Historical expertise does not require a doctorate

A discussion of a television programme about Bismarck praises Iain Ballantyne as an editor, journalist, and self-taught naval historian. The qualification is that Ballantyne is not known to hold a doctorate. The distinction matters because academics can assume that every excellent historian has the credential or dismiss strong work produced outside that route. Editing specialist publications, commissioning research, and sustained subject knowledge can establish expertise through practice. Historical work should be judged by its method and achievement without casually assigning or withholding titles.