Slate Needs An Editor

Reynolds suggests Mickey Kaus as a replacement for Michael Kinsley as editor of Slate, and Welch and Layne concur. I have no objections to that proposal (although Andrew Sullivan jumps out as a suitable candidate, given his experience actually editing a comparable publication). But this Reynolds line in particular got my attention:

But perhaps bloggers should descend en masse on Slate and demand that one of our own be put in charge.

My initial reaction to that line (not the Kaus suggestion) was "Good gawd, Slate needs an editor's mentality, not a blogger's!" On second thought, I think Reynolds only meant to suggest with his "one of our own" comment that an online publication ought to be edited by someone familiar with web technology, including blogging, and I think that's only right.

But to elaborate on the editor versus blogger thought: The web has plenty of bloggers who serve a useful enough purpose (I guess -- we entertain ourselves, at the very least). But it needs more good editors, to bring some focus to the mess that is the web and some organization. I don't care if the next editor of Slate leans left or right, but I hope he brings a unique focus to that publication, along the lines of what Michael Kelly has done since taking over as editor of the Atlantic. I hope Slate does NOT become the disconnected hodge-podge of links and commentary that is the typical blog (this one included), a problem that Chris Wenham discussed at some length a while ago. That's why their choice of editor matters.

Ironically enough, I have always thought that Michael Kinsley was a far better editor (both at Slate and TNR) than writer. I like him in both roles, but there are plenty of good writers. A good editor is far rarer.

[Posted at 21:51 CST on 02/13/02] [Link]