Opinions are like elbows-everybody’s got one. Isn’t that how the old saying goes?
Now The Reflector will have an opinion, too.
I know we’ve had our individual columnists opining on everything from chicken torture to Student Association elections, but I’m talking about an opinion for the newspaper.
Most newspapers do it. They’re called editorials. The unsigned columns usually appear on the opinion page, right under the logo of the newspaper.
The editorial is a tool for newspapers. They scold wayward politicians, praise progressive policy and endorse presidential candidates. They’re a way for us to bring to your attention the issues we think are important.
But that’s not all they do.
Ronald Clark, the editorial page editor at the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minn., wrote that editorials also serve as a public forum. “In the first instance, we speak and our audience reads or listens. In the second, our audience speaks.”
We want our editorials to reflect the ideas and values that you hold dear, as well.
Some editorial boards are made up of a newspaper’s managing editor, opinion editor and publisher. Other boards include the news editor, sports editor and even people from the community. It varies from newspaper to newspaper.
The editorial board at The Reflector will be made up of the seven editors responsible for generating most of the content of the newspaper. Members include the opinion editor, news editor, assistant news editor, sports editor, entertainment editor, managing editor and editor in chief.
This is how the process at The Reflector will work:
A designated person will bring up a relevant issue for the editorial board to discuss at its weekly meeting. After debate, board members will vote. The side of the issue that receives the most votes will be the side of the issue that the editorial writer takes.
We expect our editorials to give The Reflector more of a face-more of a personality.
We expect our editorial page, teamed with more aggressive, more thorough news coverage for the 2004-2005 school year, to bring important issues to our readers’ attention.
We think our editorials will give us-and you-more of a voice in the newspaper.
But remember, in order for us to reflect your opinion, you have to let us know what it is. So pick up a pen and write us the next time something irks you. We’re interested.
Josh Foreman is a senior communication major. He can be reached at [email protected].