In “Tough Crowd: Is J-School Worth It?” Jossip blogger David Hauslaib considers whether an expensive graduate degree is worth the time and cost.

Noting that graduate school used to be the place where students could network and make friends in the field, which often resulted in an entry-level copy-editing job, he states,  “…today, even the most grunt-worthy positions are being snatched up by ex-editors and the unemployed droves that used to work for Time Inc. So is it worth it to plunk down the cash, bite the bullet, and go back to school?” He goes on to evaluate costs and returns for three of the top journalism schools in the country.

I found some of the follow-up comments to this post as interesting as the post itself, and they reinforce the idea that experience, plus knowledge in at least one specialized area, and good marketing skills can help writers and editors build a solid freelance career that can take them as far, or even farther, than a graduate degree. That’s a good thing for those of us who are fundamentally unsuited for institutionalization in the corporate  or academic world!

I came across “Words associated with Christianity and British history taken out of children’s dictionary,” an article in the British newspaper, The Weekly Telegraph. I’ve always preferred Oxford dictionaries over any of the other choices, but it looks as if the new edition of their Junior Dictionary has lost its way.

According to the article by Julie Henry, “Oxford University Press has removed words like “aisle”, “bishop”, “chapel”, “empire” and “monarch” from its Junior Dictionary and replaced them with words like “blog”, “broadband” and “celebrity”. Dozens of words related to the countryside have also been culled.” The trend is disturbing.

Words matter. When pop culture references virtually replace history, nature, and the church in a dictionary intended for children, the results can’t be good. Without a strong vocabulary, cultural literacy becomes a distant mirage. What was Oxford University Press thinking?

Have you seen the newest addition to the grammar-book shelf? Martha Brockenbrough’s new book, Things That Make Us [Sic], looks like a wonderful addition to any writer or editor’s library. When I get a copy, I’ll post a review, but in the meantime, you’re welcome to share your thoughts if you’ve read it.