I refuse to correct letters to the editor.

I really hate to disappoint anyone but I have been thinking over what I have been asked to do. I appreciate that all writers like to get feedback from other writers. I do not think that journalists, aside from those who have that assignment, should help edit the writings of those who want to submit articles that are their opinions. I work a beat and I am really leery of reading and helping with letters-to-the editor.

I had a person, whom I thought of as a friendly school-mate of a couple of my children, who made all sorts of trouble for me a year ago. He brought a letter to me to have me correct (grammar and punctuation). I had him sign the copy I then printed off for him signifying that it was his work and not mine. I dated the copy and he turned it in to the newspaper. It was printed in our local paper. He was taken to court for what the authorities thought was the threatening nature of the letter. I was called to court, under oath, to bear witness as to what had happened with that letter. He tried to claim that I had changed the letter after it was printed. I had not, could not and would not. Luckily the jury considered my long newsprint reputation. He was found guilty and served jail time. I became a lot more concerned about what I help others with. The disclaimer that is printed on every opinion page was saving for the newspaper but Allan and I determined that we would not be so helpful in the future. At our local newspaper, we are mostly interested in local issues and are not interested in national issues or topics that the state papers cover.

There are many others in the community who would be willing to assist with the need for a good critic.  Snow College has many classes of many types that are taught in Nephi via interactive computer instruction at the Juab School District office. Of course, for those there is a fee. I am not willing to do that job. Perhaps an English teacher, for a fee, would consider reading letters-to-the-editor.

In Provo, there are writer's groups that anyone can join. I belonged to one such group for awhile and a chapter was even started here. We Juab County members all became too busy and closed the local chapter.

I hope that makes sense to all but, whether it does or not, I will not do that work ever again.