Do writers or columnists who contribute daily or weekly articles to a newspaper have the right to have their pictures published with their articles? The question continues to divide readers. Some say yes, arguing that an individual who addresses people’s social and other problems deserves to have his or her picture appear with their articles. Others say there is no need for pictures since writers are not movie or television stars and it is not necessary to have pictures appearing with every article.
Personally, I side with the first group who say the writer’s picture should accompany the article. Some local newspapers have a standing policy of not publishing columnists’ pictures. Every paper of course has the right to decide what is best for it, but this does not mean papers who publish pictures are right and the others wrong.
Readers normally react to what is written in the columns and on opinion pages in different ways. A writer who addresses issues of interest deserves to see his or her picture published with the article. These people spend a great deal of time and energy trying to produce a good piece of work which they hope will address public concerns. The writers give readers an insight into problems facing society while suggesting some possible remedies and solutions.
Today’s youth and children know by heart almost every fact about football players, actors and singers. They have learned this by following the news of these celebrities — and the news is more often than not accompanied by pictures. But these same youth and children are completely ignorant when it comes to writers who struggle to defend their causes and address their problems.
Some may argue that a reader is only interested in the article and may not care much about the writer’s picture and that it is the words that attract readers rather than people’s faces. This is not true because many readers have grown to like, and develop a relationship with, writers through the words they write and the pictures they see. They see the two as complementing each other.
A picture accompanying an article reflects a sense of respect and appreciation for the writer on the part of the newspaper and, at the same time, introduces the writer to readers. This is far better than treating a writer as an anonymous person whose face is never known to readers.
