What is the difference between the commentary section of a newspaper and the Letters to the Editor?

Question

Curious

Answer 1

In the commentary section you have columns written by professional writers expressing their opinion, bias and all, about something. Letters to the editor are just that. Letters from people like you and me expressing our opinion on something written about in the paper or a political stance taken by the paper.

Answer 2

The op-ed page and letters to the editor page generally, in most newspapers, are on opposite sides of the broadsheet. Op-ed or as you call it commentary are done by professional columnists and editorialists (both written and cartoon) who are employed by the individual newspaper or the syndicate they belong to. Generally editorials are written by the paper's editors or an editorial board and sometimes the publisher. The columnists write whatever they want to write usually, although they are edited occasionally by general editors for libellous or defamatory content in consultation with the paper's lawyer if need be.

The letters to the editor page is for the public to get their two cents in at freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Most letters to the editor may be editted for column length rather than content. A good letters to the editor page has a range of opionions in it.

Answer 3

Then they should call themselves Fox Commentary--and they should certainly kill the "Fair and Balanced" lie. One shouldn't have to sit through that level of right-wing commentary to get to a few unsettlingly-short pieces of actual journalism. Even when someone left-wing, like Keith Olbermann, is doing commentary, he includes long, long clips of the primary sources--CSPAN footage, for example. When Hannity interviewed an imam the other day, he cut out of the clip the part of the prayer where the imam thanked God for "this great nation."

Answer 4

commentaries are generally written by someone who has some credentials in what they are speaking about, where as letters to the editor can be written by any old schmoe.
Commentators are also usually paid for their work (which is, of course, merely expressing their opinion. cherry job, eh?)

Answer 5

the commentary is done by the writers of the paper and letters to the editor is where readers get express their views and opinions.... i hope this makes sense to like it does to me...

Answer 6

"Commentary" is when a newspaper boasts it's liberal bias. "Letters to the Editor" is when the newspapers Editorial board chooses the letters to the newpaper that reinforces the newpapers liberal bias.

(Use this answer in class-your teacher will give you extra credit!)