Saying goodbye to the editor; thoughts?

[anodos]

During the past few years I have subscribed to a small magazine devoted to a favorite author. In the magazine’s early years the articles were on-topic and informative. Now it is still informative, but the editor has been including blurbs and occasionally full pages that are increasingly opinionated, especially against Catholicism, which in my eyes has nothing to do with the favorite author. At first the anti-Catholicism looked like legitimate outcry against actual abuse and injustice, but now it has turned into the demonization of both Catholics and Episcopalians as members of non-Christian organizations dedicated almost exclusively to sexual abuse and intimidation, not only the clergy but the organist and the volunteer at the soup kitchen. I think some of this may stem from a CBS and BBC report of an alleged “discovery” of a “leaked” Vatican document that has been discussed elsewhere on the forums.
I am planning on not renewing my subscription, but I am wondering if I ought to do something else as well. I don't personally know the editor, though we have exchanged a few polite emails in the past. Perhaps they would like to know what I've decided so that they won't be waiting on the check? If so, I would probably need to explain why. Has anyone done this? I think I can probably handle it all by myself, but I am interested in other people's experiences. :)

 

[Catholic90]

If you want to cancel, you do not owe them anything. You just cancel. However, if you wish to send the editor a quick email saying something like, “I have decided not to renew my subscription to this newsletter because _________________” that’s fine. Just expect they will likely try to call you and email you trying to change your mind.

Even when I have just canceled subscriptions to things in the past, they call and call and call. I have resorted to telling them, “What part of NO don’t you understand?” and hanging up. Eventually they stop.

 

[runningdude]

Most magazines have a letter to the editor section that solicits feedback from readers. You could consider writing to that to publicly state your dissatisfaction with the content.

Otherwise, a private message to the editor could be an act of mercy to help him understand why his articles are unfounded, but it is not required. You can simply unsubscribe and be done with it.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

During the past few years I have subscribed to a small magazine devoted to a favorite author. In the magazine’s early years the articles were on-topic and informative. Now it is still informative, but the editor has been including blurbs and occasionally full pages that are increasingly opinionated, especially against Catholicism, which in my eyes has nothing to do with the favorite author. At first the anti-Catholicism looked like legitimate outcry against actual abuse and injustice, but now it has turned into the demonization of both Catholics and Episcopalians as members of non-Christian organizations dedicated almost exclusively to sexual abuse and intimidation, not only the clergy but the organist and the volunteer at the soup kitchen. I think some of this may stem from a CBS and BBC report of an alleged “discovery” of a “leaked” Vatican document that has been discussed elsewhere on the forums.

 I am planning on not renewing my subscription, but I am wondering if I ought to do something else as well. I don't personally know the editor, though we have exchanged a few polite emails in the past. Perhaps they would like to know what I've decided so that they won't be waiting on the check? If so, I would probably need to explain why. Has anyone done this? I think I can probably handle it all by myself, but I am interested in other people's experiences. :)

Actually, I would probably not bother writing to the editor. I would write to the author, however. Having someone out there connecting his/her opinions with the author’s work is troubling to say the least. I know there is such a thing as free speech, but if the author’s name is being used, that connection can be removed. And if I were the author, I would put a disclaimer about it on my website, to the effect of, “X magazine is not in any way connected to or endorsed by me, etc. etc. etc.”

 

[anodos]

Actually, I would probably not bother writing to the editor. I would write to the author, however. Having someone out there connecting his/her opinions with the author’s work is troubling to say the least. I know there is such a thing as free speech, but if the author’s name is being used, that connection can be removed. And if I were the author, I would put a disclaimer about it on my website, to the effect of, “X magazine is not in any way connected to or endorsed by me, etc. etc. etc.”

I guess I could try try…he* did *believe the dead and the living could pray for one another.

 

[Castello]

I’d write to the editor AND to some of the big advertisers.

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

I’d write to the editor AND to some of the big advertisers.

That might be a good idea… I would definitely write to the editor, wait a little to see how/if he responds, and take it from there. Who knows, maybe his response will be a good one and you don’t need to write to anyone else. Depending on what happens, it might be a good idea to write to the advertisers as well… And although initially I had just thought the author was dead, if he is alive and you think he would be opposed to these kind of articles, you can write to him as well. If you think he wouldn’t care, I would worry it would just serve to back the editor’s poor choices.

 

[anodos]

The editor asked, so I explained. I gonna die I gonna die I gonna die I gonna die (don’t like confrontation.)