How opinion journalism injects colour into stories that fly under the radar

Our comment section not only sheds new light on the news, but explains why readers should be interested in stories that – at least at first glance – bore them

Every newspaper and news website runs stories that are known among reporters as “dull but worthy”. These are the reports of real, important social, political and administrative significance but dry in detail, tough to bring to life and, frankly, tedious to work on – what former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger refers to in his memoir as “eat your peas journalism”.

Nevertheless, journalists have a responsibility to make readers pay attention to boring things that actually matter. This is where opinion columns can help.

As comment editor, I spend my mornings seeking out writers whose own experiences bring some colour and context to a matter that readers might have skimmed over in our news section.

Whether that’s an ordinary person whose own life has been blighted by, say, complicated change; an expert journalist who can provide important historical or political context to a story; or simply a writer to whom I can give the necessary space to get really very angry – comment can be the section that helps to shape our readers’ views.

A recent example of such an issue was the news last week that the number of free-to-use cash machines is dropping fast. So what?

As our chief business commentator, James Moore, explained, this is just the latest example in a long list of ways in which British businesses place an unjust and immoral financial premium on those living in poverty – a matter on which, despite acknowledging concerns, Theresa May has sat on her hands because of Brexit. “The poor are thus being sacrificed on the altar of her personal vanity” was Moore’s excoriating conclusion.

The purpose of our comment section, then, is not only to shed new light on the news with wider context and analysis taking in a longer view of history, nor just to help guide or challenge our readers’ viewpoints, but also to explain exactly why they should be interested in something that they think – at least at first glance – bores them. You can let us know if you think we succeed.

Yours,

Hannah Fearn

Voices editor