Anne
HJERSMAN
More than a new look: A new attitude
So what do you think?
It’s looking new. Maybe even
improved.
Most important, it’s a tool. Please
use it.
*We want to know what you think.
About anything. About everything.
Like it or not, throughout the
semester you are going to hear all
about what we think. But you will
have plenty of opportunities to give
us a little feedback... good, bad or
ugly.
This is the opinion section, and
this is what it’s all about:
EDITORIAL BOARD
The first thing you should
probably know about is the Editorial
Board. That’s our “think tank.” This
semester it’s made up of the editor,
the managing editor, the sports
editor, the night editor, an associate
news editor, a senior reporter and me
(the opinion editor).
Our names are always listed
below the page header, which runs
along the left side of this section. We
meet regularly to discuss editorial
ideas and stances. In most cases, the
consensus opinion of the board is
what you will see represented in the
unsigned editorials that will be
published in the Daily Nebraskan
this semester.
EDITORIAL
This is where you will find the
analysis that you won’t see in the
news part of the paper. Under the
label “Our View,” we will talk about
what is going on in the world, the
country, the state, the city, the
campus—who knows? Maybe even
the universe.
While the other sections of the
newspaper must focus on being
objective, the opinion section is all
about ideas and, of course, opinions
—thus the name.
The purpose of the editorial is not
to get you thinking the way we think,
but just to get you thinking. It is the
expressed opinion of the newspaper
as a whole. Individual employees,
from staff reporter to editor-in-chief,
may agree or disagree with the views
expressed. And so can you.
CARTOON
This is a little window into the
world as seen by a cartoonist—
whether that be our staff cartoonist
James Mehsling or a cartoonist
whose work is syndicated. If a
picture says a thousand words, this
feature certainly saves us a lot of
space.
Like any other editorial cartoonist,
Mehsling draws from his reactions to
current events and/or circumstances.
He consults me and/or the editor
before he draws his final version, but
the content is generally up to him. He
is a columnist Of images, so to speak.
COLUMN
A column is probably the most
familiar feature of an opinion
section. The Daily Nebraskan has
hired nine columnists this semester
who will appear weekly to share their
thoughts, beliefs and reactions to the
things going on around them.
Columns are edited for style only.
The content is completely up to the
writer. Staff columnists will meet
once a week to discuss each other’s
work and to talk about events and
issues that may lead to column ideas.
The Daily Nebraskan will also
occasionally print syndicated
columns and guest columns submit
ted by readers.
CARTOON PORTFOLIO
This weekly feature will be a
collection of editorial cartoons that
look at an issue (or several related
issues) from all sorts of angles. It will
draw from a number of cartoonists’
syndicated works.
WRITE BACK/LETTERS
This is an invitation to all to voice
opinions on current issues, any
section of the Daily Nebraskan or
whatever else might be of concern.
If you want to have a letter
published, the best advice is to be
brief, be specific and be clear. And
be ready to take full credit for what
you write. Nothing anonymous. We
want to know more than your
opinion. We want to know your
name, year in school, major and/or
group affiliation.
If you have a lot to say, you might
consider submitting a guest column.
E-mail it. Fax it. Mail it. The
addresses and fax number will
always appear in the “Write back”
box. Heck, trot on down to room 34
in Nebraska Union and hand it to me
yourself. Do whatever it takes. I can’t
guarantee your stuff will be printed,
«
Throughout the
% ■
semester, you are
going to hear all
about what we
think. But you will
have plenty of
opportunities to give
us a little feedback
but I’ll do what I can to help you.
POLICIES
This little box is probably the
least-read part of this Section, but it is
important. It explains who makes
what decisions and sets out the
guidelines for letters to the editor. It’s
a good thing to keep in mind as you
read the section and definitely
something you should look at before
sending in a letter or guest column.
Other than that, all I have to say is
keep in touch.
If you have any questions, you
know how to reach me.
Hjersman is a senior news
editorial and English major and
the Daily Nebraskan opinion
editor.