Letters to the Editor have always been a feature of newspapers. Much of the news reports and commentaries published by early-American newspapers were delivered in the form of letters, and by the mid-18th century, Letters to the Editor were a dominant carrier of political and social discourse.
I believe Letters to the Editor are an invaluable means of communication and are an integral function of newspapers — regardless of in print or online. While The Southern Scoop News has not received many Letters to the Editor in the past — about once a month over the last couple of months — in general Letters to the Editor are frequent in the industry. Because The Southern Scoop News is online, social media has replaced the traditional Letter to the Editor — as comments and opinions can be easily shared via social media rather than in a submitted letter. However, Letters to the Editor remain welcomed and encouraged.
News publications are responsible for determining their own guidelines for Letters to the Editor. While some require letters be signed, many editors will allow the publication of anonymous letters where the details of name and address of the author are not printed, but are disclosed to the editor. This is the policy of The Southern Scoop News when appropriate as we believe this can promote a debate of issues that are personal, contentious or embarrassing, yet are of importance to raise in a public debate.
Anyone interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor may do so by emailing editor@thesouthernscoopnews.com.
Submission Guidelines
By Submitting a Letter to the Editor to The Southern Scoop News, you are agreeing that:
1. To the best of your knowledge, your content is truthful and accurate and does not contain any false or misleading information or implications. It is your original work and you have not plagiarized the content.
2. Your content does not infringe on anyone’s privacy or publicity rights, nor does it disclose anyone’s confidential information without their advance consent.
3. Your content is not libelous or defamatory, obscene, profane, vulgar, malicious or hateful. It does not degrade others on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. It also does not threaten or advocate any illegal or violent acts, nor does it intimidate or harass anyone.
4. You have not misrepresented your identity and are not impersonating anyone else. The identifying information you have provided to The Southern Scoop is fully accurate and truthful, and you agree that we may take reasonable steps to confirm the accuracy of your identity and content.
5. We have the right to modify your content in any manner we deem necessary or appropriate, including substantive edits and/or edits for length or style.
Thank you,
Brittney Lofthouse
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