The challenge before us is we desire The Morung Express to grow into a newspaper that allows for dialogue to take place on issues across the board covering areas of international, national, regional and local concerns. We also hope to provide for you a complete reading experience.
In-Focus (Page 6) will be the Edit Page where we have been able to get a number of Columnists to contribute articles. Each of the Columnists will write regularly on different days. Readers are encouraged to give their feed back in the form of ‘Letters to the Editor’ on every aspect covered by the newspaper. It could be your opinion on one of the issues covered by the Columnist, Editorials or on the daily news reports or features covered by the paper. Please note carefully that your feedback should be strictly based on the news and information carried by The Morung Express.
We would also request that any Letters to the Editor should not involve personal accusations or derogatory remark. Your opinions must be strictly based on issues. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of materials not in good taste. As a way of encouraging healthy opinion and writing good letters, the newspaper will announce at the end of or beginning of every month, the ‘Best Letter to the Editor’. The person will receive a cash incentive of Rs 500 for his or her efforts. Your letters should however be within the limits of 350 words.
Recognizing the need for giving expression on current issues, the newspaper has allotted a platform under the column ‘Write-Wing’. We encourage our readers to have their say on news/issues but on condition that you would have to abide by a word limit of 700 words. More importantly what you write must be exclusive for the newspaper. The reason we re-emphasize this point is because we want to develop a community of learning within The Morung Express. The newspaper will also be in a better position to assess the needs of our readers which is paramount. The right to edit or refuse publication of materials under the Write-wing column remains.
Perspective (Page 7) will focus on news analysis, feature and discourse on a wide range of topics. The Morung Express, to promote common understanding and responsibility will present thought provoking perspectives with the intention to encourage the public to engage in dialogue and appreciate issues that are often misinterpreted, ignored or brushed aside. In being a communicator of issues, we will endeavor to support empowering processes whereby people themselves develop new and relevant ideas to the issues of concern.
We are working on having an exclusive column called ‘Top Draw’ which will draw readers’ attention on current topics written by expert commentators from different fields. Besides, we hope that this will draw the attention of policy makers who could benefit from the different perspective presented in Top Draw.
Acknowledging the presence of complaints carried by the common men against public authority/offices we felt the need for having a separate space called ‘Public Grievance Cell’. The Morung Express acknowledges and respects the power of public opinion as an effective element of democracy with inherent responsibilities towards constructing vital formulation of policies and decision making processes. This column could also act as an interface between the public and those in authority and both can benefit through such a communiqué. However complaints raised by readers must be in the nature of genuine grievances effecting public interest.
One thing that remains ever close to our hearts is to share with our readers the stories that we believe will bring about positive change to our State & Society. In order to allow stories to inspire the inherent goodness in all of us we have conceptualized a column ‘Network for Positive Change’.
We will carry stories of people, events, places, a locality, an organization or a cause which we feel will make a positive impression on all of us, to emulate and be inspired by such stories. We also encourage readers to identify such stories and share it with us for us to share it with the world. If you know of such stories, within your town, villages, write to us in brief about it with a photograph to go with it. The Morung Express will make every effort to communicate meaningful intentions of human endeavors.
Sunday Edition: As you will see our Sunday Edition of Page 6 and 7 will look and feel unique giving for our esteemed readers the benefit of enjoying something special during your Sunday leisure. On Page 6 we hope to fully implement over the next few weeks and months the idea of a ‘Dialogue’ where we will put up an issue each week and let two writers comment on it.
Objectivity of truth can be attained when all subjective positions, opinions and perspectives are presented through public expression in a fair manner.
For this reason, The Morung Express will labor towards bringing for public dialogue all possible ideas and perspective on issues that is vital for the growth of the society.
Interactive Features: Another highlight worth sharing with you is on the interactive feature that will be carried both in the print and web edition. We encourage you to have your say on issues raised in ‘The Morung Poll’ and ‘Forum at Morungexpress’. We will acknowledge and respect the ‘power of your opinion’. Poll results and readers opinion from the two interactive features will be carried both in the print as well as web editions.
For the convenience of providing better service to our esteemed readers we request that any communication with the newspaper be done in a systematic manner. For those desiring to communicate through post or hand delivery we urge that you subscribe in an envelope the subject matter clearly such as ‘Press Release’, ‘Write-Wing Column’, ‘Letters to Editor’, ‘Public Grievance Cell’, ‘Network for Positive Change’, ‘Morung Poll’, ‘Forum at Morungexpress’. Readers communicating through email must similarly define the subject matter as mentioned above. This will help us to serve you better.
Welcome once again to the first morning of a smart and more confident future. Welcome to The Morung Express.
Thanking you for your time and consideration. Take care.
Editor
