Dec 5

Dec 5 Dear Readers

We hope this letter finds you well. Since our tenure as editors began, we’ve written and published some controversial takes – a few that some members of the Hofstra community haven’t taken a liking to. While we understand this, something that we’ve observed is the prevalence to express distaste for a piece’s subject matter without taking any initiative. If there’s a disagreement on a topic or article we’ve published, we call on you, as readers, to write counter-opinions.

The idea of free speech within the realm of journalism is a constant topic of debate. Let us be clear in saying that we want to publish as many opinion pieces as possible, whether that be on controversial issues in the real world or criticisms of campus policies and issues. The Opinion section receives a great deal of feedback from our readers on almost every article published.

We value what each member of the Hofstra community has to say and advocate for our writers and readers to use their voices to speak up on issues they take within our articles. However, we do then encourage you to write a counter-opinion in response. We appreciate your critiques, but we ask that you be willing to put your name behind it. You can speak with us in person or via email about writing something in response.

We acknowledge that most criticism is constructive and helps us and our writers to grow. But it is important to remember that our section is called “Opinions and Editorials.” They are just that: opinions. You can critique our portrayal of issues and the content itself, but we value opinions over everything.

As individuals, we don’t necessarily agree with everything we publish, either. As journalists and editors, we have a responsibility to be unbiased when editing and choosing what is published.

When someone approaches us with an idea for a controversial issue, we always try our absolute hardest to find someone to write a counter article. It’s our duty as editors to look to cover all sides of an issue. Yet we often struggle to find writers willing to write any opposing viewpoints.

What makes our section so incredibly unique is that there is no definitive truth. We always incorporate hard facts and corroborate evidence in our pieces, but no opinion is the “right one.” That’s the beauty of it.

There is no right or wrong as long as our section guidelines are followed. It’s all dependent on how one’s argument is constructed. How does the writer utilize sources? What are the grounds of the discourse in the first place? A well-constructed opinion piece sews together facts and evidence with the writer’s takes intertwined.

We aren’t reporting hard news; we look at what’s going on in the world through our lens. Every print edition of the Chronicle has a disclaimer which explains that opinions expressed here are those of the author and those views are not reflective of The Hofstra Chronicle.

We encourage all readers to come and join Opinion and write counter-opinions. Allow your opinions to be heard – someone else who reads your article is likely thinking the same thing.