Your Advocate Editorial Board
Publisher, Steven J. Schultz
Senior Associate Editor, Sally K. Lehman
Assistant Editor, Emilie Ratcliff
Why Some Editorials Don’t Have Bylines
Most newspapers, and some magazines, have Editorial Boards collectively working out opinions on the issues of the day: they will seek reporting from staff, do their own research, and generally debate until some consensus is arrived at, and a vote taken. The value of these editorials rests in their institutional hive mind nature, and along with that, comes a collectivity that would render a byline entirely disingenuous.
At the Advocate, given the diversity of its staff, this process seems especially natural. We tend to be an opinionated lot, but we are also quite accustomed to collaboration, and working to find consensus.
Our process for writing editorials varies somewhat by case, even though there is a basic framework – we are often research driven. The Board may assign the piece by sections, or in total to a team, or even an individual editor or staffer tasked to offer a narrative and recommendations.
Because our process involves a vote, no editor or staffer is ever required to write an opinion they do not agree with, though they can volunteer to do so. Often, we also seek input or consensus from our entire staff. But, however the final editorial is processed, it is submitted for a final vote from the entire Editorial Board, and a simple majority constitutes approval.
Notably, we have sometimes published counterpoints from dissenting editors and staffers, and we welcome op-ed submissions.