• Front page
• Receive letters on your RSS reader

Jon Takata of Thornton writes:

Recently I submitted a letter to the Editor titled “Amelia Earhart and Steve Fossett” that was published, 10/26/07, with the title “Wasteful Searches".
Although I realize that letters published will be edited for spelling and grammar, why are editors allowed to change letters to be published to the extent that they do - title and content? Either publish the letters to be publis hed as is, ask the submitter if it may be changed or don’t publish it at all.
I think that “Letters and Speakout” policies should apply to both the submitters and to the Rocky Mountain News. I was sorry to see the changes to the title and content in my submission! Even a small change of a word or an omission can affect the meaning of a sentence or paragraph.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

The letters are never edited for spelling or grammatical errors.

The editors title the letters the same way the government titles battles: in catchy ways that will get people's attention.

(think: desert shield, desert storm, shock and awe... etc., ad nauseum)

KISSES!!!

Sheila, I thought I was the only one gagged by those cutesy names for stuff that happens in Iraq.

I've been writing letters to the editor for over 20 years. I can't definitely recall a single instance in which my letters were edited for content.
Sharon and Sheila, usually military operations get named randomly and innocuously, from my understanding. That's to prevent anyone from guessing the operations intent and objective. If an operation has a cutesy name, you better believe either civilian politicians or military planners seeking to curry favor got involved.

At the risk of sounding obvious, it's their newspaper. It you don't like it, start your own or sue them.

I have had at least 25 letters published in the RMN and have never had a problem.They have been very fair.Also ,the only "titles" that Sharon B. and Shelia would not gag on are the ones that help the terrorists win the war.

Liberal poster at 9:39 says that the RMN "edited his letters to blunt their liberal thrust".The truth is that liberals say stupid thing that make no sense so the RMN has to change their letters or not publish them at all.Look at the postings here and you will see I am right.I have had over 100 letters published in many newspapers and have had no problem.If you liberals want to learn how to write letters to the editor I will teach you ,for a fee.

It appears that An American is in dire need of some basic writing lessons. I would help, but I'd be wasting my time with someone as inept as he.

"I have had over 100 letters published in many newspapers and have had no problem," says An American.

That's nice. Then why so many complaints about a "liberal biased press"?

You have an excellent point!

An American.

I wrote a letter saying the Nazis targeted particular relgious groups for extermination, which Steve Oelrich changed to "harassment".

Vince had to apologize for that one.

What do you think of that?

The USSC has ruled that papers can not edit the intended "voice" of letters without the author's consent. I had that problem once and the result was the editor was fired. Are you listening RMW?

If Bush can be elected president & Un-American, with his limited grasp of grammar & comprehension, can have letters to the editor published, then this country is in more trouble than i thought.

Hans great question!!! What the media does is write a news article and put it on the front page.This gives great weight to the story and makes the public think it is accurate.Then ,so they can say they are being fair they will publish a letter to the editor telling the truth.Hans as even a Democrat would be able to see most of what sticks in the publics' minds are the original stories but the media can say they were"fair" by publishing the letter.I know it makes you Democrats jealous that I have had so many letters published and you have had none or very few.Here is a lesson I think you can learn. You think my writing is so bad I could not get letters published ,but I have. Is your judgement so bad that you could be wrong about all your political beliefs?

I agree with the letter writer. My opinion is that the RMN, or any newspaper for that matter should not change the title of a letter to the editor because in doing so they are tampering with the meaning of the letter. Yes, of course it’s their paper. But it is the words and the context portrayed by the letter writer which they are changing as well.

But, they do not care! They are “the elite” and are “smarter” than the general public. They are the masters of information that instruct the unwashed masses as to what is important.

Aside from that…

What a bunch of pathetic losers; posting personal attacks the way you do. It's obvious that many of you don't have a clue about common decency or respect, and that your major purpose for getting on this site is just to try making your pitiful self esteem feel better. What a bunch of self-absorbed narcissists that think they are brilliant scholars!!

POST A COMMENT

• Englewood animal shelter has caring workers
• Resist the DREAM
• McCallin: loose cannon
• A DIFFERING VIEW/Farm Bill’s goal is to put affordable food on the table
• Environmental saviors
• Judge has a backbone
• Trick or treating etiquette
• Homelessness in Colorado