EDITORIAL PAGE POLICY

Each weekday morning at 9, the men and women of the Post-Dispatch editorial page staff seat themselves around a conference table and have a fight.

Well, sometimes it's not a fight. Sometimes it's merely an argument, and some days, it's a polite discussion. The mood is usually light but the purpose is serious -- to determine the newspaper's opinions about the news of the day.

One by one, the writers and editors suggest topics and opinions, arguing them as persuasively as they can. As ideas develop, they are tested -- consciously and unconsciously -- against the ideals expressed in the document that has guided this newspaper since 1907: the Post-Dispatch Platform.

This Platform is a written expression of the conscience of the Post-Dispatch. It was written in 1907 by the first Joseph Pulitzer, the father of modern American journalism and the founder of this newspaper in 1878.

The Platform makes important promises to readers for which this page is accountable. Among them are assurances that the Post-Dispatch will always be drastically independent; that it will always fight for progress and reform; that it will never tolerate injustice or corruption; that it will always fight demagogues of all parties; that it will never be satisfied with merely printing news.

The Post-Dispatch, like most American newspapers, was founded so that its publisher could have a voice in the great issues of his time, and Joseph Pulitzer had a very loud voice, indeed. He published a progressive, activist newspaper that not only covered the news but aggressively attempted to mold public opinion. He demanded rigorous thinking and well-argued opinion.

The news pages report the news, and strive for strict neutrality. The editorial page is where you find what the Post-Dispatch, as an institution, thinks about the news. The staff attempts to maintain the consistency of thought and progressive values that have marked this newspaper's 123-year history.

Nearly every day, the editorial staff meets with newsmakers and citizens to hear their concerns. Editorials often reflect the rough, imperfect consensus of the group; where final decisions must be made, they are made by me, as editor of the editorial page, in consultation with the editor of the Post-Dispatch, Arnie Robbins.

In keeping with a long-standing tradition, editorials are not signed because they do not reflect the personal opinion of a single individual but rather of the institution. The staff -- writers Jim Gallagher, Robert Joiner, Deborah Shelton and Kevin Horrigan; Commentary page editor Eric Mink and letters editor Jamie Riley; and I -- all contribute to the discussions. Each editorial writer has several subject areas for which he or she is responsible.

Our goal is not that you necessarily always agree with us, but that you read us and find the page thought-provoking and informative.

As editorial page editor, I also oversee the production of the commentary page, which faces the editorial page every day except Saturday. Commentary presents original articles and essays on subjects of concern and interest to readers in this region. It's also home to a number of nationally syndicated opinion columnists, many of whom offer political opinions that are in direct contrast to Post-Dispatch editorial page positions.

We think it's important for readers to have the benefit of many views to help them understand issues more thoroughly and form their own opinions. Inquiries about original submissions to the commentary page can be sent to its editor, Eric Mink or to oped@post-dispatch.com.

--Christine Bertelson

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EDITORIAL PAGE STAFF


GILBERT BAILON
Editor of the Editorial Page