With the sudden closure of the Prince George Free Press, we're making some changes here at the Citizen, effective immediately, to allow and encourage a broader diversity of community voices to be heard in our newspaper, both with the print version and online.
The first change is to our letters to the editor policy, which previously limited writers to 400 words and one submission every three weeks. The new policy will allow writers to submit something new once per week and up to 750 words or about the length of this editorial. We will continue to reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, good taste, legal reasons and, for the print edition, for length. Online, submitted letters will not be edited for length.
Our policy regarding unsigned and anonymous letters remains in place, as does the requirement to enclose an address and telephone number, not for publication but for verification.
We'd also like to offer the opportunity for residents to write guest editorials to appear in the editorial space of the print edition each Monday and when I am away. Guest editorials must be 700 to 750 words in length and cannot be anonymous. Preference will be given to authors writing on a topic of broad community interest, meaning the topic can still be provincial, national or international in scope. All submitted guest editorials that meet the basic criteria will still be published online while the ones not chosen to take the Monday guest editorial spot may appear as an "op-ed" piece elsewhere in the newspaper on another day.
While preference for the guest editorial spot will be given to well-written, compelling and informative submissions (no, you don't have to agree with me - in fact, my preference will be towards guest editorials that don't), the spot is open to everyone, not just residents and regular Citizen readers. Out-of-town submissions will be considered, as will submissions from sitting elected officials at all levels of government and the representatives of governmental and public agencies, as well as non-profit and charity groups. Local and regional organizations - such as Initiatives Prince George, Tourism Prince George, Northern Development Initiatives Trust, UNBC, CNC, School District 57, Northern Health and the Prince George Public Library - are especially welcome to take part.
No more than two guest editorials will be published in the print edition of the Citizen from a single person or organization per calendar year. Submissions from candidates seeking public office will not be accepted.
Editorial submissions don't have to be in words, either. For the past year or two, we've been running the occasional cartoon comment by Marv West. If your commentary style is more artistic, please send your cartoons to [email protected]. Same rules as letters to the editor apply.
There are more changes in store.
Citizen court reporter Mark Nielsen is bringing back Court Docket, a weekly wrap-up of decisions on minor offences made in provincial court.
Starting next Friday, the Citizen will debut Bulletin Board, a summary of upcoming events in the city and region, along with submitted cheque presentation and donation photographs. It's often impossible to get a news photographer out because there are so many generous donations of money and items from generous individuals and groups to deserving agencies. We're asking these groups to snap a high-resolution photo of their own and send it to us ([email protected]) with all of the important information (names of people in the photograph, who is the donor, who is the recipient and size of the donation, etc.). Bulletin Board will appear Fridays in the print edition of the Citizen. The photographs will be posted to our website and shared on our Facebook page, joining the coming events listings already available at princegeorgecitizen.com.
Many newspaper people in many places have said for many years that owners, publishers, editors, reporters, photographers and staff come and go but successful newspapers carry on because newspapers belong to the community they serve. This is your newspaper, Prince George, as it has been for the past 99 years and as it will continue to be heading into our second century of business.
We're always looking to improve your newspaper by adding to the number of voices in our publication and growing our audience, both in print and online, and we believe these changes will help that.
Consider yourself invited to join the discussion.
