Discussing The Sun
Part 1: Wait a minute, Mr. Postman
The Quincy Sun has had some impactful pieces lately. In the next couple of posts, you will get a “fly on the wall” view to Maggie’s and my conversation about this.
The Quincy Sun plays an important role in providing a forum for both elected leaders and Quincy's residents.
Joe: Last week’s Quincy Sun had a couple interesting pieces that affect AJQ — I thought I’d get some of your input. Maggie, you were the first person to let me know that a new letter submission policy was coming from the Sun regarding the “letters to the editor” section. You had heard directly from the editor-in-chief/publisher (Robert Bosworth) that they weren’t taking any letters for the upcoming edition and that they’d be publishing a “revised” policy instead. Can you summarize what the Sun’s letter-writing policy is as of 9/25/2024?
Maggie: Sure – the big new change is that reader’s forum letters can no longer be emailed in but instead have to be printed and then mailed or hand-delivered to the Sun’s office in Quincy Center. Letters also have to include the writer’s name, address, phone number, and signature for identity verification – apparently to cut down on writers submitting letters under fake names, which the editor says has been happening in recent weeks.
Joe: I am not crazy about any policy that makes it harder for people to submit a letter. With the elected leaders making public comment increasingly rare, the publication of letters to The Quincy Sun has been one of the main ways people could express a public opinion on what’s going on with the city. Did you have any reaction to the submission procedure?
Maggie: I was surprised. I often recognize letter writers’ names from real life, and the paper has never allowed aliases or anonymous letters. So it didn’t seem like the old policy had led to a spate of “fake” published letters. But if fake submissions are on the rise, why not just require an address and phone number in all emailed letters? That’s how other papers verify people’s identities.
This paper-only policy seems intended to cut down on all letter submissions, which makes me sad both as a former journalist and as a subscriber who reads the letters before anything else in the paper. The Sun is going to be much less relevant to me now.
Joe: Mr. Bosworth went on to add some other restrictions:
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Maggie: I’m fine with most of those statements, and they’re in line with letters policies at many other papers. But two worry me: one letter per subject matter and the right to “end debate” on a topic.
It remains to be seen how broadly “subject” will be defined for the one-letter-per-subject rule. The raises have been a developing story that started half a year ago with what many of us feel was a flawed consultant’s report and then proceeded with protests, a finance committee meeting, a unanimous council vote in support of the mayor’s and council’s raises, a massive petition movement to repeal the raises, and more protests. Would the new policy have considered each of these developments a separate subject? I hope so — otherwise people wouldn't be able to react to new twists in stories that unfurl over months and years.
Even more concerning to me is the Sun’s assertion that it can “end debate” on a topic. How is that consistent with the values of a free press? Journalism should celebrate and promote free speech and thoughtful discourse, not threaten to shut it down. This rule gives me chills.
Joe: Well, it will be interesting to see how these guidelines affect the city’s discourse. The Quincy Sun plays a vital role in gathering citizen feedback, especially as public opportunities to express opinions on our elected leaders’ decisions are dwindling.
In part two of this conversation, we will break down Councilor Cain’s thoughts on public forums and the need for community input. Maggie and I will share our perspectives on that, along with other statements Councilor Cain made in his interview in the Sun. Check ajustquincy.com for all the latest content.
