DEAR READERS: AJC seeks new conservative voice

Newspapers serve many important roles. We report on the most important stories in our market; we publish the top news from around the region, nation and world; and we present information that helps you make wiser decisions about how to invest your time and money.

Every day, in our @issue opinion pages, we also publish commentary, analysis and opinions from our editorial columnists and your neighbors. Our opinion pages serve as a public forum for differing views and lively debate.

For more than 20 years, one of the most well-read columns on our opinion pages has been written by Jim Wooten, our conservative columnist. After a long and distinguished career, Jim will be leaving the editorial board, effective June 30.

Fortunately, Jim will continue to contribute to the AJC. Beginning July 1, he will write his “Thinking Right” column once a week and will continue his blog on ajc.com.

In light of the reduced frequency of Jim’s column, the AJC will select a new full-time conservative columnist. We feel it’s important that we continue to represent a broad spectrum of voices on our opinion pages.

One of the hallmarks of our @issue pages is our commitment to welcoming letters, guest columns and other contributions from the public. Our pages are enriched by the involvement of our readers. In keeping with that spirit, we have decided to broaden the selection pool for this new position by opening it to the general public. We hope this encourages strong voices from the conservative community to join the candidate pool.

Interested candidates may review selection criteria and submit their information online at ajc.com/

newcolumnist. Candidates will be accepted through Feb. 1. In early February, we expect to review all submissions and select a group for further review. We plan to publish the work of the finalists and invite readers’ comments in late February. We will consider reader feedback when selecting the new columnist, whom we anticipate announcing in mid-March.

So, if you have a conservative perspective on social and fiscal issues, can write persuasively on diverse topics and are eager to develop fresh, thought-provoking columns and blog postings, please visit ajc.com/newcolumnist to learn more.

As the process moves forward, we will provide periodic updates in our editorial pages and online at ajc.com/opinion. If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail our public editor Matt Kempner at insideajc@ajc.com.

Thank you,

Julia Wallace

Editor

> Julia Wallace is editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.