Editorial Decisions Remain A Mystery To Me

2009-07-17

Today is a really slow news day, at least at the China desk. Friday is usually a slow day for news, and we are now smack in the middle of the dog days of summer.

So let's turn to an issue about which I like to ponder once in a while: how editors choose stories. I've never been in the news biz (I edited a magazine once, but it was a niche, bi-monthly trade rag).

So someone explain this to me. A few months ago, I recall seeing in one of the local papers that doctors in some part of China were using electro-convulsive (shock) therapy to treat "Internet Addiction." I considered posting on the topic as the use of ECT in the 21st century, with a couple of exceptions, is extremely troubling. I've also written several times in the past on Internet Addiction in China and its many "cures."

I ultimately decided against it. What could I say besides "That's pretty horrible"? Nobody else wrote about it either. It was not a widely distributed story.

Fast forward to last week.

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