LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 95, 13 November 1953, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE custom of writing letters to the editor of a newspaper or journal for the purpose of having them published, probably goes back to the first beginnings of printed periodicals. The publication of such letters is often a useful means of drawing attention to some matter of publie moment or of seeking information from readers of a paper on some matter of historical, literary or scientifie interest. It is also considered, at times, to be of some value as a method of blowing off steam — metaphorically. Whatever the purpose of a letter to the editor, and whichever of the categories mentioned it may fall into, the editorial decision as to whether it is to be published or not is traditionally based on a few principles that are simple enough in themselves. The first essential is that it must not, «in the opinion of the editor, be libellous, for, if it is, both publishers and prihters are liable. No letter will be published if there is any doubt of its freedom from libel. A second requirement is that a letter must not, by reason of vulgarity or offensiveness, fall below the standards of taste set'by the paper concerned. Both these requirements having been duly met, the next requirement is that it should have "news value." That is to say, the letter should deal with some matter, whether it be one of fact or of opinion, that is of sufficient interest to a sufficient number of readers to justify publication. At times again, the standard of reader interest required may vary, for a letter has to compete with other items which present themselves for publication. It is, of course, always understood that the views expressed by the writers of letters to the

editor are not to be taken as necessarily those of the paper. And it follows that, provided a letter complies with the requirements outlined, it will not be excluded merely because it expresses views not shared by the editor. An enquiry was recently made to the "Times" as to why it was that on several occasions when letters had appeared in the "Times," dealing with matters of local body interest, letters of comment on, or in reply to, such letters had appeared in the same issue. The enquiry, of course, was a reasonable one, and the answer is .a simple one. It is a useful and usual practice f ollowed by most papers that, when a letter is submitted it is often submitted to some person who may have special opportunities of being able to discuss it, or throw light on matters raised in it, and who may care to do so. This then allows the comment or' reply to appear at the same time as the original letter. This practice is naturally much more useful in the case of a weekly paper than a daily paper. When a letter is thus submitted by an editor, to some person who may be able to write something of interest in connection with it, the name of the writer of the letter is not divulged unless the writer has indicated that his namq is to be published. There is no doubt that letters addressed to an editor concerning local government or administration may serve a very valuable purpose in bringing out information for the public benefit. The "Times" will always endeavour to serve the public interest by publishing letters which comply with the requirements outlined, within the limits of space available.