A modest proposal for a reform on promoting the readers voice in the print edition of The Guardian
On 15th November the Guardian published a letter from a number of people who may or may not be Labour voters (it is a secret ballot) saying they will not vote Labour.
Its an Election time so to an extent this is the currency of letters pages on those occasions. That is why I will or will not vote this or that way. Its part, one hopes, of a democratic debate.
Indeed some responses appeared in the edition of 18th November from people who will be voting Labour, as I will myself.
However, unusually, I think almost uniquely, the paper also referenced the correspondence on its front page.
Leaving aside the contents of the specific letter and whether you agree with it or not, this is surely a welcome development for letter writers.
In the age of mass communication, 24 hour news, and social media promoting the voice of the reader is important.
Of course comments can be made, and are, on-line. As with the letters page itself however a front page focus for the readers voice would be subject to an editor. Perhaps in 2019 we might say it would be a curated presence and carry all the more weight for that.
“Of course comments can be made, and are, on-line.” And of course on the increasingly rare pieces where on-line comments are allowed, they are heavily censored. Comment is free? Hahahaha ha ha.