Some of our readers may not
realize letters to the editor in a print newspaper are still a thing.
But the opinions section is
one of our highest priorities as your community newspaper editors.
The Independent Newsmedia mission
statement reads: “Our mission is to provide the information and
understanding citizens need to make intelligent decisions about public issues.
In doing so, we strive to report
the news with honesty, accuracy, fairness, objectivity, fearlessness and
compassion.”
As such, our news reporting is
vital to the mission and success of our newspapers and you will find our
staff-written news articles on the front page of this paper each week.
These articles often report on
important community issues and we strive to meet the expectations of our
company mission as well as the tenets of journalistic ethics in everything we
print.
But news coverage of such issues
is just a starting point for discussion and community participation.
My greatest desire is for you to
share ownership in these opinion pages, both as a reader and, when an issue
touches or concerns you, as a writer, as well.
Online vs. print
So much of our engagement with
issues and opinions in this new century has moved to the tiny screens on our
phones and other online platforms.
Indeed, Facebook, Twitter, blogs
and agency or municipal websites are all fertile ground for discussion and
debate.
But while digital platforms offer
previously unimaginable convenience and flexibility, they fail the community in
a variety of ways, including an overly broad reach, lack of moderation, and a
seemingly institutionalized penchant for hostility.
Rather than thoughtfully
discussing important concerns, cyber chatters often descend into unreasonable
and deceptive arguments, hateful rants and – in the worst cases – threats.
Though we value and defend free
speech, you will not find this kind of behavior in print here. Reader may call
out one another over ideas or issues. But we are here to referee those
exchanges – we will not print hate or threats.
Online chat responders may be
your local neighbors, but are often just random trolls from
anywhere on the planet – literally.
Even when an online
responder identifies as local, how can you really know who they are or
where they live?
Too many online “debaters” are
just in it to get a rise or intimidate you into silence, not to discuss or
attempt to persuade you or, heaven forbid, learn something. And some issues –
like the bond election – are discussions better left to those who actually live
in Surprise.
By contrast, this old-fashioned,
paper-and-ink publication arrives once each week on more than 32,000 driveways
– every one of which is actually here in your community.
Anonymous responses do not get
printed in the letters to the editor section. If someone wants to take you on,
they must step up with the courage and accountability of a real, flesh-andblood
human adult to do so. As an added bonus you won’t get in online forums, I will
not reprint any letters containing ALL CAPITAL LETTERS OR DOZENS OF
EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!
What’s that about
anyway? It’s the digital equivalent of an angry child wandering uninvited
into a discussion waving their arms and shouting nonstop at the top of their
lungs.
Our letter policy states simply:
“We encourage letters while retaining the right to edit for clarity, brevity,
relevance and fairness.”
So, please. Check out this
opinion section each week if you don’t already.
Read it. Own it. Join in a civil
and thoughtful discussion. Or start a new one.
Because, in the end, your voice
will always be the most valuable and interesting thing we can print on these
pages.
Editor’s note: Matt Roy is News Editor of Surprise Today.
