Why didn’t my letter to the editor get printed?

It’s a common question any editorial page editor—in this case me—gets from readers turned writers. I get the same question about Cheers and Jeers.

Usually, the question is delivered in a tone that suggests the powers that be at the newspaper are conspiring to “cover up” something the writer believes is of vital importance, pushing some political agenda or protecting an advertiser.

But the answer is none of the above.

The main reason a letter, Cheer or Jeer doesn’t make it into print is that the wri...

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