Letters to the Editor Options

[JeffG]

things like making sure public investment is 'down South' the engine room of the economy - rather than being squandered on the ungrateful grasping Scottish.

I look forward to reading your letter on that subject in the NWN .

[Iommi]

The austerity measures have yet to bite. Lets see in 12 months. If what I understand is true, Thatcher will have sounded kind by comparison.

[HeatherW]

I am surprised by people’s innocence, or maybe I am more streetwise in this department than most. My uncle was a subeditor of a national newspaper. He educated me on the ins and outs of the newspaper world (a lot of it is shocking). Newspapers are mainly a cash cow for their owners (and in some cases for their owners egos). They are not there for the benefit of their readership. The letter section is not there to voice the opinions or concerns of their readers but there to augment its papers selling capability. Letters are picked on the bases of what it can do for the paper, and do not subscribe to JFK’s dictum “ask not what.... etc.”

On-the-Edge does have a point when he said “Some what ironic that quite a few micro papers have sprung up nationally- which focus on the immediate goings on which suggests people are interested”. But the reason for this is when you have competition then they have got to appeal to their audience in a way that will keep them. That is when the local letters page comes in on its own. At the moment we only have one local paper that serves the Newbury area so their readership has no way of getting what other local papers offer in other areas. A competing local news letter forum to wean people away from their competitors.

The other point, and concerning local papers, I wish to make is that they also must please the local police, councillors, shops, advertisers, important businesses etc so any letters that can or could criticises these entities will get short shrift. In other words no paper is going to upset its main links for the sake of individuals or what the mass-market want. More so where there is an area that only has one newspaper that serves the community. When that is the case, one has to accept what is on offer, not expect the paper to serve the community for the good of the community, but for the good of themselves.

[On the edge]

I am surprised by people’s innocence, or maybe I am more streetwise in this department than most. My uncle was a subeditor of a national newspaper. He educated me on the ins and outs of the newspaper world (a lot of it is shocking). Newspapers are mainly a cash cow for their owners (and in some cases for their owners egos). They are not there for the benefit of their readership. The letter section is not there to voice the opinions or concerns of their readers but there to augment its papers selling capability. Letters are picked on the bases of what it can do for the paper, and do not subscribe to JFK’s dictum “ask not what.... etc.”

On-the-Edge does have a point when he said “Some what ironic that quite a few micro papers have sprung up nationally- which focus on the immediate goings on which suggests people are interested”. But the reason for this is when you have competition then they have got to appeal to their audience in a way that will keep them. That is when the local letters page comes in on its own. At the moment we only have one local paper that serves the Newbury area so their readership has no way of getting what other local papers offer in other areas. A competing local news letter forum to wean people away from their competitors.

The other point, and concerning local papers, I wish to make is that they also must please the local police, councillors, shops, advertisers, important businesses etc so any letters that can or could criticises these entities will get short shrift. In other words no paper is going to upset its main links for the sake of individuals or what the mass-market want. More so where there is an area that only has one newspaper that serves the community. When that is the case, one has to accept what is on offer, not expect the paper to serve the community for the good of the community, but for the good of themselves.

And I thought I was a cynic - but thinking about it, I'm inclined to agree. I suppose nationally Rupert Murdoch etc proves the point. So if the cash rolls in regardless they aren't going to care! As to the second point, NWN is apparently an independent - one of the few, so suppose it is in its interests to keep in with the local establishment. That of course does mean 'keeping things in perspective' so to speak. I think at least one other poster here says they haven't had letters printed; so is that the reason? The letter was diplomatically 'lost in the post'!

[HeatherW]

And I thought I was a cynic - but thinking about it, I'm inclined to agree. I suppose nationally Rupert Murdoch etc proves the point. So if the cash rolls in regardless they aren't going to care! As to the second point, NWN is apparently an independent - one of the few, so suppose it is in its interests to keep in with the local establishment. That of course does mean 'keeping things in perspective' so to speak. I think at least one other poster here says they haven't had letters printed; so is that the reason? The letter was diplomatically 'lost in the post'!

It is nice to see the penny drop.

It does not make any difference whether a paper is independent or not, the point is and always will be profits over local communities wants.

[On the edge]

It is nice to see the penny drop.

It does not make any difference whether a paper is independent or not, the point is and always will be profits over local communities wants.

But are they still going to make a profit if they don't give the people what they want?

[Iommi]

And there is this largely unmoderated forum, of course!

[Simon Kirby]

It's never occured to me that NWN is anything but a commercial operation, and I can't say I've noticed any particular pro-establishment bias in what makes the letters page and what doesn't. My own most recent letter to be published was described by Cllr Sheldon as "slagging off the Town Council", so on that basis I think it's only fair that I defend it's editorial balance.

My guess is that the letters page has shrunk because people aren't writing interesting letters. It's tough, but if you're inarticulate then the letters page is not the forum to express yourself. But does anyone take enough personal responsibility for anything anymore, enough even to write a letter to the paper? My experience from campaigning against the Town Hall's attitude to its allotmenteers is that people don't believe it's their place to protest against the establishment.

[GMR]

It's never occured to me that NWN is anything but a commercial operation, and I can't say I've noticed any particular pro-establishment bias in what makes the letters page and what doesn't. My own most recent letter to be published was described by Cllr Sheldon as "slagging off the Town Council", so on that basis I think it's only fair that I defend it's editorial balance.

My guess is that the letters page has shrunk because people aren't writing interesting letters. It's tough, but if you're inarticulate then the letters page is not the forum to express yourself. But does anyone take enough personal responsibility for anything anymore, enough even to write a letter to the paper? My experience from campaigning against the Town Hall's attitude to its allotmenteers is that people don't believe it's their place to protest against the establishment.

Then you've been one of the lucky ones. And it suited the editor to let your through. But the fact is the letter pages has been shrinking while the letters to the editor has increased. Why?

[Strafin]

But the fact is the letter pages has been shrinking while the letters to the editor has increased. Why?

Is that a fact? how do you know?

[GMR]

Is that a fact? how do you know?

A friend of a friend works at the NWNs. I also know of people who have written letters, but they have not been published. However, I will accept that the word 'increased' might be a bit too strong. The fact does remain that the Letter pages has been shrinking and that letters that haven been sent in aren't being published.

[DrPepper]

A friend of a friend works at the NWNs. I also know of people who have written letters, but they have not been published. However, I will accept that the word 'increased' might be a bit too strong. The fact does remain that the Letter pages has been shrinking and that letters that haven been sent in aren't being published.

To keep it simple, there is no money to be made from the letters page. The paper makes it's money from advertisers not letters, and whilst advertising revenues are down the percentage of "free" space that can be given would, I imagine, go down as well - simple economics really.

Also the need for a letters page must be much less now that 12 people use this forum

Anyone written a letter to the editor to complain

[On the edge]

To keep it simple, there is no money to be made from the letters page. The paper makes it's money from advertisers not letters, and whilst advertising revenues are down the percentage of "free" space that can be given would, I imagine, go down as well - simple economics really.

Also the need for a letters page must be much less now that 12 people use this forum

Anyone written a letter to the editor to complain

Think that's about right. So a 'complaint' to the editor would therefore have no effect. So the real alternative might be a micro paper; or a hint to any other competition.

Agree there is no money in letters - it is simply a pull. A bit like all the school photos - Mum buys a copy so do all the relatives; simply increases the circulation so can keep the advert charges high. Arguably there is the same effect on letters - 'Did you see what I said in NWN...'

Question then is, anyone willing to take a chance with a micro production? Imagine, the Wash Common Weekly, or the Turnpike Terrier.

[GMR]

To keep it simple, there is no money to be made from the letters page. The paper makes it's money from advertisers not letters, and whilst advertising revenues are down the percentage of "free" space that can be given would, I imagine, go down as well - simple economics really.

Sadly i agree.

Also the need for a letters page must be much less now that 12 people use this forum

I doubt it, the same ones still write letters, but they just don't get published.

Anyone written a letter to the editor to complain

Would it do any good?

[GMR]

Think that's about right. So a 'complaint' to the editor would therefore have no effect. So the real alternative might be a micro paper; or a hint to any other competition.

Agree there is no money in letters - it is simply a pull. A bit like all the school photos - Mum buys a copy so do all the relatives; simply increases the circulation so can keep the advert charges high. Arguably there is the same effect on letters - 'Did you see what I said in NWN...'

Question then is, anyone willing to take a chance with a micro production? Imagine, the Wash Common Weekly, or the Turnpike Terrier.

Yes, then that will have them quaking in their boots

[On the edge]

Yes, then that will have them quaking in their boots

Probably not! However, if I was running a local paper right now, I'd be thinking about the future - which doesn't look too good. So - keep going for a few more years and just fold OR do something more positive, because the alternatives will come and eat you.

There might be a glimmer of hope - this Forum for instance demonstrates 'someone there is thinking'

[GMR]

Probably not! However, if I was running a local paper right now, I'd be thinking about the future - which doesn't look too good. So - keep going for a few more years and just fold OR do something more positive, because the alternatives will come and eat you.

There might be a glimmer of hope - this Forum for instance demonstrates 'someone there is thinking'

But is it the right person?

On a serious note; I agree.

[Biker1]

The price of the paper has gone up by 25% in the last 2 years.

That should help the coffers a little.

[GMR]

The price of the paper has gone up by 25% in the last 2 years.

That should help the coffers a little.

The price gone up, the letter page reduced; there must be a moral there somewhere

[On the edge]

The price gone up, the letter page reduced; there must be a moral there somewhere

Its War time restrictions - ration books next