We're seeking voices from the Midwest
By MIRIAM PEPPER
The Kansas City Star

If you've ever thought while reading an opinion piece, "Why, I could write better than that," it's time to start writing.

We're planning a new column for the op-ed page in 2003, a rotating weekly spot for 10 members of a contributors panel. We'll call it Midwest Voices.

Who's eligible? Everyone who has a passion for writing, a clear point of view and a willingness to contribute about five essays a year. In return, the writers have the potential for fame and the assurance of tiny compensation. This is the newspaper business, after all.

To apply, write a sample column of 500 words and include a brief biography with topics that are of interest to you.

Passionate, well-articulated or funny opinions get priority. We want a diversity of topics and expertise. We'd love to hear from "regular" folks with a talent for storytelling as well as experts (in law, medicine, science, architecture and education, for example). We want writers who will expand the point of views presented, not mimic ours. And we hope to offer writers with diverse backgrounds, ages and interests.

Our dream: a column that the larger readership won't want to miss because of surprisingly insightful, moving viewpoints.

The 10 selected contributors will be treated to an introductory lunch at The Star, a photo session (for those lovely "mug" shots we run with columns), the lowdown on our ethics policy and our ears for your ideas.

If successful, the panel will retire in glory in December 2003, and we'll select a new group for the next year.

A few warnings. What you write -- if it's as provocative as we hope -- will prompt rebuttals in letters to the editor. The thin-skinned need not apply. Of course, there is always the off-chance for lavish praise, too.

The Editorial Board of 10 has its views of the world, and six of us write personal opinion columns, too. But we know our limitations -- and others tell us about them in not-so-subtle terms. That's why we think a Midwest Voices panel will help add depth and breadth to the Opinion page.

A Midwest Voices contributor should have a keen interest in commenting on the news of the day, plus the ability to write for a general audience in limited space. Convince us you have understanding and knowledge that others will appreciate, and we'll be ready to welcome you to the fold of ink-stained opinionated know-it-alls.

Here's guidance from William Allen White, famed Kansas publisher, whose words I have framed on my office wall: "An editorial is a free expression upon the news of the day, written briefly and bravely by a wise kindhearted person." That's your challenge.

Tight writing is imperative, with facts straight. These are opinion pieces, but if you blow a fact, your opinion is instantly discounted. If you're a natural storyteller, a debater, someone who can praise and/or criticize (without libel) and would love to write for several hundred thousand of your neighbors, we want to hear from you.

The Midwest Voices column will appear in addition to the "As I See It" column that continues to feature personal essays from local contributors. Those writers are not regular contributors, by design. We prefer to offer that column to as many different authors as we can in a year.

Join us in the pleasures/challenges of spouting off, taking sides and adding your point of view to the community conversation on the issues of the day.

Your deadline? Dec. 2. That gives the members of the Editorial Board a month to read and make our selections.

Other newspapers have received hundreds of applications for similar panels, so competition may be high. We hope so. To apply, send your submissions to Midwest Voices, c The Editorial Board, The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO. 64108 or by e-mail to oped@kcstar.com.