Editors' Comments

Newspaper Research Journal, Fall 2003 by Grusin, Elinor Kelley, Utt, Sandra H

A new student arrives at the door to be advised into classes. You ask the usual questions, including why he or she chose journalism as a major, and the student says, "I don't do math. I'm a word person."

After reading Scott Maier's article on math errors in news in this issue, you may want to send that new student to the math department to take more than the minimum number of math classes required for graduation. You may also want to make Maier's article required reading.

Granted, Maier found math errors didn't account for a large percentage of the errors; but the scary part is that most involved reporters' inability to do simple calculations-not higher math. Even scarier is his observation that "What appears to be lacking is a willingness to question numbers that don't make sense."

The problem may only worsen as copy editors spend more time on production and less time editing. Couple that with the tendency for newspapers to run more numbers-based stories, and you get an even better idea of why that student needs to spend more time in the math department.

In another article in this issue, Sigman Splichal and Bruce Garrison reexamine how editors view reporting private affairs of public officials and candidates. What they found are many editors who dislike reporting private indiscretions but are not likely to stop doing it anytime soon.

"Like it or not, they must report such information if it becomes newsworthy, which nowadays is synonymous with published elsewhere," they write.

Look for some insights into a major question in your next issue of Newspaper Research Journal, Winter 2004, which will focus on "Good Business/Good Journalism." The issue will examine the relationship between quality news content and newspaper profits. Steve Lacy of Michigan State University, Esther Thorson of the University of Missouri and John Russial of the University of Oregon will edit the special issue, which will bring together both academic and practitioner voices. Also, New Directions for News, a newspaper think-tank foundation, will pay to print, promote and distribute 1,000 extra copies throughout the industry.

Elinor Kelley Grusin and Sandra H. Utt, Co-Editors