CENTENNIAL SUNDAYS
Opinion page makes a difference
The Journal has a history of strong editorial pages.
Through the years, governors, legislators, mayors, business leaders, community members 鈥� all would meet with the Editorial Board to present a new idea or defend a controversial action. The board would ask tough questions and then often come away with an editorial presenting an opinion about the issue. In many cases, those editorials changed policy.
鈥淭his is what we do,鈥� said Dan Herrera, who served on the Editorial Board in various positions for more than two decades beginning in 2000. 鈥淲e research things and we put out the opinion of what we think is right. And if you disagree with us, write a letter to the editor.鈥�
In fact, some of the best-read content in the opinion pages were letters to the editor. The Journal receives more than 70 a week, of which we publish as much as space allows.
鈥淎t its best, a newspaper鈥檚 Editorial Page exposes readers to different points of view,鈥� wrote then-Editorial Page Editor D鈥檝al Westphal in a 2019 Journal special section highlighting the importance of the Journal鈥檚 opinion pages. 鈥淚f you want an echo chamber that simply echoes your brand of beliefs, then the editorial pages of the state鈥檚 leading newspaper are not the place for you.鈥�
One aspect many readers did not understand was that the Editorial Board was separate from the newsroom; reporters most often did not know what position the editorials would take.
鈥淢ost of the newsroom covers events,鈥� points out current Opinion Page Editor Ryan Boetel, 鈥渨hile the Opinion page covers ideas, especially those that challenge the status quo and try to stir positive change in the state.鈥�
The Journal continues to publish an Opinion page several days a week and a six-page Opinion section every Sunday.
