Op-Ed

[lollardfish]

My first published op-ed piece is now online. I assume it will appear in the Sunday Star Tribune tomorrow (in paper).

It is interesting to see how the editor changed some of my language, mostly removing conjunctions and other words that I found created better flow, but that were clearly "un-newspapery." He also added the title. It's an odd feeling of powerlessness to submit such a thing and see it published without getting a final say-so. And that's the newspaper business.

Anyway, it's nice to see something like this published.

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

That's very well-written. Once it's in print, you should put it here as well. I can link to the article, but it could age out or have its URL changed; a link to another LJ post is longer-lasting.

And your argument is going into my own arsenal of talking points.

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

It's linked in.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. Thank you.

[rani23.livejournal.com]

Nice piece!

Edits

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

"It is interesting to see how the editor changed some of my language, mostly removing conjunctions and other words that I found created better flow, but that were clearly 'un-newspapery.'"

Told you.

I hope the paragraph breaks look better in the newspaper.

B

Re: Edits

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Me too. It was posted very messily.

And I knew you were right, and yet, I needed those therefores and howevers. The neat part has been getting emails from strangers and colleagues all morning. I was invited onto a public access Arab-American TV show next Friday (I'll be in Chicago), even.

Re: Edits

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Good. You can do radio.

I don't think the Star-Tribune syndicates their op eds, but watch Technorati for blog pickups.

B

Re: Edits

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

I wish I had written it about security so that Schneier guy would pick it up. He's so learned about medieval culture too, given that whereas Most people use passwords. Some people use passphrases. Bruce Schneier uses an epic passpoem, detailing the life and works of seven mythical Norse heroes (http://geekz.co.uk/schneierfacts/fact/27).

Re: Edits

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I've heard that.

B

Re: Edits

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

More seriously, although I know this is an old experience for you, but I find it pretty neat to realize that the number of people who have read something I have written has jumped by, well, by a lot. I mean, maybe 200 (probably half that) academics have read various essays and article drafts and such things. The Sunday Strib probably distributes a few hundred thousand, and if even 5% read my article ...

math is neat.

Re: Edits

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

640,000 on Thursday.

Yeah, it's neat.

B

Re: Edits

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Maybe less.

B

Re: Edits

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

My (possibly faulty) recollection is that suit was settled or dismissed.

Re: Edits

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

Half a million on Sunday estimating conservatively. So ... if even 5% read my piece, it's a lot of people.

Re: Edits

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Here's a national list.

I use it when I decide what to submit where.

B

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

This is also good.

B

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

I'm not wild about that article, but only because of the first sentence.

[zinzinzinnia.livejournal.com]

Cool. And an interesting read. I agree that you should re-post it to your own page.

Strib

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

They gave you a great space. Congrats.

Re: Strib

[lollardfish.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's, uh, big. Lesson learned: Give them a title or they will make something up. :)

Re: Strib

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Headlines are usually made up to fit the space available to them... it's an art.