Cape Gazette updates policies

Beginning today, the Cape Gazette has updated policies for letters to the editor and press release submissions. These changes mark an important shift in how we will engage with the local community, share information and reflect our ongoing effort to maintain editorial integrity while ensuring our pages are a space for relevant, meaningful and accurate communication.

Our new letters policy was created after reviewing other newspapers’ policies and speaking directly with the leaders of many independent newspapers across the country.  

The new guidelines prioritize local relevance. The Viewpoints section will center on topics that directly impact the Cape Region. 

Readers may now submit more than one letter within a 30-day period; however, the subject matter must be different. This will avoid unnecessary repetition. With that said, we’ve determined 400 words is a more appropriate maximum length for letters. 

The biggest change is regarding elections. Our pages were overwhelmed with endorsement letters last year. The volume of repetitive letters received were being engineered by candidates and party representatives to serve as political advertising and took away precious space for local news stories. Moving forward, endorsements of political candidates will not be accepted. 

While critical letters about public figures are still permitted, personal attacks and disparagement of specific individuals or businesses will be excluded. This will undoubtedly help keep the discussion respectful and focused on ideas, rather than personal vendettas.

The updated press release policy further underscores our commitment to maintaining a focus on the community. By limiting event releases to nonprofit efforts and prohibiting press releases about for-profit events and pay-to-play awards, our goal is to ensure our content is in service of the public good, rather than simply promoting business interests.

In a media landscape increasingly driven by sensationalism and clickbait, our hope is the refined policies will present thoughtful, community-centered journalism. Readers can expect a more curated, impactful experience, whether engaging with letters or press releases. We believe it is a positive move for both the paper and the community.