This publication changes its letters-to-the-editor policy

By Donald H. Harrison in San Diego

I’d like to compliment our assistant editor Cailin Acosta for her fine work taking the reins of this publication in the past couple of weeks. Her response to my medical emergency provided me time to reflect during my recent hospitalization for a bladder infection and since then as I recuperate.

Bylines at the top of San Diego Jewish World articles are one way for readers to know who the purveyor of the information or opinion is. In the case of press releases, it is the notations below the articles telling what organization provided the material that provide insight.

Sources of information or opinion are clearly identified, providing readers with additional insight into any biases that might color a story.  Everyone has a bias. Disclosure provides readers with another tool to evaluate them.

Disclosure has long characterized San Diego Jewish World’s editorial philosophy.  However, there has been one exception — anonymous letters to the editor that utilize pseudonyms to mask the writers’ identities.

That changes now.

Henceforth, for a letter to be published on SDJW, its writer must be clearly identified with full name, and the geographic location of the writer’s workplace or residence. For example, if I were to write such a letter, it would be signed “Donald H. Harrison, San Diego.”

Not for publication, additional information for verification purposes must also be submitted.  This includes the letter writer’s street address and telephone number.

This will eliminate letters from trolls and from those who can’t stand behind their opinions.  At the same time, it will promote honest discussion of the issues and evaluation of the information’s veracity.

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Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.