New: Editorial Comment & Opinion

Developments in charter shipping, sailing heritage and sail cargo and sail training do not stand still, and from time to time require analysis, critical reflection or consideration. To this end, the editors are opening a new section.

When we started this journey a year ago, we first simply adopted the method Wouter used: passing on reports based on press releases, other media and news from the industry. In journalism, there is a law chiselled in stone: separate news from opinions. After a year, we think we have pretty much mastered the ‘news’ department. At the same time, we are itching to add some commentary to that news every now and then. Because with inglorious business projects and bizarre government plans, stupid surprise, anger and also jeers could sometimes be observed during editorial meetings, and occasionally the same news from different sources differs from each other to such an extent that an editorial note is in order.
We will certainly continue to publish – almost – everything, but after the first year we will additionally venture into editorial commentary. There are two forms for this.

Editorial notes

The first form consists of editorial commentary on a post from another source. The ground rule here is that the original source of the post can respond to our comments if they wish. We hope for interesting discussions. These editorial comments can be found immediately after the post in question. Incidentally, by far the majority of posts we pass on have already gone through a proper journalistic mill, and so we leave them as they are. But every now and then we do express ourselves in an editorial note.

Opinion

The second form of editorial content is more labour-intensive, and more exciting. This involves opinion pieces that are produced exclusively for our newsletters, either in-house or by someone outside the editorial team. This can be about all kinds of developments in the sector; an earlier article can be a trigger, but also something else that concerns the writer. We are opening a new section for these posts: ‘Opinion’, and you will always find that heading above it.
We will not only create opinion articles ourselves; we will also invite authors to write them. And spontaneous contributions are also welcome; we feel that lively interaction with readers can only enhance the attractiveness of the newsletters.

No letters section

Please note: this is not an announcement of a letter column; we do not post just any bellyaching. If you are considering contributing an opinionated post to one of the ‘Posts’, a few rules apply:

• As you know, every post in the ‘Posts’ is accompanied by images. This also applies to opinion pieces. So if you contribute, we ask you to provide a good – landscape format – image, preferably in a width-to-height ratio of 160 x 89, but in any case at least 800 and no more than 2560 pixels wide.
• The maximum length of a piece is 700 words; the minimum length – approximately – 400 words.
• Opinions are formed on the basis of sound arguments, and certainly an opinion piece therefore requires, at least as much as ‘ordinary’ news, solid substantiation;
• We adhere to the journalistic mores of “hearing both sides of the argument.” An opinion piece also gains value if it highlights an issue from several sides;
• The editors select at their discretion, may – in consultation with the author – shorten or modify the text, or refuse a post.

Contributions, as well as tips for authors and topics, are gladly received, via editorial e-mail.

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