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April 2004Not Exactly Sally Field at the Oscarsby Lindsay Thompson, Bar News Editor Praise those of your critics for whom nothing is up to standard. Elsewhere this issue (p. 34) I report on the overall results of the WSBA's member survey on Bar News. A bunch of you took the extra time to offer comments praising the magazine. All of BN's happy few are humbled and gratified by your generous comments. Others of you took time to tell us how much you dislike Bar News, or things in it. Starting with the lawyer who, in response to the question, "What would you like to see in Bar News that's not there now?" responded, "Reality," you pulled dozens of shiny stones out of your pouches and gave us a big, collective slingshot in the forehead. You find BN too Seattle-centric, too boring, too esoteric, too liberal, too long, and too often. "Recognize there is knowledge and wisdom outside of downtown Seattle." "Bar News is written by and for the large mega firms and has little or nothing to do with the sole practitioner." "You profile the attorneys that advertise with you. Bar News is just advertising for 'Super Lawyers' and their firms." "There is a world outside Seattle." "Eliminate the junior high gossip in Around the State." "More articles about bar associations in eastern Washington and less about western Washington." "Bar News tends to focus too much on King County news and issues. Rest of state is treated superficially." "Usually too boring. Most is useless." "Solicit more interesting articles." "Substantive articles not useful. Some articles are too esoteric and appear to me to be for only special-interest groups." "Articles of little use or interest." "Not much for people in private practice. Very little for the government and in-house attorney." "As house counsel to a nonprofit, the articles rarely relate to my work." "Waste of my bar dues. The only thing I like to read is the discipline section, but only if there's anyone I know." "So boring I wish subscription was optional — then I would choose not to subscribe." "Book reviews? What book reviews?" "Prettier, but not interesting or germane to the sole or small firm practitioner." "Not anywhere as good as WSTLA. Even the Pierce County Bar News has better articles sometimes." "Less, not more." "After the Advance Sheets, who has time for more to read?" "Bar News comes out too often for busy attorneys." "A quarterly magazine would suffice. I barely finish one and get another." "A waste of money to print on nice paper. Should be printed as a newspaper to save money for worthy purposes." "I truly resent having to pay for this publication. I consider bar dues highway robbery anyway, and paying for a slickie I don't read and don't need just makes it worse." "Quit being political, and so politically correct." "Far too leftist in content — no conservative viewpoint unless in a letter to the editor." "Too political; too left wing." "Too much social science baloney — pro bono, etc. Get down to what most lawyers do day to day." "Very poor, liberal slant." "Bar News needs the absence of ideology — the bar is almost entirely controlled by WSTLA — also too much Seattle liberal point of view." "Eliminate editorial comment and liberal bias (impossible, but let me dream)." "Too much of a liberal focus." As Jack Benny used to say, "Well." In the meantime, as I wrote in my first column in 1988, I will be consoled by the poet Edward Dahlberg's maxim, "Every decision you make is wrong." ___________________ Lindsay Thompson practices law on Salmon Bay in Seattle and was raised by a family of perfectionists. He has turned out to be a grave disappointment. You can chivvy him by e-mail at tradelaw@thompson-law.com. |
