Letters to editor criteria outlined

Letters to the editor of The Jasper Newsboy must meet the following criteria:

 Should be of general or specific interest to the readership of The Jasper Newsboy

 Should be limited to about 300 words

 Must contain a valid signature, a valid mailing address and valid day and evening telephone numbers where the writer may be reached

 Names of persons writing letters will not be withheld

 Unsigned letters will not be published

 Letters endorsing or opposing political candidates are considered political advertising and should be taken to the advertising department

 Letters containing personal attacks on individuals, public figures or elected officials will be edited or sent back to the writer. Criticism of how a public figure or elected official votes or on actions taken with regard to performance of his/her job are acceptable as long as the comments are not personally derisive

 Letters of complaint about private businesses will be forwarded to the business in question and will not be published

 Thank you letters with long lists of names are considered advertising and should go to the advertising department

 Deadline for letters is 10 a.m. Monday for inclusion in the following Wednesday's edition

 Letters may be edited for length, libel, grammar, clarity and newspaper style, without changing the meaning and intent of the letter

 To ensure diversity and variety of viewpoints, letter writers are limited to one letter each 30 days

 The Newsboy will not publish poetry, anonymous letters, “open” or “third party” letters written to someone else, letters that constitute advertisements, letters concerning private legal disputes or conflicts between individuals, letters that are part of organized writing campaigns and letters that include previously published material Mail letters to: The Jasper Newsboy P.O. Box 1419 Jasper, Texas 75951-1419 or e-mail to:

jgalvan@jaspernewsboy.com

The Your Viewpoint columns are primarily for Newsboy readers and subscribers in the four-county Jasper Retail Trade Area of Jasper, Newton, Sabine and Tyler counties. First consideration will be given to letters from those residents.