Wiser words could not have been written “Rules for a robust public debate” (Editorial — July 10).
Surveys reveal that “Letters To The Editor” is one of the most widely read and popular sections of any newspaper.
Weekly newspapers such as the Great Neck News, along with sister publications New Hyde Park Herald, Williston Times, Manhasset Times, Roslyn Times and Port Washington Times and neighborly competitors, including the Great Neck Record, and others all offer readers a chance to speak out.
The same is true with daily newspapers, such as the New York, Daily News, Newsday, The Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Staten Island Advance.
There are also foreign language daily and other weekly newspapers in all five boroughs within New York City. Weekly newspapers tend to offer more space for writers than daily newspapers.
Some daily newspapers have quotas of one letter every 30 or 60 days per writer. Newsday is once every 45 days.
The Great Neck News and Blank Slate Media sister publications provide several pages each week for Letters to the Editor. This is more than any other metropolitan New York area daily or weekly newspaper.
Some elected officials have thin skins when it comes to public criticism in the pages of weekly community newspapers. It is amazing what some elected officials will say one day in front of one group of reporters and conveniently forget when speaking to a different group of reporters weeks, months or years later.
When you write about a past quote reported in a previous newspaper article and bring their conflicted position to the public, watch out! The ability of some elected officials to influence either legal advertising, their own periodic holiday greeting or campaign re-election ads may have some sway over those weekly newspapers that may be too dependent on the revenues. Remember the old adage, never bite the hands that feeds you. Luckily Blank Slate Media remains independent of such efforts.
It helps to have a snappy introduction, good hook, be timely, precise, have an interesting or different viewpoint to increase the odds of being published. Many papers welcome letters commenting on their own editorials, articles or previously published letters to the editor.
We are fortunate to be living in one of the few remaining free societies, with a wealth of information sources available. Too many cities and suburbs are down to one local daily or weekly newspaper. All have to deal with growing costs for newsprint, delivery and distribution along with reduced advertising revenues and declining readership.
Let us be grateful that Blank Slate Media affords letter to the editor writers the opportunity to express our views, as well as differing opinions on issues of the day. Thanks to them, ordinary citizens have the freedom to comment on the actions and legislation of elected officials in the Letters to the Editor section. Public officials use taxpayers dollars to promote their views via mass mailings of newsletters, news releases, letters to the editor and guest opinion page columns. In many cases, they are produced or written by campaign or office staffers, who are paid for by taxpayers. The rest of us have limited time to submit a letter. In the marketplace of ideas, let us hope there continues to be room for everyone, including the Great Neck News, their sister publications as well as the other weekly newspapers.
Give thanks to those few brave souls who are willing to take on the establishment and powerful special interest groups in letters to the editor section. They fill a valuable niche in our dialogue on issues of the day.
Join me and your neighbors in reading your favorite daily and local weekly community newspapers. Patronize their advertisers; they provide the revenues necessary to keep them going. Let them know you saw their ad. This is what helps keep our neighbors employed, the local economy growing and provide space on a weekly basis for letter writers in the pages of Blank Slate Media publications..
Larry Penner
Great Neck
