--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't commit to being a columnist unless…" description: "\"Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful to say. Say i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/allan-sloan-34713_behinds_don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless_11697.png" --- # Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to… ![“Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful to say. Say it in a way that will interest someone other than you, your family and your sources.” quote by Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/allan-sloan-34713_behinds_don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless_11697.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/allan-sloan-34713_behinds_don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless_11697.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fc/allan-sloan-34713_behinds_don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless_11697.png) > “Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful to say. Say it in a way that will interest someone other than you, your family and your sources.” [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages genuine commitment to journalism, urging writers to produce original, valuable content that engages a broader audience beyond personal circles. **In simple terms:** Write authentically for a wider readership. Key Takeaway Originality and relevance matter. Themes authenticity audience awareness originality journalistic integrity purpose Mood motivated critical inspired Type advice instructional reflective When to use this quote - starting a column - revamping a blog - crafting op‑eds - producing newsletters Key Concepts writing media communication Practical Applications - content strategy - editorial planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your work serves readers, not just yourself? - What steps can you take to make your voice distinct? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Columnist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/columnist/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Our family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-family/) ## Related quotes > [Report, report, report. Dig, dig, dig. Think, think, think. Don't stop being a reporter because you've become a columnist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/report-report-report-dig-dig-dig-think-think-think-don-t-stop-being-a/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Teamwork is better than isolation, especially for a columnist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/teamwork-is-better-than-isolation-especially-for-a-columnist/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [When I started writing a business column 15 years ago, I knew I'd found the perfect job for myself. As a columnist I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/when-i-started-writing-a-business-column-15-years-ago-i-knew-i-d/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Leonard Pitts, Jr. is the most insightful and inspiring columnist of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/leonard-pitts-jr-is-the-most-insightful-and-inspiring-columnist-of/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [I majored in journalism at Arizona State University, where I began writing the columns I write now, but I cannot, in good conscience, refer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-notaro/i-majored-in-journalism-at-arizona-state-university-where-i-began/) [Laurie Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-notaro/) > [The wonderful thing about being a New York Times columnist is that it's like a Supreme Court appointment - they're stuck with you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-wonderful-thing-about-being-a-new-york-times-columnist-is-that-it/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [As the saying goes: "If you're not part of the solution, you're a newspaper columnist."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/as-the-saying-goes-if-you-re-not-part-of-the-solution-you-re-a/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [My father was one of 11. He was an attorney. My mother worked for the Syracuse newspaper as a columnist before she became a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fallon-hogan/my-father-was-one-of-11-he-was-an-attorney-my-mother-worked-for-the/) [Siobhan Fallon Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fallon-hogan/) > [It is the gossip columnist's business to write about what is none of his business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/it-is-the-gossip-columnist-s-business-to-write-about-what-is-none-of/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [Those who have had anything useful to say have said it far too often, and those who have had nothing to say have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/those-who-have-had-anything-useful-to-say-have-said-it-far-too-often/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The best way to honor someone who has said something smart and useful is to say something back that is smart and useful. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/the-best-way-to-honor-someone-who-has-said-something-smart-and-useful/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [I wanted to be a columnist so badly that I took a huge pay cut to leave Forbes, which wouldn't give me a column,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/i-wanted-to-be-a-columnist-so-badly-that-i-took-a-huge-pay-cut-to/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Any columnist will tell you that sometimes the well runs dry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-key/any-columnist-will-tell-you-that-sometimes-the-well-runs-dry/) [Tim Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-key/) > [I used to be a columnist for 'Golf Monthly' and have contributed articles for national newspapers based on the humour that is in abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/i-used-to-be-a-columnist-for-golf-monthly-and-have-contributed/) [Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/) > [It's kind of hard to spend long hours trying to help people and then find out that the favorite game of the columnist is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/it-s-kind-of-hard-to-spend-long-hours-trying-to-help-people-and-then/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) ## More by Allan Sloan > [People are treating the Stewart case as seriously as Enron when it's really over trivia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/people-are-treating-the-stewart-case-as-seriously-as-enron-when-it-s/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [If the government decides to put your life under a microscope, do you think it won't find something? I suspect there's not an adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/if-the-government-decides-to-put-your-life-under-a-microscope-do-you/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [It's easy to write a good column if you've got good information. It's hard if you have to depend on style alone. I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/it-s-easy-to-write-a-good-column-if-you-ve-got-good-information-it-s/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Go for the gold: better one great column and some undistinguished ones than constant mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/go-for-the-gold-better-one-great-column-and-some-undistinguished-ones/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [When I started writing a business column 15 years ago, I knew I'd found the perfect job for myself. As a columnist I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/when-i-started-writing-a-business-column-15-years-ago-i-knew-i-d/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [I've spent my career trying to help people without connections understand what's going on so that they have a chance of getting a fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/i-ve-spent-my-career-trying-to-help-people-without-connections/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Teamwork is better than isolation, especially for a columnist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/teamwork-is-better-than-isolation-especially-for-a-columnist/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [The lesson that any thinking person draws from the Stewart saga is that when the government asks questions, run for your lawyer and don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/the-lesson-that-any-thinking-person-draws-from-the-stewart-saga-is/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [I wanted to be a columnist so badly that I took a huge pay cut to leave Forbes, which wouldn't give me a column,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/i-wanted-to-be-a-columnist-so-badly-that-i-took-a-huge-pay-cut-to/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [I don't tolerate whining, I look at people & say 'you're a victim, it's not your fault' figure our how to survive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/i-don-t-tolerate-whining-i-look-at-people-say-you-re-a-victim-it-s/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [The column's worked out great for me. I've gotten a ton of ego satisfaction, had a lot of fun, won a batch of prizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/the-column-s-worked-out-great-for-me-i-ve-gotten-a-ton-of-ego/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [I grew up in an environment of jokes and sarcasm and puns. I talk that way, so I write that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/i-grew-up-in-an-environment-of-jokes-and-sarcasm-and-puns-i-talk-that/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Report, report, report. Dig, dig, dig. Think, think, think. Don't stop being a reporter because you've become a columnist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/report-report-report-dig-dig-dig-think-think-think-don-t-stop-being-a/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) [Explore all 14 Allan Sloan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful to say. 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