Why We Write

In his commentary on the demise of the higher education beat on many newspapers, the head of the National Education Writers Association reveals that these writers and their editors may have become too close to their sources. “Coverage of elementary and secondary schools is closer to readers’ hearts, editors argue,” writes Richard Whitmire in The Chronicle of Higher Education. “Higher education, by contrast, generally operates better and involves lots of out-of-town students.”

Evidently, at least the public relations in those institutions of higher learning “operates better.” Whitmire is also an editorial writer at USA Today.

Malcolm A. Kline is the executive director of Accuracy in Academia .