Posted: 7/17/02

Guideldines for political letter writers

It may not seem like election season. The calendar and the thermometer tell us it is still summer. But election day is right around the corner, just 16 weeks away.

The weeks will slip by fast and soon Nov. 5 will be here. This newspaper has long encouraged public participation in the election on these pages in form of letters to the editor and guest commentary articles.

We will do so again in 2002. But all readers and potential letter writers, and political candidates should be aware of the rules and policies this ECM Publishers, Inc. newspaper will follow during the election.

We encourage letters, but from July 16 on, the day the state and county filing period ended, candidates will not be allowed letters. During the campaign, the newspaper policy requires that candidates wishing to express opinions do so through paid advertising.

There is an exception. If a letter writer raises a charge or allegation against a candidate, the candidate will be allowed an opportunity to respond. The goal is to allow the candidate response in the same issue as the charge, if possible.

In general terms, letters endorsing candidates for office will be accepted. But writers are strongly encouraged to be concise and to the point.

Writers from the local area will receive first preference.

On a weekly basis, this newspaper usually has space for 10 to 15 letters. The shorter the letter, the better chance it will get published. And the shorter the letters, the more that will be published.

Form letters will be disallowed. Letters are more likely to see print if they are original, and not a form letter. If letters are repetitious, not all may be published.

The rules and policies may be arbitrary, but such steps are needed to allow as many writers as possible a chance to express an opinion.

The newspaper will reserve the right to edit letters. The newspaper can not guarantee that all letters will be published.

Anyone with questions is welcome to submit letters to the office at: Forest Lake Times, 880 SW 15th St., Forest Lake, MN 55025. Electronic delivery is possible at: editor.forestlaketimes@ecm-inc.com. The newspaper requests that all electronic letters be submitted in text format.

Letters may be sent by FAX to 651-464-4605.

Procedures

The ECM Publishers, Inc. political campaign procedures include the following:

ï As always, all Open Forum letters to the editor must be signed, including address of where the writer lives. A telephone number for verification should be submitted. Telephone numbers will not be printed with the letter. E-mail and FAX copies will be accepted.

ïWhether a letter is published in whole or in part is totally up to editors at each newspaper. The decision of the editors is final. Letters are subject to editing for length and grammar. Editors will reject letters deemed libelous (alleging criminal activity, as an example), repetitive in content or involving personal attacks.

ïOpen Forum letters should be limited to 250 words.

ïForm letters will not be published.

ïNotices of campaign fund-raisers must be paid advertisements. Fund-raising events will not be covered as news items.

ïPosition statements by candidates or other news releases will not be published, but may be used for background on stories, feature articles or editorials.

ïCandidate endorsements, such as an endorsement by a political action committee, will not be published. If endorsements should be public knowledge, candidates may convey that information through paid advertising.

ïNo letters to the editor regarding campaign issues will be published in the issue immediately preceding the election.

ïUp to two weeks prior to the election, if letters are submitted containing information or charges that require response or rebuttal, the response will be printed in the same issue in which the letter is published.

ïIn most instances, letters signed by candidates will not be accepted, but the candidate will be able to submit rebuttal letters in response to a challenge or allegation. In other cases, opinions of the candidates are to be published in a paid advertisement.

ïA special voters guide or stories about the various political contests will be published prior to the election. This special coverage will allow candidates an opportunity to address issues important to the political campaign.

ïAlthough editors and reporters will gladly meet with candidates as time allows or as necessary for stories or editorials, the newspaper does not guarantee to publish a story or a photograph of the meeting.

ïAs in the past election cycle, the ECM Editorial Board will endorse candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate and in some Congressional districts. Endorsements of state, county and city contests will be at the discretion of each ECM Publishers newspaper.

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