Hi Truthseeker,
I don't know if this topic has been discussed before, but I have some questions about how witnesses get to write articles in the Watchtower.
I believe that if you search AlanF topics and posts, you may find good comments on this. Also, Ray Franz describes this process in his book, Crisis of Conscience.
While reading a few of Maximums' posts from 2 years ago, there was one from Barbara Anderson who briefly described the internal politics between the editors of the Awake and the editors of the Watchtower.
Yep. Actually, Barbara did not make a post ... rather, Maximus took her comments from another source.
I'm more interested in the Watchtower writers though than the Awake, as this is supposed to be the "spiritual food" we are all to take in and absorb.
The "Watchtower" is often still referred to as the "backbone" of the organization ... yet, I believe that the same people are involved in both of these phamplets.
So how does one get to be a watchtower writer? Do you have to be able to write well?
Like most JWs, I never knew anything about this process of becoming a writer for the Society ... but, I can say that from my research, many discussions with people who have been to Bethel and other researchers like AlanF, etc. and reading Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz, that the Society does not use educated journalists ... that is these people are not formally trained. Rather, those responsible for article content rely on subordinates who have some measure of talent. And nowadays, the articles are edited by circular through committee ... that is they are reviewed by several key people including members of the Governing Body, each making notes in their own assigned color of pen ... and then eventually gets approved by the head of the writing department.
What are your experiences with any writers you have met? Are they arrogant, know it all or humble?
AlanF has met a couple of these by phone and in person ... PM him with this question, because he has some fascinating comments to make.
A year or two back, the Society in their media section had a comment from a certain Robert Peevey? who wrote for the Watchtower - I think one of those who ammended the "disfelloshipping" question on their website dealing with beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses. Has anyone ever met him?
Not me.
How does one go about writing a watchtower study article and are they still read by the governing body?
I am not sure that a study article is necessarily written by just one person ... those these little articles are small enough that I would think the 6th grade mentality of their writers should be able to handle it ... I don't mean that as sarcasm ... it is just that their articles are written by people who obviously intend to reach people with little education ... enough to read somewhat ... so this should not be too great a task.
And yes, as noted above, members of the Governing Body who are involved with teaching and writing cmmittees do review these articles for editorial purposes ... at least according to recent discussions I have had with people who work or worked at Bethel.
