A reminder on some letter policies
Running an opinion page for a local paper is no small task. Some weeks, The Press receives very few letters. At other times, we receive more than we are able to run while they remain relevant. Recently, we have received a number of letters we have been unable to run because they lack critical information, making this a prime time for a quick reminder on some of our opinion page policies.
Firstly, letters to the editor and longer “Point of View” columns — or the occasional poems and short stories — absolutely must be signed. We will not run letters written anonymously. It is also important that you provide your address and daytime phone number with your submission. This information will not be published, but it allows our team to verify that a letter writer is, in fact, a real person, and call with any follow-up questions that may need to be asked before a letter can be considered.
Another important point to remember when submitting a letter is that it must contain attribution. If a claim a writer is making in their letter is based on a study, an article, a social media post, or anything other than their own opinion, the piece must say clearly where the information came from. A simple “according to” can go a long way in forging credibility and allowing our paper to verify and publish the letters we know our readers work hard to write.
We at The Press strive to create an opinion page where community members feel empowered to share their thoughts on our recent coverage, community issues and things they are passionate about. However, the opinion page is not a place for airing unfounded claims or accusations, nor is it a place for espousing hate. While we welcome passionate, sharply written letters, we aim to keep the opinion page a constructive, thought-provoking space for the community to converse.
Any readers interested in joining the conversation on the opinion page are, as always, welcome to send their letters, questions and other works to letters@riverdalepress.com. While we are unable to run every letter we receive — which can seem discouraging — we sincerely encourage all of our readers to keep sharing their thoughts.
A newspaper is not just a one-way exchange of information. We are grateful that the community reads our reporting, and equally grateful for the input it provides in return.
Happy writing!
Alexa Lewis is editor-in-chief of The Riverdale Press.
The Riverdale Press welcomes letters to the editor. It is committed to providing an open forum for opinions. Send letters via e-mail to letters@riverdalepress.com. The Press also occasionally publishes longer columns, as well as some works of creative writing. Your submission should be signed and include your home address and daytime phone number. This information is for verification purposes only and will not be published. Anonymous letters are not considered. Letters are subject to editing for reasons such as length and clarity.
