Managing editor Heather Allen’s self-described “rant” on your opinion page May 21 might have benefited had she interviewed me first. It is not accurate or fair to say that I never see The News, or that I am indifferent to the work of student writers. I wish I could spend more time with the staff, but I am a strong supporter. I know I have spoken about The News’s good preview of the Beanpot hockey tournament and recall chatting with editor Andy Cuneo outside the FleetCenter. After a talk on campus by the governor, I asked staffers from my newswriting class outside Blackman Auditorium if they had given thought to what a lead sentence might be. At a recent class, we incorporated the latest from The News reporters out of the Hemenway Street killing into a discussion of planning follow-up coverage of breaking news.

Out of respect for the editorial independence for a student publication, I do think it is wise in general for me to keep some distance. I take seriously the paper’s own masthead statement: “Northeastern undergraduate students conduct all operations involving the production of this publication.” Since I am the subject of Allen’s piece, I will say that newspapers generally do not allow managing editors to write signed opinions. M.E.’s, as they are called, need to be the primary point persons for fair and impartial coverage.

Now about that call I made for a picture; that was a compliment to The News’s photo staff, for heaven’s sake! I needed one quickly to go with an industry article and remembered that the student photographer had taken some good ones.

Students are calling and visiting me during office hours all the time. I always welcome those interested in good journalism to engage in conversation, and look forward to having them become students in my classes.

– Stephen Burgard is the Director of the School of Journalism.