Letters to the editor are an important way we receive feedback from you, the reader. Letters help us understand how you view our coverage and what you think of the news, so that we can better serve you. And letters are also an important feature on our Opinion Pages, a forum for reader opinion.
Because of our spacing limitations and the number of email we receive, we cannot print every letter. Even very well written and interesting letters sometimes must be turned down. However, we encourage the feedback. It helps us know what issues are important to our readership as a whole and, consequently, which topics should be represented in the letters to the editor section. If we receive several letters on the same subject or with similar viewpoints, it helps us prioritize and make sure that specific subjects or viewpoints are represented.
Other things we look for when choosing which letters to print include clarity and simplicity. A well-written letter is also a plus. And then there's length. Because we have such a limited amount of spacing, we may have to cut letters in order for them to appear. So making your letter short (around 100-150 words or less), straight to the point and concise increases the chances that your letter will appear.
Do know that we encourage all letters and feedback (letters.editor@asu.edu). So please let us know what you're thinking. And if writing isn't your thing, there's always Talk Back (480-695-6881) or even a guest column (contact the Opinion Editor at the State Press office for more information on that one).
