More than 32 years later, your letters still shape our work

My duties as weekend editor of the Daily Edition include reading all the pages before they are published. One that I take a particular interest in is the letters page.

This, more than any other, is the page that sees interaction from the readers, and lets us know, not just about your overriding concerns – political, social, serious and humorous – but also what you think of us.

This was never more the case than when The Independent was founded back in 1986. As a founder member then, I clearly remember those early editorial conferences, when the paper’s founder Andreas Whittam Smith would bring in one or more letters each morning and read them out.

We all listened intently, as this was the only real way we knew how we were doing. Yes, there were commentaries in rival newspapers, but they had their own agendas. It was the opinions of our readers we really wanted.

I used to wonder then if readers had any idea just how seriously their letters were being taken, and if they dreamt just how much they had the power to influence the direction of the paper.

I think much the same now. Though interaction in the digital and email age is obviously infinitely easier than it was then, the Letters page is still a key barometer for the staff here to know what readers think of what we are producing, and which issues we should be taking more notice of. And so I read each letter very carefully.

Yes, I do notice that some correspondents turn up very frequently. I can virtually recite their addresses. But I think this a good thing. It shows a real engagement with the Daily Edition, and a desire to be a part of its evolution.

In many ways the Letters page remains what it was in 1986 – the most important in the edition.

Yours,

David Lister

Weekend editor of The Independent Daily Edition