From the editors:
In keeping with our mission, The Concord Bridge regularly publishes letters to the editor to foster community conversation and connection. The Bridge has undergone substantial change in the past year, and because we are now entering local election season, it’s a good time to update you on our letters policy.
We welcome one letter per reader per calendar month. Letters may run no more than 300 words and must be limited to local topics. The letter deadline is noon Sunday for publication the following Friday.
As a hyperlocal newspaper, we do not generally cover state, national, or international issues or politics. There are many places to read about those topics. The Bridge is focused on Concord. When there is crossover between local and non-local material, letters run at the discretion of the editors. We never publish ad hominem attacks.
The best way to submit letters is via our online portal at concordbridge.org/contact, not by emailing individual staff members. We accept letters by regular mail at 56C Winthrop Street, Concord, MA 01742, but these may take longer to process.
We verify all letters by phone directly with the sender. We do not publish anonymous or unverified letters, nor letters submitted through a third party. Letter submissions must include a full name, full street address, and a phone number for verification. (Only the writer’s name and street name, not the phone or house number, are published.)
Some common questions about letters to the editor:
Q. What if you can’t reach me by phone to verify my letter?
A . We’ll leave a message (if possible), but we can’t consider your letter until it’s voice verified. If we verify other letters before yours, even if we received yours first, your letter might get bumped back in the queue, so please answer our call (or call us right back).
Q. How many people can sign a letter?
A. Up to three people or households. Each must verify that they approve of what was written. Longer lists of signatories must be included in the body of the letter, and those count toward the 300-word limit. Also, letters must be signed by individuals. We don’t accept letters sent only in the name of an organization or group.
Q. Why hasn’t The Bridge run my letter?
A. The possibilities include:
- Fact-checking. If letters go beyond the expression of personal opinion, we must review supporting materials, such as documents, links to published material, etc. It helps if you provide this information.
- Print space. We only have so much room for letters in each edition given the many reported stories we run (among other factors). At certain times, including local election season, we often develop a substantial letter backlog. This means your letter might not run the same week you sent it. We appreciate your patience and courtesy.
- Rejection. While we err on the side of publishing more letters than fewer, some are not appropriate for this newspaper, such as letters on national events or in response to stories published by other media outlets. We lean against publishing letters in poem/non-prose format. The Bridge is a public service, but it is not a public square; there is no de facto “right” to have a letter published.
Q. Why are there more letters endorsing Candidate A than Candidate B?
A. The Bridge runs letters in the order received and verified, with letters from Concord residents generally taking precedence. Some candidates simply get more letters. The volume of letters is only one measure of candidate support, and the ultimate measure is the vote count. We do not take an editorial position on local elections, and we also do not create false equivalence by running one letter for each candidate if A received five endorsements and B received one.
The popularity of The Bridge’s letters section is a testament to the health of Concord’s spirit of civic engagement. We are proud to facilitate these exchanges in an atmosphere of both candor and civility.
We, as much as you, want your voice to be heard.
