A little over a year ago, I wrote about how The Salt Lake Tribune was refocusing its opinion efforts. Looking at research that found polarization was high — and that people were deeply concerned about divides — I promised The Tribune would “create a public forum that disrupts the outrage machine and instead fosters curiosity, builds trust and creates connection.”
To achieve that hefty goal, I knew we would need to make a few shifts. We would say no to submissions that were divisive for the sake of being divisive, overly philosophical or too disconnected from Utahns. I instead sought commentary from Utahns of different beliefs and backgrounds — commentary that leaned heavily on lived experience and provided potential solutions to the issues that impact each of us.
And, to many extents, it’s worked! With a simple shift in priorities, The Salt Lake Tribune’s opinion space has become more local, timely, representative and impactful.
Here’s what we’ve seen change:
We’ve created a more diverse and representative range of perspectives by intentionally seeking more voices. I track author demographics through an optional survey, and we’ve seen substantial changes across authors’ gender identity; race and ethnicity; faith; age; and political affiliation.
I also ask authors to identify themselves by relationship to their commentary. They may choose between the following options: “I’m affected;” “I’m an expert / analyst;” “I’m an official / spokesperson;” “I’m passionate about this topic;” or “Mix of all of the above or all of the above.” We seek authors who fit each of these categories, of course, but I specifically wanted to increase the amount of affected contributors because of their unique, lived experience. When I started as Voices editor, the percentage of “affected” authors fluctuated between 8% and 20%. It’s now consistently closer to 40%.
Not only are we amplifying voices we don’t typically hear from, we’re increasing accessibility by utilizing and offering other formats for op-eds, commentaries and essays — like Q&As.
We’ve also created a more timely opinion space by soliciting and sharing quick-reaction, local commentaries that answer readers’ questions and offer important perspectives.
Our opinion space is also more impactful. We’re showcasing solutions to shared community challenges — like youth mental health — and we’re winning grants to do it.
The data shows this shift is also resonating with readers. Since June 2023, op-ed page views have increased more than 80%.
There’s also been some growing pains. While the changes I’ve made in the past year have had an overall good impact, I’m keenly aware that they have also hurt some feelings. To those whose submissions have been declined, I understand your frustration. I’m constantly working on fine-tuning our guidelines to help ensure you have the best chance at success. I do ask for understanding that we receive a lot of submissions and, because there aren’t enough hours in the day to accept and edit each one, I sometimes have to make tough decisions.
I try to prioritize submissions that meet our guidelines. And, because The Tribune is working to elevate voices not always seen in our work, new contributors may, at times, be prioritized.
I know everyone in Utah has a story to tell. If you or someone you know would like to share your unique perspective or expert analysis, consider the following questions before submitting:
Is both the author and topic local? Think about what topics are impacting Utahns now. What information can you provide that they cannot find elsewhere? Even if it’s a national issue, find the local tie.
Is the topic timely? Sometimes, issues are evergreen. But I’d encourage you to think about what topics are impacting Utahns now.
Is the argument clear? Will the reader understand your position immediately? Is there a clear call to action? If you’re concerned about being able to write, let me know and we can talk about alternate formats, like a Q&A, a video, an illustration, etc.
Does the author have strong personal authority? Everyone has an opinion. Think of topics on which you are uniquely qualified to speak on. Can you base your point in lived experience? Are you an expert in a particular area? Think about how you can leverage that experience and/or expertise to build trust with your audience.
Has the topic been over- or under-covered? News happens fast, and we have an obligation to act quickly. Consider what’s impacting Utahns now and how your commentary can provide the audience with information they can’t find elsewhere.
Please also take a look at our guidelines about wordcount, fact-checking and more. And if you have any questions or concerns, I’m always happy to chat or brainstorm. Reach out at voices@sltrib.com.
Looking forward, I’ll continue these efforts to ensure The Salt Lake Tribune is publishing local and timely perspectives that are engaging, representative, nuanced, solutions-oriented and impactful. Look for these stories online at sltrib.com/opinion, in our e-edition and printed newspapers, on The Tribune’s social media accounts and in my new weekly newsletter, Inside Voices — which you can subscribe to at sltrib.com/inside-voices.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support the essential work of The Salt Lake Tribune. I look forward to another year of serving you, our readers, and sharing your stories.
The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.