How Can The News & Record Make Its Opinion Pages Even Better?

Editorial Page Editor Allen Johnson:

"The News & Record is exploring ways to make its opinion pages livelier, more open and more informative. And we need your help.

Please share your ideas on the kinds of changes or additions you'd like to see."

Allen shares some of the suggestions readers submitted.

I agree with Chewie's comment:

"In case no one else said it, regarding #4:

Whatever you do, please don't eliminate Leonard Pitts. He gets better every year."

(Someone actually recommended, "Eliminate Leonard Pitts, who contributes nothing." I wish I could express "nothing" as well as Pitts does!)

These are the suggestions I submitted:

1. They should do it on their own, but invite all municipal candidates for the general election to submit a brief statement about why voters should choose them. Devote a portion of the opinion pages to these candidates in the days leading up to the November 11th election.

2. I've seen announcements on the editorial pages for "young" writers, but I've gotten the impression that these notices have drawn relatively low interest. One of the absolute best additions to the News & Record has been "The 'Boro." The opinion pages should aggressively shoot for something very similar in nature. I don't mean to devote quite the amount of space that goes toward "The 'Boro." But create a regular teen opinion column. This is one area where I believe the High Point Enterprise has done a better job over the years. Doug Clark may have more insight into that--I never have checked out the HPE as much as I should, but I do know that over the years its had some form of a regular teen opinion column.

3. I love the News & Record and all that it offers. But it's a travesty that it doesn't have a regular cartoonist to cover local "stuff." With all the homegrown, ready-to-be-exposed-and-exploited material we have right under our noses!?! The Rhino(ceros Times) beats the News & Record in this one area. To me, this would be an excellent investment for the opinion pages--a regularly appearing cartoon that captures our local flavor is one of the most needed additions at this time.

4. More regular use of specific topics to invite a diversity of voices on that topic. This is used sporadically--make it a more regular feature.

5. Believe it was the "Public Pulse." Do that, but rotate more folks in and out. Or at least bring it back. I liked that feature.

6. Would be curious for more regular columns from Tracie Fellers and Ken Irons. Maybe it's not in the cards for them to be weekly like Allen and Doug. But it'd be cool to hear from them through their own at least occasional columns.

7. Continue to think of creative, interesting ways to promote blogging--both the newspaper's own blogs and other blogs in our community. The pieces devoted to (David) Wharton and (Joe) Guarino were great! Continue to do that when it fits and works. Same for "Mixing It Up."

8. Forums sponsored by the News & Record and others have been beneficial for our community, particularly when coupled with extensive news coverage of accompanying issues. Nice combined effort of news and editorial sections. Figure out additional worthwhile topics and issues. Connect with other sponsors, as you've been doing.

9. Continue to tap the local universities and colleges.

10. Believe you've done so before, but continue inviting readers in for roundtable discussions about the newspaper, blogging, and our community.