An Editorial for the Paper of Record

The following editorial was written by the 5c group for publication in a local newspaper (print and online). It was rejected for being too long at 700 words. The limit provided by the editorial staff of the paper was 400 words. The piece was originally produced using journalism industry standard. A quick review of major news publications and their editorial guidelines provides the necessary insight.

• The Washington Post submission guidelines state: “Submissions should be limited to 800 words.”

• The Guardian US opinion guidelines say they are: “usually looking for 600-800 word opinion pieces.”

• Duke University’s op-ed writing guide advises: “Limit the article to 750 words.”

• The OpEd Project submission database lists many newspaper requirements:

  • Chicago Sun-Times: 650 words

  • Chicago Tribune: 500–600 words

  • St. Louis Post-Dispatch: preferred 700 words

  • Cleveland Plain Dealer: preferred 700 words

• Union of Concerned Scientists op-ed guide states:

  “The average op-ed runs 500 to 750 words.”

• Wikipedia’s op-ed overview summarizes modern norms as:

  “Typically ranging from 500 to 700 words.”

An analysis of previous "letters to the editor" reveal that some articles in past editions have exceeded the 400 word limit. Ultimately decisions are at the discretion of the publications editor, so this case is closed. Here is the article in its entirety.

Who is the government official most able to improve your day-to-day life? It happens to be the same government official most able to cause you headaches. Much of what fills our screens and consumes our attention today feels silly and ultimately distant from everyday life. Sometimes we like it that way, but real life has a way of creeping in. It shows up in the form of the roads we drive on, the zoning decisions that control what gets built next to us, and how much traffic we must endure in some areas. County government controls the fundamental way our community grows and develops. It is our oxygen, and unfortunately, we often take it for granted, like the air we breathe. In our county, these life-impacting issues are managed and controlled by the county commission. They oversee a public operation of more than 10 million dollars a year, including somewhere around 2 million dollars for roads and bridges. That is your tax money. While it may have been a simpler and less demanding role once, the pressures of population growth and our proximity to urban areas mean that the role of county commissioner is now very important to all of us. This year, Clinton County voters will elect a presiding commissioner. While county government is shared among multiple elected offices, the presiding commissioner often becomes the central public face of county administration.

In practice, it is often the closest thing our county has to a chief executive. This year’s race includes both an incumbent and a challenger, giving voters an opportunity to directly compare competing visions for how county government should operate. Because we are a primarily conservative county, the election for presiding commissioner will effectively be decided during the Republican primary on August 4, 2026. That’s because there is currently no Democratic challenger for the office. Missouri operates under an open primary system. That means we can ALL vote in the Republican primary if we choose to with no extra hoops. Just show up and vote. We just have to decide that county government is the most important thing to us. That matters A LOT because many citizens still treat local primary elections as secondary events, when in many cases they are the main event for the county. We all agree that roads and bridges are fundamental. You may disagree with your neighbors on national politics, but nearly everyone notices when roads deteriorate, drainage fails, equipment falls behind, or maintenance becomes inconsistent. Good road management is not mysterious. Across the country, functional counties tend to follow the same basic principles: planning, prioritization, proactive maintenance, public reporting, public input, and measurable results

For that reason, voters should ask all presiding commissioner candidates, as well as current commissioners, to publicly commit to implementing these basic standards for county road and bridge management: 1. Create a road and bridge plan with structured public input. 2. Publish that plan online via the county website. 3. Create a proactive maintenance system that includes prioritization. 4. Report on a bi-annual basis to the public online via the county website. This is not ideological and it is not unrealistic. It does not cost a lot of money. It is a common management practice that any citizen should expect from their government when millions of dollars of taxpayer money are involved. The August primary will help determine the future direction of Clinton County government. The voters who participate in that election will literally help determine our quality of life in the county for years to come. I can't think of anything more real.