Desert Sun ends online comments function; letters and Valley Voice columns still welcome

Julie Makinen, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·3 min read

The Desert Sun has ended its online comments function, effective Feb. 8. This is part of a larger change happening at most sites across the USA TODAY Network.

The USA TODAY Network invested in extensive research and testing with the Center for Media Engagement before deciding to enable comments on its news sites in 2020.

For a while, the system worked well. But over time, we have found it increasingly difficult to invest the time and staffing necessary to bring you a safe, moderated and productive discussion space.

We do not want to risk discussions veering off track or people being verbally attacked. With this change, we have more time to focus on exclusive, local reporting and finding new and engaging ways to tell stories.

However, we still want to hear from you, and we invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter (where you can still have discussions with others about our journalism) or click on the byline on any article to send an email and feedback directly to the reporter.

We also invite letters to the editor and Valley Voice columns to be published in our opinion section.

How to submit a letter

To submit a letter to the editor for publication in The Desert Sun and on DesertSun.com, please email them to letters@desertsun.com.

We welcome letters that are:

  • 200 or fewer words

  • In the writer's own words

  • Free from libel

  • In good taste

Letters must include:

  • Writer's full name

  • Address, city and ZIP code

  • Daytime phone number for verification. Only name and city of residence will be printed.

We do not accept:

  • Anonymous letters

  • Medical praise

  • Consumer complaints

  • Religious tracts

  • Letters from writers outside our circulation area

  • Letters with unverified facts or vulgarity

  • Letters that have been submitted for publication elsewhere

Letters will be edited for clarity, grammar and length. No more than one letter to the editor or Valley Voice/Your Turn column (either one or the other) from a contributor will be published in a 30-day period. The Desert Sun has final say in publication decisions regarding submissions.

To submit a Your Turn/Valley Voice column

The Desert Sun welcomes guest columns addressing local political and social issues.

General guidelines include:

  • Columns should be 500 to 550 words.

  • We print the author's photo and contact info (typically an e-mail address) with the column.

  • Anonymous columns are never published.

  • Stick to a single topic and avoid personal attacks.

  • We reserve the right to edit and republish (including electronically) all columns.

  • We do not accept columns that have been submitted for publication elsewhere.

No more than one letter to the editor or Valley Voice/Your Turn column (either one or the other) from a contributor will be published in a 30-day period.

Direct submissions and questions to letters@desertsun.com.

To submit a cartoon

The Desert Sun welcomes cartoons commenting on local or regional political and social issues, or commenting on some other aspect of life, especially in the Coachella Valley.

General guidelines include:

  • Cartoons can be one panel or multiple.

  • We print the author’s name and city of residence with the cartoon

  • We reserve the right to republish (including electronically) all cartoons.

  • We do not accept cartoons that have been submitted for publication elsewhere.

Direct submissions and questions to letters@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Desert Sun ends online comments; letters and columns still welcome