Local editorials help foster community dialogue

Beginning this week, readers of The Observer will see a renewed emphasis on local editorials.

Editorials are the voice of the newspaper. Like letters to the editor, they are intended to give readers one more perspective on issues.

Newspaper editorials are not, as some people want readers to believe, an effort to tell one how to think, how to vote or what side of an issue to be on. They are, like much of a newspaper’s content, simply  intended as food for thought.

Over the past couple of weeks I have expanded The Observer’s editorial board. In addition to myself, as editor/publisher, The Observer’s editorial board will consist of Jeff Petersen, news editor; Bill Rautenstrauch, reporter and business editor; Mike Waltman, general manager; Mona Tuck, office manager; and Bob Moody, publisher emeritus.

The Observer editorial board will be voicing its opinion on a variety of local issues. Among the editorials this week will be opinions on downtown parking, as well as on tourism and economic development funding. We’ll weigh in from time to time on state and national issues, just as we did today on Oregon’s late primary election. And we’ll still run occasional editorials from other newspapers in “What others are saying.’’

Part of a newspaper’s job is to present a variety of opinions, including its own. Our editorials will question why. We’ll object when we believe such a stand is appropriate. We’ll lend our support when we feel that’s the right course. We’ll dole out atta-boys as much as we deal out criticisms.

I have always believed that the editorial page is the backbone of a newspaper. The Observer’s “Opinion’’ page provides a place for the newspaper to present its opinion, for readers to do the same and for columnists of various political persuasions to weigh in on issues. And of course there are those editorial cartoons, which are intended to portray a particular viewpoint on a variety of issues.

Readers will sometimes agree and sometimes disagree with the opinions presented, and that’s to be expected.

If you, as a reader, disagree with an opinion, send us a letter to the editor if you are so inclined. I want this page to reflect a diversity of opinion.

I want The Observer to take stands on issues. I don’t expect that everyone will agree with them. I would hope that readers will take these opinions for what they are intended — a way to voice a viewpoint shaped from a variety of opinions and to present views that will add to our community’s dialogue about important issues.

We’ll be weighing in on a variety of issues that impact our communities. We’ll also be doing political endorsements in key races prior to elections.

I understand that writing endorsements can be controversial. Some people complain that a newspaper is overstepping its bounds by endorsing one candidate over another. I beg to differ. As watchers of local government, we owe it to our readers to let them know how we view elections. Again, like letters to the editor, the viewpoints expressed are food for thought.

I realize that there will be many people who have different opinions. People who disagree with the stands we take. But I want this newspaper to be a lightning rod for community dialogue.

When we voice an opinion through an editorial, realize that it’s just another opinion. We’re not trying to tell you how to think. But if we make you think, I’ll feel like we did our job.

So get ready. I don’t intend for The Observer to sit here passively as time passes our region by. I don’t intend for The Observer to wait for important decisions to be made before we voice an opinion. We’ll voice ours, and readers should be prepared to do the same.

Please help make this page a place for a community dialogue. We’ll do our best to get readers thinking, and you can take it from there.

Ted Kramer is editor/publisher of The Observer. Reach him by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at 963-3161.