Writers should include a phone number in case there are questions about a column.Guest columns that are used do not have to be published in the print edition.Concerns about politicians, politics and issues of routine debate - including at the city, county, state and national levels - should generally be addressed with letters to the editor.Columns featuring personal attacks of private citizens will not be considered.Guest columns from incumbent politicians will be considered, but not within 60 days of a primary, general or special election in which they are a candidate.A writer can have a maximum of one guest column published every 365 days.Columns can be edited for clarity or grammar, but not in any substantial way that changes focus, subject or substance.Columns from groups, organizations or agencies without a specific author will not be published. Guest columns should have a sole author.Authors need to include a head-and-shoulders image of themselves and a brief bio (two or three sentences).Volleying guest columns about the same topic will be curtailed.Columns should generally be about a topic of broad interest, though columns about unique personal experiences or observations will be considered.Columns that contain knowingly false, fake or misleading information will not be considered.Occasional exceptions will be considered in extreme circumstances as determined by the editors and publisher. Authors are responsible for editing their columns to fit. Columns should be emailed to There is a hard cap of 600 words.A submitted column does not have to be published. Guest columns will be considered on a case-by-case basis.While letters of thanks will be considered, the purpose of a letter to the editor is not to publish long lists of sponsors, businesses, volunteers, workers, etc.Writers should include a phone number in case there are questions about a letter.Letters can be edited for clarity or grammar, but not in any substantial way that changes focus, subject or substance.There is no guarantee that handwritten letters will be considered or published. The writer’s hometown must also be included. No more than two authors are allowed per letter. A letter must be signed by the author or authors.Letters must be from the Aberdeen region or somebody native to the area, or about a topic or event of local or broad state interest.Earlier deadlines can be set for elections, holidays and other special occasions. Letters for the next week’s print edition must be submitted by noon the previous Friday. There might be instances in which not all letters will fit in the print edition, but all appropriate letters will be published online.Letters from candidates who are not incumbents will be considered if they can be published at least 30 days before a primary, general or special election.Incumbent politicians will be allowed to defend themselves, but letters involving self-promotion, endorsement of other candidates or overtly political topics will not be published.Volleying letters between writers will be curtailed.Writers can submit a letter about the same topic only once every three months.They can be about an issue or performance, but must be professional in tone. Letters critical of public officials are allowed. While debate is encouraged, personal attacks will not be tolerated.Letters that contain obviously false, fake or misleading information will not be published.This can be especially problematic before an election. Form letters or those that appear strikingly similar will not be published.Thirty days must pass between publication of letters from the same writer.Letters longer than 300 words will not be published. It is up to writers to edit their letters to fit. Letters to the editor for The Aberdeen Insider can be mailed to Letters that do not follow our policy will not be published.
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