The Ilocos Times

I still remember—not so long ago—when responsible newspapers would print the news on the front page and tuck commentary inside, separated neatly so that readers could distinguish fact from opinion. Back then, every news story had a byline , and a whole chain of editors—from copy editors to the editor-in-chief—stood as gatekeepers of accuracy and truth. Today, much of the news we consume is online — and with that shift, we’ve seen a blurring of lines. Some online outlets continue the tradition: reporters write bylines, stories pass through editors, and readers can trace the chain of accountability. Others present themselves as “news,” yet offer neither bylines nor editorial credits. The difference between an online newspaper and a blog can become dangerously subtle. That’s why I ask: Should online newspapers have formal editorial boards? I believe the answer is yes—and here’s why.   What Is an editorial board—and what is it for? An editorial board is a group of senior edi...

I still remember a time—not even that long ago—when newspapers followed a simple but sacred rule: the front page was for news; the inside pages were for opinions. There was no confusion, no overlap, no sneaky editorializing masquerading as journalism. You always knew what you were reading and who wrote it. Every piece of real news carried a byline , because truth has a name. And behind that name stood an entire battalion of editors—the copy editor, the desk editor, the managing editor, all the way up to the editor-in-chief —carefully cross-checking facts and holding every reporter accountable. Fast forward to today. The online versions of traditional newspapers still follow this discipline. They still publish bylines. They still employ editors. They still observe a chain of accountability . Generally speaking, most broadsheet newspapers that come out with online versions could be deemed as responsible, because the same editors that serve in their paper versions also serve in t...