Ever Heard of Editorial Policy?
March 16, 2022
I have been working through the digital baloney that is tossed in my face each morning. Mashable reveals that Substack is losing writers due to censorship. The story “Why Substack Creators Are Leaving the Platform, Again” explains how Substack’s management fell on its sword. TikTok’s problems with content moderation in Russia are explained by the “real” news outfit owned by the estimable Rupert Murdoch. “TikTok Struggles to Find Footing in Wartime” explains that figuring out how to deal with what Mr. Putin perceives as untoward content. Amazon Twitch faces similar challenges. And there is YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.
The issue is that none of these high tech outfits attended to the value of what I call “editorial policy.” The idea is that there are guidelines developed by professionals working in an information generating operation develop. These are discussed, debated, and written down. Once they have been written down, the guidelines are reviewed, presented when new employees are hired, summarized in user documentation, described in training sessions, and mentioned (briefly or in detail) in conference posters or presentations.
The main idea is to demonstrate a set of guidelines that the information generation outfit followed. I have delivered briefings to start ups, venture funds, and professional groups for more than 50 years. I can say, based on my experience, that once the Internet made everyone into an expert, very few found editorial policies particularly relevant.
Now the zippy types are figuring it out. The problem is that effort is needed. Disciplined thinking is necessary. Staff training and continuity are important. Management commitment is important.
I am not sure retroactive editorial policies will be possible. Let’s just go with the flow. How is that working out for you?
Stephen E Arnold, March 16, 2022
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