about organic meals I know the New York City school system is not serving its students.

Clearly, he wasn’t in agreement with the harsh opinion I’d expressed about school food in the op-ed. We had an exchange or two in which I emphasized that I’d eaten a lot of school food while volunteering (school food was forwarded to the church) and am very familiar with its quality and nutritional value.

And then the piece didn’t run. Rather than stress the man, I let it go in the interest of continuing to maintain a good relationship for the future. This morning, the piece appeared just when I’d written it off (so to speak).

What was ultimately published on their site was mostly my opinion. But in the interest of diplomacy, I did send a tempered and revised version of the story to back off on the school food front as a compromise a few days back.

I have no way of knowing how he felt about the matter as believe it or not, after having been published on his page a half dozen times, I’ve actually never spoken to my editor in person or even on the phone.

Regardless, I guess we both had it our way. He got to inject his opinion — and I got to keep mine — albeit a somewhat toned-down version.

I will say this about editors for big-time media versus editors of publications on this platform. They fuck with my stories much less — and have more comprehensible and professional suggestions much more. But that shouldn’t come as a surprise.