Editor needs to keep political feelings out of headlines

I noticed two headlines on the opinion page in the Jan. 30 edition of The Lancaster News that require comment.

There is an excellent guest column by Bruce Miller which stated very well his views about numerous topics in answer to statements attributed to him in the Charlotte Observer. However, the headline on his column was given as "I am passionate advocate for the right to vote." Certainly, his column contained a passing comment that he was a passionate advocate for the right to vote, but the headline using those words hardly comes close to accurately summarizing Miller's message in his column.

I would have written the following headline, "I disagree with the Charlotte Observer's characterization of me" or "Charlotte Observer mischaracterizes my views."

The other headline I disagree with is used with the letter from W.B. Evans, who wrote a very accurate summary of the vote in South Carolina's Jan. 26 primary. The headline, "South Carolina voters say they want change in White House" does not summarize his letter, but is a thinly veiled anti-Bush political comment by the headline writer.

That was exactly the opposite of Mr. Evans' intention in his letter.

Mr. Evans correctly and skillfully commented on the racial aspects of the South Carolina primary. Therefore, the headline should have been "South Carolina primary featured racial overtones" or something like that. There was nothing in Evans' letter about voters desiring change in the White House.

The headline writer should keep his or her political feelings out of writing headlines.

Charles V. Seng

Lancaster