Opinion

Reader Editorials

Reader Editorials are opinion pieces submitted by IL-12 Dispatch readers. They reflect the views of their individual authors, not the Dispatch. They are reviewed for obvious factual errors, sourcing, and libel exposure before publication, but they are not held to the same verification standard as our reporting. Reporting and editorials are kept in separate sections for this reason.

Submission Guide

Before You Write

Pick one point. One argument, stated in one sentence. If your sentence needs "and" or "also," you have two pieces, not one. Split them.

What We're Looking For

A local hook. Tie your piece to something specific: a vote, a local event, a decision that affects IL-12. "Rep. Bost voted for X on [date]" beats "Congress is broken."

One clear point, argued all the way through. Every paragraph should support the same central claim. Side points that don't serve the main argument get cut or the piece gets sent back.

Plain language. Short sentences. No jargon. Write like you're explaining this to a neighbor, not lecturing them. Read your draft out loud before you send it. If it sounds like a lecture, rewrite it.

A specific ending. Tell the reader what to do: contact an official, attend a meeting, look something up. "We must do better" is not an ending. "Call Rep. Bost's office at [number] and ask why he voted X" is.

No name-calling. You can say someone's record contradicts their statements. You cannot call them a liar, a hypocrite, or worse. Let the contradiction speak. It's stronger than the insult.

Sourcing Requirements (Non-Negotiable)

Every factual claim needs a source you can hand us:

A vote record: link to the roll call (clerk.house.gov or ilga.gov)
A quote: the exact words, plus where and when it was said, plus a link or screenshot
A statistic: name the source (government data, a named study, a named news outlet) and provide a link
"I heard," "I think," or "everyone knows" does not count as sourcing

If we can't verify a claim quickly from what you give us, we will send it back and ask for the source before it runs. This is the single biggest reason submissions get delayed. Save yourself the round trip: attach your sources when you submit.

Format

Aim for 1,000 words or under. Not a hard cutoff, but longer pieces are less likely to get read closely and more likely to get sent back for trimming.
We’ll ask for your full name and a contact email when you submit. The email is for follow-up only and won’t be published. You can optionally attach a headshot for the byline.
Submit through the submission form

What Gets Rejected Outright

Attacks on private individuals (not public officials) by name
Claims we can't verify and you can't source
Multiple unrelated arguments crammed into one piece
Anything libelous — a false factual claim, stated as fact, that damages someone's reputation

What Happens After You Submit

The Dispatch is currently run by a small volunteer team. We will do a light check: obvious factual errors, sourcing, libel exposure. If something looks wrong and we have time to follow up, we may tell you what needs fixing so you can revise and resend. We can't promise a response to every submission, especially if something is missing key sourcing. Please don't take it personally.

Publication isn't guaranteed. We choose what runs.

Submit an Editorial →