Letters & Commentaries

Pascack Press · The Press Group

We publish reader voices and informed perspectives to enrich civic life in our towns. These guidelines explain how to submit a Letter to the Editor or a Commentary proposal.

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Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor are just that, letters to the editor. Please refrain from addressing others directly. We welcome respectful, signed, original letters written for publication. Please note: we do not monitor, police, or quote from social media, and we are not likely to publish letters that simply echo or react to what’s being said online. Our letters section is not the place for rumors, anonymous claims, or copied online chatter.

What we’re looking for

  • Timely, local topics: borough and township issues, schools, roads, public safety, our coverage of issues (not corrections; see below), and messages of appreciation in the public interest.
  • Clear points, civil tone, and verifiable facts.

Length & format

  • 400 words or fewer.
  • Include your full name and town for publication.
  • Include a daytime phone number for verification (not published).

Verification & editing

  • We verify authorship before publication.
  • Letters may be edited for clarity, style, and length in line with AP style.
  • Headlines and clarifying notes may be added at the editor’s discretion.

Frequency & fairness

  • To make room for more voices, we may limit multiple letters from the same writer/household in a short period.
  • Campaign or coordinated letter drives may be limited or summarized.

Not accepted

  • Personal attacks, profanity, or unverified allegations.
  • Commercial pitches, form letters, or mass-generated content.
  • Ongoing private disputes better handled offline.
  • Anonymous letters (rare exceptions only for safety concerns, verified privately).

Disclosure

  • If you have a material connection (employer, campaign, contract, financial interest), disclose it in your letter.

Deadlines

  • Letters are accepted on a rolling basis, but for any given issue the cutoff is Wednesday at 10 a.m., and publication is never guaranteed. For time-sensitive issues, submit early.

Where letters appear

  • Print edition is the primary home for letters.
  • We publish and publicly archive the paper in full as a weekly PDF.
  • Online publication is selective at editor’s discretion.

How to submit
Send to Editor John Snyder at pascackpress@thepressgroup.net. Please use the subject line: LETTER: [Topic]. Paste text in the email body; attachments (Word/plain text) are fine.

Commentaries

Commentaries are longer opinion essays offering deeper perspective on community issues.

What they are

  • Developed essays written by Editor John Snyder or invited contributors.
  • Views are those of the author, not necessarily The Press Group.

How we handle them

  • Selection, length, and placement are at the editor’s discretion.
  • Commentaries may run in print and online, with online prioritized for broader reach.

Proposing a commentary

  • Email a 2–3 sentence pitch with your credentials to pascackpress@thepressgroup.net.
  • Please do not send full drafts unless requested.
  • Use the subject line: COMMENTARY PROPOSAL: [Working Title].

Standards

  • Accuracy, civility, and conflict-of-interest disclosure required.
  • We may edit for clarity, style, and length, and request sourcing where appropriate.

Corrections & Clarifications

If you see an error, let us know promptly. Factual mistakes are corrected in print and/or online.
For differences of opinion, consider sending a brief letter in response.

Elections & Advocacy

During election cycles:

  • We may set cutoff dates before Election Day to ensure fairness.
  • Endorsements or advocacy letters must disclose affiliations.
  • Last-minute accusations without verifiable documentation are unlikely to run.

Photos & Supporting Material

  • You may submit a photo (original work only) with a letter or commentary proposal.
  • Include caption info: who/what/when/credit.
  • Publication is not guaranteed; images may be cropped or resized.
  • By submitting, you grant us permission to use your material in print and digital formats.

Legal & Rights

  • By submitting, you grant The Press Group a nonexclusive right to edit, publish, and archive your letter/commentary.
  • We reserve the right to decline any submission.

Disclaimers You May See

Commentaries: “Commentaries reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of The Press Group, its staff, or its partners.”

Letters: “Letters reflect the views of the writers and not necessarily those of The Press Group. Letters may be edited for clarity, style, and length.”