LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE STILL IMPORTANT

YOUR FOLLOWERS LIKELY LOOK AND THINK LIKE YOU, WRITES O'HARA

It's about trust. Our relationship with our readers is built on transparency, honesty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This column is part of that project.

Yes, you can publish your opinions. Everyone, everywhere, has access to easy-to-use, free social media platforms where your opinions on everything from climate change to local politics can be shared with the world.

Except, for most, you are really only sharing with friends and family who follow you. And even if you have expanded your reach beyond your social circle, your followers are still likely to look and think a lot as you do.

One of the many problems with social media is that it entrenches our confirmation bias. By reading mostly what is on our feed, we see what we want to see. We read what we want to read. If your views are liberal, you will follow people with similar views, and they will follow you.

If you have a conservative perspective, your feed is most likely to feature that point of view, and the people who receive your posts are on the same page.

We are all preaching to the converted.

And it's not serving us individually or collectively.

A letter to the editor — published online, linked to stories on the topic and other letters that may or may not agree with yours, and published in the print edition of the Review — is sure to reach the people who may not agree with you, yet.

It allows you to convince others, sway them to your point of view, and create a conversation.

In recent years, the number of letter submissions for the Review's consideration has declined — significantly. Letters to the editor, published under the OPINION header, are few and far between.

Yet, opinions on local issues ranging from accessibility to snow removal, the urban boundary expansion, transit and more, remain strong.

We know this because we often come across your comments on Twitter and Facebook.

We welcome the opportunity to publish your views with readers — in print and online. Giving you a public voice beyond social media is essential to democracy and a healthy community newspaper.

Want to weigh in on an issue?

Email your letter for the Review's consideration to editor@flamboroughreview.com. Keep your submission to 250 words, and include your name for publication.

Your address and telephone number are also needed for verification purposes only.