If you have ever hosted a party, you know that nothing starts a lively conversation faster than opinion. Whether it is politics or policy, a serious discourse or a humorous jab to make a point, opinion gets people thinking and talking.
On the Opinion pages of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, we view conversation-starting as our mission. We do that with columns by our own and syndicated writers, letters from readers, cartoons, editorials and guest opinion — and whatever gets said on these pages prompts reaction from readers. That’s exactly what we want.
So we’re going to work harder to expand and broaden those conversations — and the information, points of view and insight they prompt — with all of you. And like any good party host, we’re going to make sure no single voice dominates the conversation.
Elsewhere on this page, we share details of how our pages are changing beginning this week. I thought I would let you know what’s behind the changes, which are part of a newspaperwide effort to better meet reader expectations.
First, we’re extending our Sunday “Atlanta Forward” approach to our weekday pages. “Atlanta Forward,” the centerpiece of our Sunday pages, has highlighted topics of vital importance to the region’s future.
We want to prompt and provide even more discussion about how metro Atlanta wrestles with its future — and how our community’s leaders tackle the large and complex issues that affect all of us.
Your AJC believes that keeping the region focused on these issues, presenting ideas for discussion and inviting you into the fray gives our community its best chance to remain one of America’s leading metropolitan areas.
The other highlight of the changes will be the daily “Balanced Views.”
We know you value commentary on local, national and world issues, so we’ll continue to provide you with a strong lineup of local and syndicated columnists — and we’ll do that seven days a week.
Today we provide you with our roster of columnists, and you’ll see that we’re offering an equal number of conservatives and liberals. Readers have told us they pay attention to that kind of balance and value it.
We’ll also continue to offer letters to the editor, guest columns and, of course, our Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Mike Luckovich. And some guest cartoonists to balance his views, too.
These improvements to our Opinion pages are part of an evolution that started two years ago. We stopped endorsing political candidates and ended daily institutional editorials because readers have told us they want a wider variety of voices and don’t need us to tell them what to think.
We know you have more choices than ever for news, opinion and commentary. We’re listening and making changes to bring you valuable, thoughtful and balanced points of view.
I hope you’ll enjoy the new approach. Join the conversation and let me know what you think.
Kevin Riley is editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Contact him at editor@ajc.com or
About the Author
