Opinion sections heart and soul of newspaper | News, Sports, Jobs

All too aware of the challenging times facing our much-needed community newspapers, I have remained loyal to The Maui News by continuing to subscribe and patronize advertisers when possible. I appreciate The Maui News, all its staff and the loyal advertisers.

However, I have been dismayed as the number of Opinion pages have dwindled to just three a week — Tuesday, Friday and The Weekender.

In the world of journalism, the Opinion sections are generally thought of as the heart and soul of a newspaper. Without those components, a newspaper loses its lifeblood and reason for being.

Now it appears the Tuesday Opinion page — once an entire page — is an Opinion Corner, shoehorned into a space next to “Dear Abby,” “Hints from Heloise” and the daily horoscopes.

This past Tuesday there was no local editorial, just a cartoon and column, both syndicated. The Opinion Corner was saved by a strong letter from Haiku resident Ronald Lau. Mahalo, Ron.

Over the years, we readers have slowly given up more and more Opinion pages (the Sunday paper once featured a two-page Opinion spread) because of apparent cutbacks or necessary adjustments for the paper to survive.

Perhaps The Maui News would consider giving up one day a week of Abby, Heloise, horoscopes or something comparable for one more full Opinion page, complete with a local editorial that might inspire letters and more discussion that makes a community newspaper so vital.

Let’s hope the chopped-back Opinion page of last Tuesday was a one-time thing.

Valerie Monson

Makawao

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rq3UoqWer6NjsLC5jqinoqaZpLtwuMStq56qo2LBsHnToZxmnZSewbC%2Bjmtna2lfZYZwu8%2BipaKnnmLApq%2FToqanq12dsqK%2B02aYp5xdqLy2uIyonWamlazAsa3Pnqlo