Editorial Policy
The editorial pages of the Woodburn Independent promote a healthy and robust public discussion of local, statewide and national issues. The Woodburn Independent publishes editorials, staff columns, guest opinion pieces and letters to the editor.
The news staff, in conjunction with the editor and publisher, meets each week to discuss issues and plan the unsigned editorials that present the newspaper’s views. These unsigned editorials are the official position of the newspaper and do not necessarily represent the opinion of any individual newspaper employee, newspaper advertisers, or Pamplin Media Group.
Letters to the editor appear in each printed edition and online and serve to encourage readers to express their opinions on topics of general interest, as well as on Woodburn Independent coverage. We publish most letters received, subject to our editorial policy (see Submit Letters). However, to allow for a variety of viewpoints, individual letters are limited by the editor’s discretion. Only letters written by local residents, or letters that have a direct bearing on our community, will be printed.
Authors must include their full name, street address, daytime telephone and e-mail address. We require this information for verification purposes. Only the name and town of residence will be printed. Woodburn Independent does not publish anonymous letters.
The First Amendment protects criticism of government and/or public officials. However, letters that are deemed libelous, obscene or in bad taste will not be printed. Likewise, letters airing personal grievances against businesses or individuals will not be accepted. The editor and/or publisher will make this determination at their sole discretion.
For more information, please contact Lindsay Keefer, editor, at lkeefer@woodburnindependent.com, or Nikki DeBuse, publisher, at ndebuse@woodburnindependent.com.
