Moody Amphitheater
Questions 'Chronicle's Letter Policy
RECEIVED Tue., May 9, 2006
Dear Editor,
A decade or so ago, I was a regular contributor to the letters to the editor in both the Chronicle and the Statesman.
I just noticed your current policy that states "letters may not be edited, added to, or changed by sender once we receive them."
Does that mean that any factual errors, misspelled names, or new circumstances after the submission must be disregarded for the sake of a policy? Is it just one strike and you're out, period?
If such is the case, those who utilize the Chronicle for research or to stay properly informed would be left without the most currently available communication being offered. And the unintentionally misspoken words would be left in the printed records forever.
If a particular writer became a nuisance, you could simply reject the entire letter.
Can you please provide a reason for this policy? Are there any exceptions, or has no one ever considered these consequences?
A decade or so ago, I was a regular contributor to the letters to the editor in both the Chronicle and the Statesman.
I just noticed your current policy that states "letters may not be edited, added to, or changed by sender once we receive them."
Does that mean that any factual errors, misspelled names, or new circumstances after the submission must be disregarded for the sake of a policy? Is it just one strike and you're out, period?
If such is the case, those who utilize the Chronicle for research or to stay properly informed would be left without the most currently available communication being offered. And the unintentionally misspoken words would be left in the printed records forever.
If a particular writer became a nuisance, you could simply reject the entire letter.
Can you please provide a reason for this policy? Are there any exceptions, or has no one ever considered these consequences?
Bill Oakey
[Editor's response: The statement is a proactive measure that we can point to if a letter writer wants to keep rewriting their letter after it has been accepted. In practice, we certainly accept and incorporate relevant changes.]