Sentinel expands Opinion frequency
It’s a vetted truism in journalism that the most dedicated readers approach a news site’s Opinion section more frequently than other content, in print or online. With that in mind, the Sentinel is increasing the frequency of our Opinion section to six days a week, beginning today. Former Sentinel Editor Don Miller will oversee the section, which will also bring back locally written Editorials. Miller served as Sentinel editor in chief for a decade, and also was the top editor at the Monterey Herald. In 2018, he took on a new role editing the Opinion section for the Sentinel as well as contributing local Editorials and occasional columns. He stepped down from that position in July of 2019.
The goal of a newly reenergized Opinion section, he says, is to give readers background and analysis of local, state and national issues that often can seem shrouded in partisan confusion and stridency.
With the Nov. 3 election looming and mail-in ballots arriving next week, there will be no lack of worthwhile topics to cover. In that light, the paper will continue its role of making recommendations in key local, state and national elections, including local and state ballot measures.
Then again, it is “opinion” — a designation that has increasingly been clouded over in the past four years of polarization. As more and more people get their news from social media, often unfiltered and sometimes untrustworthy, or from cable television, where ratings and tribalism reign supreme, it can seem both comfortable and comforting to just read and consider viewpoints we already agree with. At its best, a news organization’s Opinion section will challenge groupthink. In that tradition, we’ll continue to provide a platform for voices across the political spectrum.
In addition to columnists from state and national news organizations, we will continue to provide space for our readers and community to voice their opinions on local topics. The easiest way to get your voice into this section is through our Letters to the Editor. These need to be no more than 150 words in length, and sent to editorial@santacruzsentinel.com. We’ll give preference to letters on local matters; but if you want to weigh in on state, national or global topics, we’ll often run these as well, space permitting. One caveat: the letters column is not Twitter, which means we do our best to stay away from personal attacks or name calling in response to already published letters. A little respect goes a long way and provides a much safer environment for a free exchange of ideas.
If you feel like your opinion or thoughts on an issue can never be contained within 150 words, we also offer space for longer columns, as close to 650 words as possible. These also should be submitted at editorial@santacruzsentinel.com. The rules of engagement here are that we’re only interested in local voices on community topics. If you want to get your opinion out there on election issues — and who doesn’t this season? — then Letters to the Editor is the most appropriate forum. We will, however, consider pro and con arguments on ballot measures, providing we do have both sides weighing in. Regarding local “Editorials” — presented as the Sentinel’s own opinion on issues — these will be published three days a week. For the most part, Editorials will take up election issues through Nov. 3.
These will include our recommendations, which, it should go without saying, are just that; we’ll be happy to publish responses or differing opinions regarding these choices.
In this year that seems like no other, with our still raging pandemic, tragic wildfires, the push for racial justice and equality, economic disruption, the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court and the anxiety and debate over who will occupy the White House come January and just what they’ll do when they get there, we won’t lack for topics for this section.
We look forward to hearing from you.
The goal of a newly reenergized Opinion section, he says, is to give readers background and analysis of local, state and national issues that often can seem shrouded in partisan confusion and stridency.