Case in point: Here is what I sent via e-mail to the editor of a local newspaper:
...and here is what they published as my letter:original letter wrote:I have comments regarding the article published by APP in their newspaper issue on Sunday, November 27, 2011, under the Music Notes section, entitled "New World, new culture". I strongly disagree with Carlton Wilkinson's article. While studying American Music History with an expert in the field at Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, I participated in class discussions that analyzed a very broad spectrum of musical styles in America whose homogenizations were evident or documented within literary essays, anecdotes, event advertisements such as those in newspapers, and musical manuscripts. American music was in flux and multifaceted, greatly evolving through the publication of music performed by opera troupes and the popularity of instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, fife, and cornet. But primarily, music developed through people of various music cultures sharing and learning music with each other and performing it in new ways. Considering my previous studies and experiences with this subject, it seems that Mr. Wilkinson's article contained biased, slanderous, baseless stereotypes presented without evidence. For those interested in American Music History, I advise the following: take a course on the subject with an expert in the field, read a book such as "An Introduction to America's Music" by Richard Crawford, and then write an essay of academic quality that includes proper citations. Finally, avoid slandering the legacies of America's defenseless early musical legends. Today's Historically Informed Performances can partially credit the melting pot of influences upon early American musicians, given proper research.
They asked for 250 words, so I gave them 250 words, yet they still decided to reduce it themselves to 176 words. That's removing almost 100 words from what I actually wrote.Published Letter wrote:Regarding the Nov. 27 article, “New world, new culture,” I strongly disagree with Carlton Wilkinson. .
While studying American music history with an expert in the field at Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University, I participated in class discussions that analyzed a very broad spectrum of musical styles in America whose homogenizations were evident or documented within literary essays, anecdotes, even advertisements such as those in newspapers, and musical manuscripts.
American music was in flux and multifaceted, greatly evolving through the publication of music performed by opera troupes and the popularity of instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, fife and cornet. But primarily, music developed through people of various music cultures sharing and learning music with each other and performing it in new ways. It seems that Wilkinson’s article contained biased, slanderous, baseless stereotypes presented without evidence.
For those interested in American music history, I advise the following: Take a course on the subject with an expert in the field or read a book such as “An Introduction to America's Music” by Richard Crawford.
Robert Walliczek
President, Blazing Music Network Inc., Shrewsbury
In previous experiences I had with the newspapers, they report that I said something that I actually never recall having said over the telephone interview... so yeah, journalism, I'm takin' you with a grain of salt. In fact, I'm gonna avoid media altogether and if I have something to say, I'm gonna publish it myself, because I don't like it when someone else edits my words for me because they think they are extraneous or irrelevant. At least tell me beforehand that you are going to change what I say before I entrust you to publish my words as I sent them to you. What happened to the last 2 1/3 sentences?
EDIT: Also, I should have said "libeling" instead of "slandering", since his article was written rather than spoken.