Editorial

The first week as Editor

Well... In my first week as Editor, I managed to get into a discussion with Michael Grant that ended in an article submission. I had a discussion with Lesley-Dee over a submission and ended up publishing her article after meeting the guidelines. Carl Austin Bennett sent in an article and it was published after getting a title from him. I made adjustments to the rules for the Fidonews Echo, as I discovered, thanks to Michiel van der Vlist, that they were a little un-clear in one portion. I'm not going to count how many times I went through the control files for the production of the Fidonews and made changes to them. :)

All in all, not a bad week. :-))

All of the above has brought to light some thoughts to keep in mind when submitting articles.

1. Just because it's clear to you, doesn't mean it's clear to all.
2. In Fidonet message areas and article submissions, it can be hard to tell what emotions are being conveyed. Readers aren't there when we write an article or a message. This makes it a little hard, at times, to know what the feelings of the person writing the article or message are. I might be joking with someone and some other person might think I'm "busting someone's chops".
3. A title in an article can speak volumes.

On that last note:

I don't have a crystal ball and I'm not a mind reader. I won't try to guess what your submission is about. Besides, the title will appear in the index portion of the Fidonews and give readers an idea of what is in the Fidonews and what your article is about. Please title your submission.

I have this feeling that some might wonder what and how I think in regards to the Fidonews. IOW, what will this Editor accept and such.

I'll accept articles from anyone that wishes to submit them. If I have a question about the article, I'll ask the submitter and try to work out any problems. Most likely, we will work them out. While I feel that the Fidonews is the Newspaper of the Fidonet community, I also understand that there are boundaries and rules to be followed.

The Fidonews isn't a "rag magazine". It isn't a "free for all" message posting and quoting forum. I'll question any submissions that I feel are not proper for the Fidonews... This doesn't mean that "I'm right and you're wrong". It simply means that we need to work out whatever I feel is a problem. Please, don't be afraid to tell me your side to a question I might ask about your submission. More times than not, I'm probably the one misunderstanding what you are submitting. :-)

My idea of what the Fidonews Publication and the Fidonews Echo are for is really simple.

The Publication is for printing of articles. Articles should be submitted to the Publication, not posted in the Echo. They should be thought provoking, humorous, informational, technical or any number of combinations. There may be more combinations, but these come to mind.

The Echo is for the discussion of the aforementioned articles. Submissions to the Fidonews publication will, or should, be seen for the first time in the publication. If articles are taken from the Echo, then the discussion has probably already taken place and this ruins the whole purpose and process. IOW, it's backwards.

What is not needed is hate and gossip. Of course, what constitutes hate and gossip is a matter of opinion, but I think that almost any subject or opinion, properly presented, can be of benefit.

In this light, I intend to guide the Fidonews. I need you to help by submitting articles and, occasionally, guiding me. :-)

Regards,

Frank - Fidonews Editor