Publishers always influence editorial--Shafer

(Slate): "But now that the site, whose "tone and direction" (Dan) Abrams helped create, is up, he declares that he's going to retreat to the position of publisher.

• "I will continue to help guide and manage the business side of the site, but the
• editorial decisions will be left entirely to the editorial staff," Abrams writes.

This statement combines media hypocrisy, a gaffe, a bit of self-righteousness, and a dollop of stupidity all in one short sentence.

• The "un-interfering publisher" is one of journalism's great myths.

Every publisher who has the power to hire and fire makes his wishes known,

• either overtly or covertly.

• When his signals are ignored or disobeyed, the promised editorial independence

• always vanishes.

• Always.

Mediaite will be no exception."...7/6 Slate, "A Tiny Taste of (Dan Abrams') Mediaite," from Slate article by Jack Shafer, via Poynter.org/Romenesko

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