acting as a buffer between them and readers. James Gannon of the Des Moines Register adds that only top editors have enough authority to keep newsmen on their toes.
Not all of today's ombudsmen write columns in their newspapers (eight work strictly behind the scenes), and, according to Tate, few of those who do write say very much that is important. Too often, she con- tends, columns explore such "cosmic" questions as the relative merits of "Peanuts" as opposed to "Li'l...