2008 Woodie Awards
Got a Beef?
We want to hear it! But you have to take credit for it...
Mark Bartschi
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Opinions
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Recently, I have received several letters to the editor that have been very poignant, well-written, and revealing. Some of these letters brought balance to columns and letters written by our more partisan columnists and contributors. Some of them even exposed campus scandals! But we did not run them in the newspaper.
Foul! Those [fascists / communists] at The Sandspur only run what suits them! The college administration has them wrapped around its little finger!
But before you start writing your congressman, consider the following. The reason these letters are not published is simple: they do not meet our publishing criteria. These criteria are posted at the bottom of the staff box in every issue, but in case you missed it, let me reiterate a few points
Rule #1: You must sign your letter. Organizations don't count - it needs to be an individual. If you want to co-sign, that's okay. If your letter represents the official view of an organization, we can print their name below yours (with their permission, of course). But at least one individual must be accountable for the contents of the letter.
Rule #2: Your letter should be about 500 words. This rule is not unbendable, but if you submit a 1,200-word letter, we will reject it.
And finally, Rule #3: You must include contact information. This could be a phone number or an e-mail address. It will not be published, but we will use it to reach you if we have questions or concerns about your letter.
Why do we have these rules? First and foremost, it protects us legally. If we run an unattributed editorial that slanders someone without hard evidence, the slandered party can sue us. But the real reason runs deeper than that.
In this country, we are all free to express our opinions as we see fit, regardless of who agrees or disagrees with us. This is a freedom that we all cherish, most certainly among journalists. But with this freedom comes an accountability that cannot be ignored. You are subject to being challenged for anything that you say or publish.
Foul! Those [fascists / communists] at The Sandspur only run what suits them! The college administration has them wrapped around its little finger!
But before you start writing your congressman, consider the following. The reason these letters are not published is simple: they do not meet our publishing criteria. These criteria are posted at the bottom of the staff box in every issue, but in case you missed it, let me reiterate a few points
Rule #1: You must sign your letter. Organizations don't count - it needs to be an individual. If you want to co-sign, that's okay. If your letter represents the official view of an organization, we can print their name below yours (with their permission, of course). But at least one individual must be accountable for the contents of the letter.
Rule #2: Your letter should be about 500 words. This rule is not unbendable, but if you submit a 1,200-word letter, we will reject it.
And finally, Rule #3: You must include contact information. This could be a phone number or an e-mail address. It will not be published, but we will use it to reach you if we have questions or concerns about your letter.
Why do we have these rules? First and foremost, it protects us legally. If we run an unattributed editorial that slanders someone without hard evidence, the slandered party can sue us. But the real reason runs deeper than that.
In this country, we are all free to express our opinions as we see fit, regardless of who agrees or disagrees with us. This is a freedom that we all cherish, most certainly among journalists. But with this freedom comes an accountability that cannot be ignored. You are subject to being challenged for anything that you say or publish.