From the editor's desktop: Your response

Pete Clifton, editor of the BBC News website, is on holiday. But before he left he challenged readers to take over his weekly column for a fortnight. The winner was another ed - Ed Moran, a researcher, from Oxford. Here, he looks at how the site covered the momentous events of recent days, confuses Disraeli with Mark Twain and asks for your one-sentence reviews of the new Harry Potter book. Read a selection of your comments.

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Your comments:

This week's column is more political than it has ever been before Robert, Ponty, UK

One thing I cannot help but notice is how little Pete commented on the news, and how focused he was on commenting on the reporting of it, by comparison to this week's column. Admittedly, he was in a better position to do that, but it does emphasize how tricky and complex the position of a BBC editor is. In other words, this week's column is more political than it has ever been before. I was also bemused to read that Pete won't be returning as BBC editor due to winning the lottery twice, on the Wikipedia entry...
Robert, Ponty, UK

Well done Ed. You have certainly risen to the occasion and have done a very impressive job. You have chosen your words and phrases aptly and you have highlighted the crucial issues like a qualified and seasoned journalist. I am confident Pete Clifton would offer you an editorial position as you evidently have lived up to the exacting editorial standards of the BBC. You have definitely come out of the exercise smelling of roses.
Pancha Chandra, Brussels, Belgium

Excellent commentary this week, it's so good in fact I was wondering if you would consider writing two essays I have due at the end of next week?
Marguerite Thompson, Victoria, Canada

Bravo, Ed! I think you did an absolutely smashing job, and this was truly the week that was. I found your contributions inspiring, entertaining and helpful in processing some of the shared horror for Muslims like myself and a rainbow of faith practitioners at the atrocities of last Thursday.
Aminah Yaquin Carroll, Gallipolis Ferry, WV

I think your column was great! Read it all the way through (well, I did skim a bit).
Phoebe Allison, Lake Worth, USA

You modestly describe yourself as a "non-writer", but your easy, conversational style is a winner. I hope we hear more from the "Standby Ed"!
David Andrews-Brown, Bailly-Romainvilliers, France

Good work, fella! I think the "lies, damned lies¿" thing was Disraeli, but I'm sure he wasn't the first to think it, or the last to claim it. Harry Potter - oh, don't. Keep it up.
Brian Quinn, Berkshire

Occasionally it's nice to have a fresh set of eyes and ears reporting the events of the day Mary Garcia, Dallas, TX USA

Bravo! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ed's column and look forward to reading the next. His succinct and to-the-point style reminds me that news reporting is after all a re-telling of the facts. So to that end, mission accomplished. Occasionally it's nice to have a fresh set of eyes and ears reporting the events of the day. Well done Ed!
Mary Garcia, Dallas, TX USA

The right man got the (temporary) job. Great column Ed - thought-provoking, funny and humble.
Fran, Liverpool

Ed Moran may be a confessed non-writer, but he made a magnificent attempt at his first piece. Enveloping the dramatic events of the last few days into a comprehensible whole, events that were perpetrated in the name of religion but put into stark relief by the words of an atheist, exposes Ed's latent literary talents.
Dr Essa Kazim, Dubai, UAE

I like Pete Clifton, yes. But is he going to be annoyed when he finds out how good Ed Moran is! Wow, what a good editor's page. Congratulations - just the right mix of savvy and self-depreciation, seasoned with a little gentle humour. Well done!
D. Fear, Heidelberg, Germany

Thank you for a very reflective and forward thinking piece Al, Brookwood, Surrey

Excellent, I wish that someone who was able to write such a down to earth piece felt he was able to call himself a writer. A true piece which I am sure made a lot of sense to a lot of people around the UK at this moment in time. Whilst it is necessary to reflect on what has happened in the past 8 days, it remains that life has to go on for those of us that are so fortunate enough to still be here. Thank you for a very reflective and forward thinking piece.
Al, Brookwood, Surrey

While Pete is on vacation/holiday I rather think you have dealt with the task of being him rather well. His minions may have a different view but that too is to be expected. Whosoever claims a complete Disraeli brings that name to mind for me only in the instance of the Cream recording of vinyl days. As for all this new tech, "BAH and HUMBUG" from those of us of a certain age. Plod along Ed, and never fear, Pete will comment too.
Dickie, NY USA

Nice column, Ed (hang on, that doesn't sound quite right). Anyway, one thing that I missed in your round-up of 7/7 was how the BBC website coped with it. I guess the whole world - literally - was trying to get on the site as events unfolded so perhaps it's understandable that I couldn't get on to it. But then again, isn't the BBC site there for just such catastrophic events? I've no idea what this would mean technically, but I wonder if there's a solution?
Patrick Rawle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Sack the ed, keep Ed M.
Chris Clarke, UK

A very articulate, intelligent and sensitive piece of writing. A pleasure to read. Thank you and well done Ed.
Beth, Reading

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