Every two weeks, like clockwork, our inboxes and online submission forms get a handful of comments and letters from readers who are not happy with our opinion page (the page you are looking at now, dear reader).
“Take me off your mailing list” is a common demand, but it’s not an option we can entertain. The Newsleaders are free community newspapers distributed to every address and PO box in the zip codes we serve. As long as you live in the zip code, you will get the paper.
The demand is usually followed by expletives saying our news is a type of liberal propaganda that rhymes with “full sit.” The reality on this, though, is our news and feature stories actually report on what is happening in the towns we serve: the people, city government and the school districts. The opinion page, however, is a page full of opinions. Often, it is more liberal leaning. The reason is explained below.
Finally, those who write to us then result to name calling, unfortunately.
The one piece of these comments that is most intriguing is usually stated this way: your views do not represent me and the majority of people in this community.
Our response to this is twofold.
First, the views expressed on the opinion page do represent people in the community: those who take the time to write a column.
Second, we welcome other voices to our opinion page and would love to have conservative viewpoints regularly shared. On the occasions we do get this viewpoint, we publish it. See the many letters to the editor on the following page for a sampling. We’ve published opposing arguments to the Line 3 pipeline, the value of the electoral college and other topics as well as endorsements of political candidates, including one that said Donald Trump was a gift from God. In addition, we publish columns from elected officials, regardless of the letter that comes after their name because they are our elected officials.
Regular columnists who commit to a monthly column get paid $15 per column (it’s not a lot, but it’s a thank you for agreeing to regularly write and share your perspective.) Columns are up to 625 words and are due the Monday before we go to press.
While we reserve the right to not publish any column or letter, as long as the opinion is grounded in reality, we will publish it if it’s timely. We do not publish extremist viewpoints and conspiracy theories, which we’ve been known to get.
Interested? Contact editor@thenewsleaders.com.
