These 'editors' would be called upon to identify opportunities to make money and somehow link whatever features they're writing or commissioning to this to secure the monies. Oh, and they get paid a basic PLUS commission.
Hmmm... What the hell is this about then? Can anyone tell me? Editors fulfil many functions, but correct me if I'm wrong - if you want editorial content integrity damaged, make a quintessential gatekeeping job about the money. Yes! Why don't we do that? Good editors clearly don't have a tough enough time protecting staff and sources, managing their flow of content and relations with advertisers, writers and publishers...
No, as they go about the business of ensuring that the public gets the best information with which to make educated, informed choices about just about everything in life, they will have to adjust content to sell ad space so they are able to pay their bills! Awesome...
Yes! Why don't we NOT pay Editors, who generally don't earn enough as it is, salaries that facilitate their jobs, but rather make the Editor's job commission-based so that we can REALLY ENSURE editorial integrity. Great stuff!
Editors do fulfil many functions but this is just another example of how so many people think Editors are marketing staff - particularly in corporate publishing - I mean in this environment Editor's aren't seen as skilled in anyway in relation to a specialised profession and are used over and over again in different - but what can be construed as related - roles i.e. they are in fact required to be Marketing Managers, Project Managers, PR Managers, and company letter, fax and email writers...
Let me say this: I think any media or ad agency or business would be thrilled to employ this Editor: Boy - I can sell, I can strategise and implement media plans, I can handle budgets, I'm a new product developer, I'm a PR Company, I'm the HR Manager, hell - I'm the CEO!
I wish that publishers, so many of whom use and abuse the intellectual property of their Editors and scowl at their deep sense of integrity and commitment to ethics, would wake up and smell the coffee. Here's a tip:
Editor's are not there to help you write your fax cover sheets and say 'Yessir' to every money-making idea no matter what it means in terms of content. Treat them for the essential societal gatekeepers they are and know that ultimately they will not only add credibility to your organisation if you don't constantly hope you can, and try to, corrupt them, but in so doing will help shape your organisation in a positive way and keep you and your 'schemes' lawsuit-free by preventing YOU from doing some dodgy things...
