If it happens to be a piece of software, they just sit down and write their impressions of the technology. Journalists, such as the person who wrote the recent New York Times review, represent not just themselves but a larger entity. As such, and I can tell you this from years of experience, they expend a great deal of time and energy to make sure they have the story and the details correct. When they finally sit down to write, it is rarely just off the cuff.

As far as the role of the editor goes, I think it is a bit more refined that you portray it to be. Having written for both CBS Radio and many national magazines myself, I can assure you that most journalists really appreciate the role of a good editor. Not only can an editor help make your final work better than it might have been otherwise, but he or she invariably raises questions the writer hadn’t thought of, or brings wholly different perspective to bear that can make the story more complete and well rounded.

I think that the fact of the matter is that there are no “unregulated” stories out there. Whether we are reviewed by a blogger with one visitor per month or by one of the nation’s top journalists, we should expect that the writer will put their personal stamp on the story. We are ready and willing to hear all points of view!