The filing period for the 2019 general elections has closed marking the beginning of the 2019 political season. And for some, the 2020 political year is already in full swing.
Every election season, The Times faces questions about the newspaper’s policies. Every year, someone is upset because something they want to publish as a news release is, in our opinion, an advertisement. The difference: news releases are published free and advertisements require payment. Another area that generates a lot of debate is whether or not information may be published as a letter to the editor.
Here are the basic guidelines on news:
• Information of a broad nature is news. For example, when a local nonprofit or civic organization hosts a candidate’s forum, The Times is happy to publicize information about it: where and when it will be held, and who is attending. In many cases, a reporter will cover the event.
• When a specific candidate or political party is hosting a fundraising event for candidates, or someone (or a group) makes an announcement about endorsing a candidate, that is not news. That is an advertisement. These are the guidelines for political letters as well.
• We do not publish letters that endorse a specific candidate. You can write a letter talking about a specific issue or candidate’s voting record on specific issues. The key words here are “specific issues.”
• We will not publish letters that relate to personal issues between the writer and a candidate, or a letter saying a specific candidate is a great person, vote for him or her, or not a great person, don’t vote for him or her.
• We will not accept letters to the editor that respond to a paid political advertisement.
• Our general letters policy remains the same. Writers are limited to one letter every 30 days. Letters should be no longer than 500 words (shorter is better). All letters submitted must include a name, address and phone number for verification purposes; all must be signed by the author.
• Letters must be the work of the submitter.
• Letters may be mailed to the editor at The SMT , PO Box730, Bryson City, NC 28713; emailed to: editor@thesmokymountaintimes. com