This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Re: Garden Globe Awards question

I'm glad I initiated this dialogue and there have been several good points.  However some points have been missed.   While I may be as good a writer as someone writing for The New York Times (which, by the way was the first paper that I ever wrote for), a full time staffer who writes for The Times can allocate much more time and resources for an in depth article than I can as columnist for a weekly.  I'd love nothing more than to be able to work for several days or even weeks for a feature that might appear on a weekly basis.  I can't though, I have to make a living.

As for the personal, first person approach in some of our columns...that's why were columnists and not simply feature writers.  My readers read my column because they like my style and casual approach but I still keep it factual, based on science and yes, I'm afforded the luxury to cover  some controversial topics because I'm...a columnist. 

If indeed as Graham Rice has stated, " I think, as have people on this list, that the judging system is flawed ...."  then indeed it is time for a change in both attitude and judging criteria.  The fact that Graham also states that recommendations for change seem to have evaporated without any substantive response is also of concern.

Gerri Bauer's comments are also interesting.  She stated that she thought the judging was somehow weighted or handicapped with circulation taken into account.  I'd like to believe this but I can't imagine that the judges are going to look to see what each paper the entrant wrote for then take the time to go back and check what, The ABC book for  audited circulation?  As I recall the applications don't ask for circulation details so how are the judges reaching this enlightenment?

Friends and fellow writers...it's not a difficult question of physics or Quantum mechanics.  One award for materials appearing in daily newspapers, a different award for materials (yes even us lowly, first person columnists) in another category.



Andrew Messinger
The Hampton Gardener
The Hampton Gardener is a Registered Trade Mark
(Published every Thursday in the Southampton Press)

Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index