Why we want more people to write for us about local issues

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Tamsin O'Brien (above left) is the founder of The Stray Ferret.

If you are a subscriber and read the Stray Ferret to keep up with local news, you may have noticed recently that we are publishing more opinion articles.

I am really delighted that people who live in this area are coming forward, putting pen to paper (these days fingertips to keyboard) and writing in depth about something they feel strongly about. They are not afraid that their views, name and face are published. We’ve also seen a growing number of subscribers commenting below stories – again I am delighted. People also email us on letters@thestrayferret.co.uk and every Sunday we publish them in Readers' Letters.  

We want the Stray Ferret to be a place for local opinion – not a platform for keyboard warriors who like to denigrate others just for the hell of it. But a place of debate and respect.

As a journalist I am all for freedom of speech, but social media comments often depress me. On the Stray Ferret website, we do not allow people to post comments anonymously and we have clear rules about respect and it makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who contributes.

Opinion is very different from articles written by journalists. It is, by its nature, unbalanced. It is one person’s view and it isn’t shared by everyone. Writing a longer article about your view, gives you time to explain yourself in detail - maybe you are hoping to persuade others of your point of view or that someone who can make a difference is reading. In these times of highly polarised views and algorithms that send us opinions that reflect only our own, reading and responding to a view that is contrary to yours feels very important. We should be celebrating one person’s right to believe in one view and another person’s right to disagree with it.

I was struck recently by the article we published by Martin Schweiger of the Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign. He called for more diplomacy and bridge-building skills and for the base (and others across the world) to be closed. Mr Schwieger’s view received comments from subscribers. One contributor was Simon Shaftsbury, who said he had, in a previous life, worked at the base as an analyst and wrote: “It is a silent force of strength that allows you that "inner peace" and the ability to protest”. His comment was informed and as thoughtful as Mr Schwieger’s. I was fascinated. Both want peace and freedom, both have differing views on how to achieve it.

Not all our articles written by contributors are quite as serious as the best way to keep us safe. This weekend, George Asbury, a young intern who is working with us, laments the demise of a good Harrogate pub crawl. Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge are all changing with the times. To me, George highlights the impact of one of these changes. It’s not a business story about pub or club closures or about the economic impact on Harrogate. George writes from a personal perspective as a young person living here. At 24-years-old I initially thought he was maybe a bit young to write about pub crawls – but he isn’t and he made me see how it feels to be young in Harrogate. Please do read it and post your thoughts in our comments section.

Whilst I am on the subject of encouraging more opinion and comments, I do know that the Comments Section of the Stray Ferret website isn’t easy to use and we hope to be able to resolve this in the near future and make it far better experience.

Please don't be afraid to write to us and for us about your views on an issue. Get in touch on letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Thank you.