I asked a few columnists how it affects their coverage. One said to me, "It's rarely worth the headache." Another told me, "I haven't trimmed any positions or opinions, but I have trimmed the way I put things." Others talked about "hesitating" or perhaps unconsciously holding back. To be sure, there were some who said it played no role at all. So while self-censorship is not necessarily a huge factor, it's also something that can't be wholly ignored.