Are you looking for something specific in a letter?
There are many things that make a letter stand out – the elegance of the writing, the conciseness of the logic, a clever and surprising perspective. We are grateful that so many knowledgeable and thoughtful people take the time to write to us. The age.
Do you contact the author of each published letter to confirm his or her identity and verify the facts?
We ask all letter writers to tell us their full name and address as they appear on the electoral roll. Trust is important and we spend a lot of time verifying the claims made in letters. Submissions full of unverified or unverifiable claims are far less likely to be considered.
Our community of readers tells us when we make a mistake. For example, they were quick to point out that a recent letter was incorrect in claiming that the Caesarean section was named after Julius Caesar (it is more likely that the name comes from the Latin word “caedare,” meaning “to cut”).
The same legal restrictions apply to letters as to stories. The age published, so we take into account the laws on defamation and contempt of court when selecting and editing letters.
Do you change the wording of letters for clarity or grammar? And if so, do you clarify the changes with the writer?
Our goal is to publish a wide variety of letters and viewpoints every day. This would not be possible if we did not trim the length of some letters. Letters usually work best when they contain one or two clear points. As our letter writer’s guide states, “You cannot solve all the world’s problems with one letter.” We also occasionally need to make edits to improve clarity or tone. However, our edits should not in any way change the correspondent’s viewpoint, so we let them see through any significant changes.
Do you receive a lot of rude, impolite or nonsensical letters?
We expect our readers to have an opinion, but we will not publish letters that are offensive or contain personal attacks. We also do not publish open letters or letters sent to multiple publications. Letters that do not relate to the issues of the day are unlikely to make the editorial list. And save your stamps, we no longer accept letters by post. Email [email protected] instead.
How do you ensure you get a good mix of opinions, genders and age groups every day?
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Like every other journalist at The age We try to maintain balance in our reporting, although the letters published are a reflection of what we receive. Our main letters section is called “The Forum” because we see it as our mission to facilitate rich and varied discussion in our community.
Sometimes readers ask why they don’t see letters to the editor that represent certain viewpoints. It’s true that certain topics resonate more with some readers than others. For example, we generally receive more letters from male readers than female readers. But since we don’t solicit or commission letters, all I can say is that if a reader feels a viewpoint is missing from the discussion, they should send in the letter they’d like to see. Some of our best letter writers started out that way.
What topics do you receive the most letters about? Can you predict this or are you often surprised by the topics that drive people to their keyboards?
We receive letters on virtually all topics that are in the news – but most of all on topics that have been reported in The age – from energy policy to the war in Gaza to alternative designs for the national flag. We value this diversity.
Regular readers will no doubt notice that certain views are more popular with our letter writers. They are more likely to argue for stronger action on climate change or better funding for public schools. Many don’t like e-scooters or Donald Trump, and they are overwhelmingly critical of big spending programs like AUKUS or the Suburban Rail Loop. They overwhelmingly supported the vote in Parliament.
But our letter writers surprise me every day by challenging conventional thinking with thoughtful arguments or by drawing on a wide range of life experiences and perspectives. And many of those who write in our And Another Thing column are hilarious.
Tell us about some of the regular letter writers who have become a staple on our pages over the years.
The regular writers who take time out of their day to share their thoughts and stories with us are, of course, the lifeblood of the Letters to the Editor section. There have been many legends in these pages, not least of which is Constance E. Little, who shared her wit with us for five decades, until 2008. As for the current regular writers, there are too many outstanding contributors to mention them all, but readers know them well.
No matter how enthusiastic some of our valued contributors are, we want to represent as many different voices as possible, so we encourage even the best writers to hold back and send us only their most compelling thoughts. I run the popular “Life in the Burbs” series in our opinion column, and some of our regular writers have displayed the same astute writing style when it comes to uncovering the good, the bad, and the surprising about their communities.
Why are the letters pages so important to The Age?
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Every day, journalists The age present our readers with tens of thousands of words about our city and our world. It’s valuable that we can simultaneously provide a space for readers to continue that conversation. Our loyal readers don’t hesitate to tell us where they think we’re going wrong: there have been some heated debates about our coverage of China on the Red Alert show, for example, and I’m proud that we don’t shy away from that criticism.
The letters to the editor page is where a conversation is happening and our job is to keep it going. I hope our curated page informs and entertains. Opinions are everywhere these days but what makes the letters to the editor page special is that it is a carefully curated selection of the views of a wide range of Melbourne residents. I am always impressed by how knowledgeable they are and their personal stories inspire me.
Submit a letter to The agee-mail [email protected]Please include your home address and telephone number at the bottom of your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on publishing your letter. You can read the letters online here every day.
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