Policies
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Reminder: Political letters to the editor policy The filing period for federal, state, county and some municipal elections closed May 31 and the filing period for other municipal and school board elections is Aug. 2-16, which means we are in an active election season, and our political letters to the editor policy will be enforced in regard to those elections. In short, any letter that speaks for or against a particular candidate for office or ballot question will be subject to charge and more limited in word count. People may continue to address governing policies and decisions that are not ballot related in accordance with our traditional letters to the editor policy.
– All political letters to the editor will be limited to 250 words in order to accommodate more letters and viewpoints.
– All letters endorsing or opposing a candidate, ballot measure or political party will be a paid letter to the editor. Star Publications will charge a flat fee of $25 per publication for 250-word or less letters. Payment must be received prior to copy deadline.
Display advertising rates will be applied to letters exceeding the word limit.
Star Publications has adopted this blanket measure as, at times, endorsement letters are written as part of marketing campaigns.
– Political letters regarding issues that make no indication of favor or opposition of a candidate, ballot measure or political party will continue to be printed free of charge.
– Paid political letters to the editor will be clearly marked and set apart from those which are not.
– Readers will be allowed to submit one political letter every 14 days. Space is limited in our papers, and this allows more voices to be heard.
– Candidates will not be allowed to write political letters to the editor. Correspondence from candidates will be published as paid advertising at display advertising rates. The only exception will be allowing candidates to respond to political letters to the editor regarding themselves; those responses will be limited to 250 words and be charged $25 per publication.
– Two issues prior to election day, our readers will likely not see any political letters to the editor. The only exception would be publishing letters in response to those written prior to the period. This decision is designed to protect the integrity of the election by prohibiting letters that could contain misleading or false accusations that could ultimately affect voters’ decisions should a candidate not have the opportunity to respond.
– All letters to the editor – political or not – require first and last names, addresses and phone numbers. This allows newspaper staff to verify the letter writer’s identity.
We do not print anonymous letters of any kind. Names and city of residency will be published in the newspaper along with the letter copy.
DEADLINES FOR POLICITCAL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOR STAR PUBLICATIONS
– Final deadlines for the Sauk Centre Herald are 5 p.m. July 18 for the primary election and 5 p.m. Oct. 17 for the general election.
– Final deadlines for the Benton County News are 10 a.m. July 15 for the primary election and 10 a.m. Oct. 14 for the general election.
– Final deadlines for The Star Post are 5 p.m. July 15 for the primary election and 5 p.m. Oct. 14 for the general election.
– Final deadlines for the Sauk Rapids Herald is 5 p.m. July 20 for the primary election and 5 p.m. Oct. 19 for the general election.