Letter from the editor: Join the conversation
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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Afternoon conference at i is where most of the decisions that inform the following day’s paper are made.
A group of senior executives examines the news lists, questions the section heads on particular offerings, and decides the relative importance of the stories of the day. There may be a discussion, for example, on whether the public have had enough of Julian Assange, or if there is still interest in the whys and wherefores of the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber.
Representations are made, decisions are taken. But often a subsidiary, and sometimes livelier, discussion begins. Does the general public understand what the Big Society means? Has anyone noticed that Boardwalk Empire is rather unpleasant? Did anyone watch Spike Lee’s film on Hurricane Katrina, and think it was one of the most savage indictments of George W Bush’s presidency? And will defeat at the weekend presage a catastrophic decline for Manchester United?
The answers to these questions, to our minds, are: No; yes; most definitely; hope so (the last is a personal prejudice of mine). As to whether these digressions are irrelevant, the answer is no. All we are doing is replicating discussions that are being had in workplaces and homes all over the country.
And a newspaper is doing its job when it reflects the national conversation. Things that matter, and things people care about, are often different. We try to reflect both sides of this coin in i, but we could always do with your help. So, why don’t you come to conference? Drop me a line saying why you want to join our conversation. How’s that for the Big Society?
Email i at i@independent.co.uk
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