It’s been super encouraging to see the amount of letters arriving during the past week – most about the looming State election but some on other topics that have featured on our pages recently.
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It’s a weird game the media, you wonder if anyone is reading you and if the stress of the industry is all worthwhile, then bang, lots of letters arrive.
I love them all.
Whether we agree with your letters or not, roll our eyes, cheer, nod our head in sympathy or raise our eyebrows in frustration, letters are a traditional indicator of a healthy democracy and a community that cares enough to think about something and have a say – and put their name to it.
For every one letter writer, I roughly estimate there’s at least one family and one group of friends discussing the subject of the letter – and these are probably conservative figures.
And that’s a great thing!
The best thing about letter writers is that they are taking the time to ponder and think about a subject, not just a hitting a quick like on social media with little interaction or thought of the consequence.
You can see their thought processes, follow their train of thought and see how they have come to their conclusion.
You are given a window into the writer’s world and that is just as engrossing.
In my short time in this industry, I have encountered a few superb satirical pieces that provoked responses from political leaders high above – such can be the power of a letter.
So my message is – never underestimate the power of a good letter.
May they continue to land on my desk and in my inbox, in all forms, on all subjects.
janine.finlayson@fairfaxmedia.com.au
