Now seeking applicants for North State Voices

The Enterprise-Record is accepting applications to be a North State Voices columnist for 2021.

Each Thursday, we publish one of our four North State Voices columnists on our Opinion page, meaning each columnist writes 13 columns per year.

We’re looking for people who are good writers, with the ability to tell stories with a personal touch that will be embraced by our readers. Columnists are paid a small stipend for their contributions.

To apply, put together a cover letter, telling us a little about yourself and why you want to be a North State Voices columnist. You’ll also need to submit two sample columns — approximately 600 words apiece — as well as at least three other column topics you’d like to tackle during the year.

You can email your submission to voices@chicoer. com. Just write “North State Voices” in the subject line and send the entry as straight text; please, no attachments.

You can also mail it to us at P.O. Box 9, Chico, 95927. Our office is closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic, so please don’t try to deliver in person.

Your deadline is Thursday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. Winners will be notified by Dec. 11.

Pro vs. Con writers sought

We’re also looking to build a rotating stable of “Pro vs. Con” opinion writers.

he idea is this: We select a topic and two local readers (usually with wildly differing points of view) get 400 words to make their case. And no, no matter how hard you ask, you won’t get to see the other person’s piece until it’s published side-by-side with yours in the paper.

You’ll play a part in selecting the topics — we strongly prefer local issues — and we’ll schedule them a couple weeks in advance to give you plenty of time.

To enter, put together a cover letter with a little bit of information about yourself and why you’d like to write the column. We’ll also need two sample opinion pieces on any topic you’d like — no more than 400 words apiece, since that’s what you’ll be writing once we get started — as well as a short list of other topics you’d like to write about.

To put it bluntly, we’ll likely be looking for a halfdozen conservatives and a half- dozen liberals.

Pro vs. Con columnist entries can be emailed to editor Mike Wolcott at mwolcott@ chicoer. com. The deadline for those will be Friday, Dec. 4.