Editorial: Welcome The Herald’s newest writers, your neighbors

Allow us to introduce you to The Daily Herald’s latest writers: your neighbors, friends and co-workers.

Having heard and read comments encouraging greater diversity of thought and perspectives on The Herald’s opinion pages, the editorial board — Opinion page editor Jon Bauer, Publisher Josh O’Connor and Executive Editor Phil O’Connor — earlier this year reached out to members of the community in Snohomish and Island counties, seeking to add voices to build a larger community conversation.

We reached out to a range of community members: leaders and volunteers in organizations, business owners and employees, public officials, religious and public service agency leaders, artists, educators and frequent authors of The Herald’s letters to the editor. We invited them to submit short essays that The Herald will publish in print and online each week.

The response from many was enthusiastic and an endorsement of our desire to present a forum for community thought and discussion that represents the diversity of the two counties and the readership of The Herald. We are eager to begin sharing those essays beginning today as the Herald Forum.

We have left it up to these authors to determine their subjects; the only request being that they write regarding topics that are of interest to them and what they most want their neighbors to know. Although political and even controversial topics are fair game, the essays — as shown by the first several submitted — address issues that strike closer to home and are focused on the communities in which the authors live and work.

While we have a long list of people who have expressed their interest in contributing, we are not limiting participation only to those we initially contacted. Here’s the invitation to Herald readers to contribute their own essays, to write about what they most want their neighbors to know.

These essays are not a replacement for the features long offered on our opinion pages, but an additional feature. We will continue to offer our regular editorials on local, state and national issues, our local and syndicated columnists, other commentary from local, state and national writers and, of course, the letters to the editor from our readers.

Judging by the essays so far submitted we believe Herald readers will find the essays engaging, entertaining and informative and something worthy of their time as they sit with a coffee during breakfast on Saturday morning or fill a moment while on their smartphone.

If you have questions about Herald Forum or are interested in submitting an essay, contact Opinion page editor Jon Bauer at jbauer@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3466.

— Jon Bauer, Herald Opinion page editor