‘Bad copy,’ ‘change of tune’

‘Bad copy,’ ‘change of tune’

Tess Cusipag replies:

TESS CUSIPAG

(Complete copy follows. –Ed.)

Hermie, you’re a publisher and an editor and you will understand why an editor exercises the right and prerogatives of being editor.

One reason is a bad copy, one with all the grammatical lapses, mispellings, punctuations, etc.Tenny’s copy is like that, just read his email to you and I think you will agree.

Another reason is when the editorial integrity of the paper is compromised either by sloppy writing or by sudden changes in the leanings of the writer. Tenny has abruptly changed his tune that is inconsistent with the paper’s pursuit of the truth.

His article mocks the very principle on which Balita stands. It is not style but substance that matters most to us. Tenny claims it was his style of writing. No, it is not. He was singing to the tune of other people who might have influenced him already. To me, it looked like his column was going to be a vehicle to discredit Balita’s work in the guise of style.

Why does Tenny come to you and to the others? Of course, he wants us to fight over the alleged “insult”. His ego was pricked, that’s what it is.

Not being an editor except in designation, Tenny does not know what editing means; so he mistook copy editing for censorship. Yet his content remains the same, nothing has changed. Only the long, meaningless sentences that were pruned down to fit the space.

I have been quite liberal with him although I regret allowing his column on Paeng Nebres to be published as is. It was my mistake to let it pass by yielding to Tenny’s alleged style of writing.

There’s a lot more to say but I’m not saying anything more that could worsen the situation. Bottomline is, I was exercising judgment as publisher and editor.

Thanks and regards,
Tess