NO NEED TO SPELL IT OUT, EDITORIALS MUST NEVER BE SPELLBOUND BY MISSPELLINGS

The editorial piece represents the voice of a media outlet. It's meant to be authoritative, and designed to be forceful in articulating the issues raised. In Kenya though, one could encounter other small considerations, like the procedure used, not just the substance. But there's really no need to spell it out: editorials must be accorded extra scrutiny, before publication.

If even a single word is misspelt in an editorial, it's very tempting to draw not so flattering conclusions about a publication:

- The editorial department is sloppy

- Proof readers/revise editors are incompetent

- Gatekeeping structures are weak

- A don't care attitude is prevalent

- Professionalism is not taken 'seriouly' I mean, seriously

- There's internal sabotage of the news product, and other allied payback schemes

Suffice it to say that a tiny spelling mistake can deliver a giant blow to the reputation and credibility of a newspaper!