DeKeyser: Let’s hear from you, Maricopa

Are you interested in writing a column for Maricopa’s local news provider? inmaricopa.com now has an Opinion section, and we encourage the people who live and work in the city to voice their perspectives on issues and events here.

While thousands of people have used the Forum to express their point of view (and some neighborly – and occasionally not-so-neighborly – chat), the Opinion section offers an opportunity for longer form, issue-oriented arguments. Unlike the Forum, columns in the Opinion section will have bylines identifying the author. It’s healthy for a community to hear a wide range of opinons on the subjects that affect the city and the people in it. Neither jounalists nor local officials own all the knowledge and insight on issues, and this is your chance to add something that might otherwise not be aired.

Remember that inmaricopa.com is all Maricopa and only Maricopa. If your chosen subject directly affects Maricopa, we are much more likely to run it. You may have the world’s most erudite missive on George Bush or global warming, but our mission is Maricopa. We want to hear what you think about roads, schools, city leadership, Maricopa growth than national or international issues. Think home town. That’s what inmaricopa.com is all about.

That said, here are a few tips to penning effective columns that will make them more likely to be run and more likely to sway opinion.

First of all, have a clear opinion. A column is not just a new story, a series of facts, even when the dots are connected. An opinion should speak to issues and say “this is what should happen” or something of that nature that could spawn a headline. An opinion, by the way, is not something like I, or my office, is doing a great job.

Secondly, have evidence. Don’t just tell me it’s good or bad or fouled up, tell me why you believe that, and use examples, and more than anecdotes and rumors and what other people say. Don’t overwhelm the reader with statistics, but give them a base upon which you build your argument.

Make your argument or point of view clear. The old saw among editorial writers is: “Tell ’em what you’re going to tell ’em; tell ’em; and then tell ’em what you told ’em.” Don’t make me guess where you line up on your chosen subject.

This should go without saying, but don’t libel people, call them names or otherwise burn them. You can’t call people liars, thieves or miscreants because it’s not fair and you could get sued.

It helps to explain the viewpoint opposite of yours. Feel free to demonstrate why you think that argument is flawed. It helps balance.

There are three audiences for opinion: Those who agree, those who disagree and those who haven’t made up their mind. The first two are the easiest to crank up, but they’re the hardest to reach. The undecided may be the smallest audience, but it’s the one where your column can have the greatest effect. It’s most effective writing to this audience.

Columns generally should be between 500 and 750 words. They should be accompanied by a very brief description of the writer and his/her background that applies to the argument – even if it’s just that the person is a Maricopa resident. (Editorials, on the other hand, generally are unsigned.) Columns also should have a mug of the writer. On our site, we also can run other photos, if they apply, and graphs, charts, maps or whatever that help illustrate the point(s). If something visual helps make your argument, include it.

Email your submission to [email protected]. If you want to run an idea by us first, feel free to send it to the same email address.

So let’s hear from you, Maricopa.

Hal DeKeyser has been an editor and publisher in the Valley for more than 25 years and has written columns for the East Valley Tribune, The Arizona Republic and other publications. He is currently an editorial adviser to inmaricopa.com and 85239 The Magazine.