I judged in December at an open show, and was disappointed to see my critique in Dog World had been edited and ended up not making any kind of sense, bits of my critique had been rewritten so it did not read anything like the critique I sent in! I even looked to see if it was a different judge who had written it, incase our critiques had got mixed up at the printers. Thankfully Our Dogs printed it in full and didn't attempt to rewrite it!

I am now wondering whether to write to the paper as a friend suggested or as I thought to do, to simply write to the exhibitors individually.

A freind of mien found the same after she judged, and did complain.  I think they basically said they coudl edit what they wanted.

She ended up posting her critique on a breed club forum on MSN.

Oh my, thats such awful.  I hate when you write something, or say something to papers and it is edited down so much, that it no longer is even close to what was said.

I personally would do both.  Write the paper (or mag) and explain.

Then I would send to the exibitors a letter, as wel as a copy of what you submitted to the article.

Dog World do tend to edit things a lot.  They've edited several of my critiques over the years and they also do it to breed notes.

Debs 

I'd do a letter for the letters page of DogWorld, hopefully that way all the exhibitors will see it.  How can DogWorld do that?  I've never seen anywhere in the paper where it says that they edit details has anyone else?

They say you are allowed a certain number of words and they have the right to edit it on the slip of paper that comes in the envelope marked To The Judge. I know I didn't exceed the number of words so why they edited it I have no idea. It was just annoying it no longer made any sense and didn't even remotely sound like the critique I wrote.

Is there anything that can be done concerning copyrights on the article you wrote ?

ask for it to be re printed in fulll plus send a copy of full version for publication in your breed club mag.

This happened to me when I judged by first breed club show and I was mortified.  One of the dogs was oversize but was very nice so got 2nd in class and I wrote the nice things about him then said but 'there was just too much of this dog for me' they edited out the 'for me' bit so it just looked like I was saying the dog was oversize, which he was but I wasnt going to put it as bluntly as that!  I phoned the dog world breed columist for our breed and explained how mortified I was and she said it had happened to her as well so she now puts at the bottom of every critic she does 'If you are going to edit this critic in any way please do not print it'.  I have done that ever since and it has always worked so worth a try after your next appointment.

I judged two breeds at the show and both breeds had the critiques messed up. I have never had critiques edited so much before. I think I was annoyed more by the fact that it no longer made any sense than anything else!

Polly

Were you at Slough Open this weekend just gone stewarding the FCR's?  If so then hello, I was there with you for all of 5 minutes before being moved onto help at another ring lol. Just remmeber this being mentioned about DW and editing there then came across this post...

Hello fellow steward! Did you have a good day? It was rather cold eh?

Regards
Polly

Hello!  My word was it cold or what!  I was back outside for the Irish Setters and the wind, so bitter!  Although all in all despite the chill of the weather it was a good day. :) Got me back into the swing of things which is all good. Just hope its not like that for Maidenhead DCS next weekend!