The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Time to start writing and let us know what you think

By Michael Cronk

AFrom the looks of my in-basket of late, it appears that readers have been honing their writing skills on holiday cards and letters rather than sending their thoughts on issues to their local community newspaper.

We've received a few letters to the editor, but we'd sure like to have a whole lot more.

I've been editor for a little more than a month now. I've received several personal messages of congratulations (thank you!) and several criticizing me for the dearth of letters on the newspaper's opinion page. But, I can't print what I don't have. I know there have been times when the number of letters to the editor took up not one, but two op-ed pages. I'd like to see that again. And, I'm prepared to make that a priority.

I know there are issues out there that readers would like to comment on. Now that the new year is under way and things are picking up at city hall, in school districts and elsewhere, I expect the volume of correspondence will increase. After all, there are city council races, development controversies and debates on public safety looming. People in this community have never been shy about having opinions and tackling controversial issues.

But I'd also like to remind you that letters to the editor can focus on positive things happening in your neighborhood or in the city or even in the region. If you are one to complain that news is too negative, this is your opportunity to share a different point of view.

Community news is about giving voice to readers--the opportunity for them to discuss and share their thoughts and feelings about things they most care about, positive and negative. Letters to the editor are an important, maybe the most important, component of a community newspaper. They are also one of the most read sections of the newspaper.

So, just a few basic ground rules.

When writing, make it clear whether the letter, or email, is directed to me personally or intended to be published in the newspaper. Include contact information in case I need to get back to you. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

Letters covering local topics and issues will be given priority over, say, criticism of President Bush's policy in Iraq. We also will give priority to letters with subjects that are related to current news events in the community, such as a policy decision coming up on a council agenda.

Obviously, we reserve the right to edit the letters for space or other considerations. No slander or profanity allowed. It's OK to be strong in your opinions, but keep name-calling and poor taste jokes in check. If you have a lot to say, you can submit an op-ed column for consideration. It should be about 600-800 words and have a lot of good factual content as well as your opinion. It will be harder to find space for these, but it's another option for reader involvement.

And that's basically it. The nature of public discourse is up to the public. Editorial positions of the newspaper will be reflected in editorials, but you can determine what is discussed in the other sections of the op-ed pages.

I can't guarantee that every letter submitted will end up in print, but I will try and see that it does.

If this request suddenly swamps me with a tsunami of letters, it's a problem I'd prefer to the drought of public input we're experiencing now.

We want to hear from you. So do your neighbors. It's time to hit the keyboard and send a few thoughts our way.

Michael Cronk is the editor of the Sunnyvale Sun. He can be reached at 408.200-1055 or via email at mcronk@community-newspapers.com.