Madison Scott, 22, senior, Harding University, Searcy, Ark.

Scott is pursuing degrees in public relations and Spanish. She is the editor-in-chief of The Bison, the university’s student-led newspaper. Her professional experience includes working for an Oklahoma City-based public relations agency and serving a wide breadth of nonprofit organizations. Upon graduation, Scott aspires to continue her career in communications and further her ability to speak Spanish. 

In an age where it is not uncommon to use “quarantine” and “racial justice” in the same sentence, credible editorial pages are arguably more important than ever. The world is seeking answers and trustworthy opinions to help make sense of what is all around them. The current era of media, and particularly algorithmic digital platforms, can oftentimes focus more on audience retention and engagement than documenting and recording history; this causes the news that people consume to reinforce what they may already believe, perpetuating the problem. Additionally, this rhythm can even be amplified within editorial pages. For this reason, editorial pages should be held to the same standards as other sections of the newspaper, and publications must be particularly mindful of the opinion pieces they publish. However, readers must also be aware of the purposes editorials serve.

Editorial pages should be taken for what they are: editorial. The opinion section of any publication should be a platform for people to defend, react to, or challenge an idea. Ultimately, opinion pieces leave the reader with the opportunity to decide what they believe; they should offer people a fresh perspective on an issue and allow them to critically choose whether to take or leave it. 

However, for this to effectively happen, supporting evidence is crucial. Newspapers must require their writers to offer not only a compelling perspective, but also grounded data and experience to strengthen and guide their argument. Because the current issues at hand carry immense weight and are controversial in nature, publications must be diligent about what opinions they allow to reach their readership. These articles must come from a pool of expertise, and not merely a person who needs to rant. Yes, freedom of speech and press still exist and are important, but there are other platforms to express unfiltered ideas and frustrations.

Newspapers ought to remember the importance of editorial pages and mimic the same standards and ethics as all parts of journalism, being rooted in truth, fairness and balance. Holding these criteria as a guiding principle will help hold publications accountable and create trustworthy information to best serve their audiences and beyond.