WBJ Editor Brad Kane
Updated: February 17, 2020
Letter from the Editor
Her story is what matters
When I edit reporters’ stories, I hate one word above all others: recently.
Recently may sound like a good word to use to describe an event occurring in the not-too-distant past, but it is so non-descriptive and relative, it can really mean any time. Recently can mean one hour, one week, or five years. It is a bad word to use, especially when you can give a specific time. Which of these is a better sentence? “Worcester recently gave Table Talk Pies a tax break.” or “Worcester on Tuesday gave Table Talk Pies a tax break.”
At WBJ, we have high standards for including specific details in our news features. We don’t cut corners with relative words. We include people’s titles, company locations, and what products and services they provide. Details are important.
Yet, when you read reporter Sarah Connell’s feature “Disrespected” you will notice not all the details are there. The article’s subjects tell stories where company names are left off and where people are mentioned but not identified. Even my dreaded word – recently – is used. This is because Sarah is writing about the sensitive topic of sexual harassment, and we wanted to create a safe space for the brave women who were willing to relay their experiences and be identified in the story, without suffering a negative backlash I still fear they will receive.
When Sarah took on this assignment, we talked about how the true power of the storytelling would be in the individual experiences these women were willing to relate. Yes, you can cite studies and statistics all you want; but you will never feel how important this issue really is until you read how the long and impactful career of State Sen. Harriette Chandler was almost cut short when she had to choose between her academic studies and her dignity. That is why we relaxed WBJ’s standards on details for this story.
Admittedly, this has created a story reading as one-sided. In a way, though, sexual harassment is a one-sided judgment. Only you can decide when someone else has crossed your line of comfortability. People may read the anecdotes and say, “That doesn’t count as sexual harassment.” But, that doesn’t matter. What matters is the line was crossed in these women’s minds, putting them in the position where their safety, comfortability, productivity and self-worth was compromised. That’s what matters.
- Brad Kane, editor
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