In today’s edition, The R-C has more than 5,000 words in letters in print.
That translates into roughly 178 column inches or three open pages.
While there’s a straggler or two, we’ve managed to publish most of the letters we’ve received, which is good because there are only two more letters sections left before the big day.
Keep in mind that any letter writer appearing in today’s edition won’t have another bite at the apple until after the election.
The last day to raise a new issue in a letter, whatever it might be, will be next week. The definition of a new issue is one that hasn’t already been vetted in the paper at some level. It’s also to give folks an opportunity at rebuttal in the Oct. 30 edition.
We don’t tell people what to write.
Because we don’t know what’s in a letter until it crosses our desk, we can’t know whether we will publish it. When a letter arrives, we give it a read and reply if we have questions. Getting those answered is crucial to getting a letter published. Perhaps most importantly, it confirms that there’s a person at the other end. The other way we confirm that is by requiring a street address and phone number with each submission.
The vast majority of the letters we receive are via email, and that’s how we like it. But because it’s so easy to spoof an email address, we require a street address and phone number with each letter. If there’s a question about the letter or we can’t confirm the author, we won’t publish it.
That’s why letters that support candidates are easier to get in print than those which attack their opponents.
It doesn’t mean we won’t run a negative letter, particularly if it’s about something that’s already been in the public arena, but we do try to take the time to confirm what’s said.
Good luck and thanks to all the candidates.
