EP Writing for Interactive Media Forum

Validating a writer

Perhaps the gist of the previous discussions is correct, maybe that is the direction the web will move to "validate" their writers.

However, it is a bit to stiff and intellectual for my tastes. I am a freelancer LA Times Chronicle etc, have written a book on poetry and physics (touche -- a validation), but to decide on my sources I simple look at their writing.

Even the most knowledgeable professors can be emptyheaded -- their writing devoid of a real essence -- just vain jargon that impresses some.

It is fairly easy, with a little practice, to look at a short passage of text and know the writer's "heart" -- whether they truly have something to say or whether to close the book, hit the "back" button. It is really (as far as I know) the only way to efficiently sort through the mountains of text now available.

So if someone write's for TIME -- good -- but if that person fails the "scan test" -- who cares?

In fact, establishing an overly restrictive writer validation structure could be harmful by elimin- ating writer's with real content, but not enough credentials.

I hope that whatever writer validation system evolves takes into account the more subtle and intuitive levels of communication.