Avoiding the bristlers Bristle Desk defeats communication in the newsroom over time. Eventually, staffers stop interacting with other players altogether. They keep their lives simple by avoiding conflict. The copy desk simply deletes anything questionable rather than risk hostility by raising a question. Desk editors simply print single-source stories rather than objecting to thin reporting by prickly reporters.
Reporters simply stop suggesting story ideas that always get summarily rejected.
A lonely managing editor wonders why nobody ever tells her anything. Bristle Desk becomes part of the newsroom's culture, and therefore harder to break. Unbristling the bristly Newsroom leaders can change cultures and destructive group habits, but such change takes time and patience. And the first step is modeling the behavior you want. Many editors have no idea how hostile their daily exchanges sound.