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Re: WAS: Garden columns NOW: Do a Better Job

Title: Re: [GWL] WAS: Garden columns NOW: Do a Better Job
I've been gone much of the day and have just found all of what is going on, so I'm jumping in here since this seems to be the latest in this particular thread.
   First, I want to thank Jessie for keeping the right attitude and degree of professionalism after the earlier comment.  Instead of using an emotional response, Jessie listed good examples to counter the comment and kept cool.  Thank you Jessie.
   Now, I am going to state very firmly that I can and will censor/moderate/expel members who use such emotional generalities and language like the quote below.  This list is for professionals who should be sufficiently diplomatic to first, avoid emotionalism (in other words, keep your cool), and secondly to be able to make a case from FACTS, not sweeping generalization.  If you don't have good, solid EVIDENCE, preferably from your own experience, it is not fitting that you comment.  This isn't just aimed at this thread, but at any thread that does this sort of thing.  
   Finally, there have been some threads that I have suggested/asked the members to take to the gardening list, and I've even gone so far as to move them, but they keep popping up on THIS list again.   When I ask, PLEASE accept that and move the thread.
   This list only works when everyone follows the correct path.  I've tried to be more light handed in the last few months, but if I have to start moderating to keep the level of professionalism up, I will do it.
-Lon Rombough, List Founder.
   

From: "Jessie Stephens" <jessie@texoma.net>


RE: "Almost every single newspaper in North America has a garden
column/section that is
a cliché.--i.e. crap."

I don't know how often you get a chance to carefully read almost every
single newspaper in North America, but it's clearly been a while since you
found your way to those in the North Texas area. Several papers here,
including the Sherman Democrat, which carries my column, and the Dallas
Morning News, which carries columns by Neil Sperry, Howard Garrett and H.R.
Stevens, are run by clearminded editors whose mandate directs them to
provide their readers with reliable and usable information. They don't
reward bad writing. They have little patience with old wives' tales or
anecdotes. "Essence of nature"...well, sure. Why not, once or twice a year?
They have a thumb on the reader's pulse.

Other North Texas papers, like the Wichita Falls Times and the Fort Worth
Star Telegram, often carry columns written by Cooperative Extension Agents
with university training in agriculture or horticulture, who, while they may
not call themselves "garden writers," can rarely be accused of turning out
sentimental cliches instead of hard information. They are accomplished at
"translating" scientific material into terms their audience can take to the
Home Depot with them. They are quietly filling the shoes of would-be garden
writers who are not able to figure out how to do the same or are waiting for
GWA to fill in the blanks for them.

Around here, the media--not only newspapers, but radio and television--take
gardening seriously. Gardening gurus are local heroes. Among us, we exercise
considerable power over the retail markets within our venues. We couldn't do
that if our columns were crap.

Jessie Gunn Stephens
Touring Texas Gardens
When to Do What in Your Texoma Yard and Garden
The Book Lover's Tour of Texas
Columnist, "In Your Backyard," Sherman Herald-Democrat


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Lowenfels" <jeff@gardener.com>
To: <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 1:52 PM
Subject: [GWL] Re: gardenwriters Digest, Vol 8, Issue 30


Someone noted the obvious: most garden writing is crap. It sure is when it
comes to Newspapers and Magazines, that is for sure. .IMHO it is far too
often a mixture of "Old wives' tales "(is that term PC?) and ancetedotal
experiences. This is in part because so many of us garden writers are simply
folks who like to garden and fancy that we can write. That doesn't mean we
KNOW anything. It is also because many of us write about the "spirit" or
"the essence of nature and gardening." Toss in the editor's need for cute
headlines and the need for beautiful and tasteful, color pictures. Almost
every single newspaper in North America has a garden column/section that is
a cliché.--i.e. crap.

IMHO we need more science sessions at our GWA meets.


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