There is always a temptation to see editorials by news organizations as the sole ideas and thoughts of the Editor or the Editor-in-Chief.
Public perception about our own editorials in CrossRiverWatch has not been different either, with public comments on the editorials we have been publishing showing clearly that there are some of our readers who actually feel that these editorials are ‘manufactured’ by our Editor-in-Chief, Agba Jalingo.
Far from it. On the contrast, the editorials are actually a culmination of heated debates in our social media private groups were all our staff and citizen reporters contribute in details to the issues at hand.
Anyone of us can chose a topic and write an editorial and then throw same into any of our social media private groups, then the fireworks begin until we have a final product like the one we serve the public the last time.
The criteria is that the topic must be trending in the state and must be an issue of public interest. We have maintained that tradition and by so doing, we have realized how much it has impacted on the quality and content of our editorial writings.
We are all still students in the online news room. It is a relatively new sector where we do not have professors and expert materials to rely on. We rely on the judgement of our team leader who in turn harmonizes our ideas and thoughts for onward projection to the public and this team work has kept us ahead of the pack.
We decided to serve you bits of these editorial engagement, from behind the scenes. Enjoy as you read through.
Archibong Jeremiah is the Managing Editor of CrossRiverWatch