NOT so very long ago, if you approached the man on the Clarkston omnibus and said you wanted to discuss matters of the constitution, he would be braced for questions about the regularity of his bowel movements. Not now. For at least the last four years, the future of Scotland’s position within the United Kingdom – and now the European Union – has concentrated many minds.
Readers will note that since I last occupied this slot, three weeks ago, The Herald has run an eight-day series, Beyond Brexit, focusing on the key issues arising from the EU referendum result. And on almost all of those days, we published Letters Specials – where the left-hand page is devoted to one subject – on the subject.
This was not by design, but nor was it by accident – the selection of letters and the layout of the pages are always a reflection of that day’s mailbag, and that series generated a huge response.
I mention the layout here, because I am sometimes asked what criteria I use to decide on priorities and prominence.
The left-hand page is relatively straightforward. It quickly becomes clear – usually by mid-afternoon – what the main talking point of the day is. If I receive a large number of publishable letters on one subject, that will almost always comprise the lead.
There is a logic to the running order. I try to run one set of arguments in favour of a certain argument or proposition, followed by those giving the contrary view; the aim is to make the debate linear, thus easier to follow, rather than mixing and matching and jumping hither and thither.
If, as is often the case, the debate is still hot the following day I will, where possible, redress the balance in terms of running order for or against the proposition under discussion. And, as previously mentioned, I will try to give priority to new contributors (I am pleased to say we have had a host of those in these past few days).
It then only remains to research and select a photograph to illustrate the lead package.
By and large, the next most popular topic – or one on a similar theme – will occupy the slot below the lead on that page. But things get a little more complicated when we consider the right-hand page.
There we have to share space with three immovable objects: the wing column, the Picture of the Day and the Agenda forum. This means we are somewhat constrained; it is difficult to run lengthy letters within the parameters available. That is one of the reasons we ask you to restrict your contributions to no more than 500 words (that and a desire to publish as many letters as possible).
This page is where we try to lighten the mood somewhat. More often than not, the first page is devoted to politics, but here we can cover other topics. Just in the last week that page has covered debate on the state of Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall, suggestions for improving the Royal Mile, the blight of potholes, the joys of Radio 4, foxhunting, the lack of attention parents pay to their offspring on buses, and more.
In short, we discuss anything and everything under the sun. So come and join us; you’ll be made very welcome.
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