The Editor's Blog - Latest Comments in Do you think our letters are too long?

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

musica — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:23:52 -0000

i think they are fine, they are not too long

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

Scott — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:17:39 -0000

Hi Nick:

I don't have time to read the newspaper everyday, but the section that I find myself always going back to is the editorial page. And especially the Letters to the editor. My preference would be shorter letters, especially if you can get opposing viewpoints.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

Bob Cutter — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:17:20 -0000

Nick -
1) This to confirm that your new communication system apparently works.
2) Your article was too long
3) Anne Hines (author) wrote: "Everything worth saying has been said before at least once. And everything not worth saying has been said even more often than that."
4) Personally, I think you've got the major premise wrong: its not that everyone should be given the chance to speak, but that everything worth saying should be said. In the end, the limits for letters will be set (driven) by the economics of whatever your newspaper can afford to publish. Brevity will be dictated by money, so when you choose which letters to publish, choose wisely.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

mkates — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:14:00 -0000

You are right. The letters are too long and tend to be opinionated rants rather than thoughtful opinions. Printing more, but short letters, will bring a better perspective of what the readers think.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

Kevin — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:06:06 -0000

Rather than focusing on the letters being too long the owners of the Telegraph could be improving the paper by removing the liberal and left wing writers on the editorial staff. The Nashua Telegraph has evolved from being a moderate paper to being a left wing rag. Some of the stories and writers are excellant on some of the local storys but I gag on the papers slanted extreme viewpoints. If another newspaper springs up in the Nashua area with a moderate or conservative viewpoint I will drop the paper in a heartbeat.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

cjbonz — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:21:12 -0000

You should keep it at a maximum of 250 words, any more and all we would get is more incorrect spelling and bad grammar. We see enough of that in the rest of the paper.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

MoreCowbell25 — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:18:44 -0000

Nick, I agree that you should have a limit on letters. It's my preference to read more letters rather than one longer one that could have been abbreviated.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

Carol Mannarino — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:47:52 -0000

Nice quote!

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

howmorse77 — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:47:20 -0000

Nick--as you know I e-mailed you directly and asked for 350, but it is to be any less, please let us know. I guess the new communication system is working, but you might want to suggest that everyone on this list set up a log in as I just did. I am sure it makes things easier

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

Carol Mannarino — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:45:53 -0000

I think you should expand your paper, and allot more space for letters. And I think you should thank your lucky stars that you operate a newspaper in an area where your readers can string so many words into intelligible sentences.

But seriously, I really think you should expand the paper.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

Bob Ziegel — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:40:47 -0000

Your article is too long

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

John D. PIlla — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:31:25 -0000

I agree that letters should be shortened to a maximum of 20-250 words, strictly.

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

suze scholl — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:26:56 -0000

I am casting my vote for community editorials to be no longer than 250 words. Let's make our points quickly; allow for many voices to be heard; and, support people to get into the conversation (s).

Re: Do you think our letters are too long?

quotequad — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:44:58 -0000

I have made this [letter] longer, because I have not had the time to make it shorter.

-- Blaise Pascal, "Lettres provinciales", letter 16, 1657

Letter writers should have the courtesy to take the time.