Dear readers, this column is devoted to what you’ve been telling us about ThePrint in the last few months.
I would like to say at the very outset, we read you, we hear you and we act. Your comments about what we publish are taken seriously. Whenever you have pointed out any error or inadvertent omission—and many of you are vigilant readers of ThePrint—we have responded swiftly and decisively.
We may not always agree with your opinions, but we treat them with the respect they deserve.
Thank you for sharing your views with us. For ThePrint, this conversation between readers and Team Print is essential to keep the communication channels open for us to know what you think about what we do.
News agency articles are auto-published
In the past few months, ThePrint has received a variety of requests regarding published content. All of them were addressed immediately.
Let me first admit an error in my Readers’ Editor article from April 2026. I incorrectly mentioned that constituencies in the North 24 Parganas district voted in the first phase of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
A reader correctly wrote in to say North 24 Parganas voted in the second and final phase of polling on 29 April.
The error is regretted. I thanked the reader for his vigilance.
In several cases, reports by news agencies PTI and ANI have been flagged for reported inaccuracies.
I need to explain that ThePrint subscribes to auto-generated news from these agencies. This is a common practice for most news outlets, including print, broadcast and digital. ThePrint has no editorial role here.
News agencies share quick, breaking news from across India and the world, 24×7 and the stories are automatically published on ThePrint website.
This automatic process allows us to give readers the news as it happens and help them keep up with the latest developments.
However, the volume of reports in each day’s news cycle is very high. It is impossible for ThePrint’s editorial team to read and vet each news item for accuracy.
Readers who have concerns about news agency copy published on ThePrint often write to us. In such cases, we refer them to PTI or ANI for further action.
In some cases, we have contacted the concerned agency to seek a clarification on the reader’s behalf. When necessary, we have made the necessary corrections after verifying the facts.
We recognise that because the news agency reports appear on ThePrint website, we have to be responsive — and be seen to act on these issues.
Reports published by ThePrint on legal cases sometimes require modification after the matter has been settled in court. Again, we have always responded positively and, when necessary, made the required changes. We do so out of a sense of fairness after ascertaining the legal facts.
We also have readers who strongly disagree with the views expressed in our opinion pieces. We often share these with the opinion writers for responses, which we pass on to the reader.
We have had several requests for anonymity, some of which we have honoured in order to protect the concerned individual.
In another instance, an offensive advertisement caught the eye of one reader. We agreed that it was in poor taste and removed it from the website.
Lastly, one intrepid reader alerted us to a possible copyright issue: he believed ThePrint’s articles are being reprinted elsewhere without our consent. We are now investigating this.
Also read: Readers have the last word at ThePrint. Keep sending us your mails
About Campus Voice and Your Turn
Right, let’s get on with mail from readers.
We have received applications from aspiring journalists. I always pass these on to the HR team.
There have also been inquiries about two ThePrint forums for readers: Campus Voice for students and ‘Your Turn’ for just about anybody. Both publish original pieces by readers. ThePrint selects the best entries and publishes them in these categories.
Readers have some questions about these sections.
A reader who had contributed to ‘Your Turn’ didn’t receive a reply from ThePrint: “(I) had sent a small article, what happened to it? rejected, accepted, no reply? would you please let me know the outcome.Thanks,” he wrote in.
Apologies for this, dear reader but each week, there are so many entries to ‘Your Turn’ that we are able to correspond only with the winners.
On Campus Voice, a reader wanted to know “whether the publication has a policy governing the frequency with which a single contributor may submit work within a given period.”
We have also been asked by winners if they can submit another piece.
The answers are: no, there is no policy governing how many submissions may be made within a given period; and yes, published authors are welcome to contribute again.
Also read: ThePrint at 8. Readers are evangelists, critics, and asserting their ‘right’
Regarding submissions to ThePrint
The bulk of the mail to the Readers’ Editor consists of submissions for publication in ThePrint. As always, readers write on a wide range of topics.
How’s this for variety?
“India’s Skill Deficit Could Derail Its Demographic Dividend—2030 Is the Deadline.”
“The Bitter Brew: Why Dooars Tea Workers Face the 2026 Polls with Pessimism”,
“Resuscitation of the Indigenous Knowledge Traditions: Lessons from the Project Kaundinya”
“From Regulation to Prohibition: Global Policy Shifts on Social Media and Childhood Protection.”
“No Proof, Just Perception: How TVK Weaponized Narrative Against DMK” .
Often, when we politely decline an article, readers want to know the reasons. “Is there any specific reason why your portal is not able to publish it, if you can please cite, that would be helpful for me to reshape my piece.” asked a reader. ‘
Some readers want advice on writing and topics. “(I) would appreciate any brief feedback on what I should focus on improving for future submission,” wrote one reader.
Another wrote:
“I would also appreciate details of the concerned editor handling such submissions. Additionally, any guidance on submission requirements such as word limits, formatting preferences, and editorial guidelines, would be extremely helpful in ensuring that my work meets your standards,” wrote another.
To publish or not to publish is at the discretion of ThePrint’s editors. Their decisions are based on their judgment and other factors, including topicality, content, quality of writing, originality of ideas, and suitability for ThePrint.
We have forums for readers’ articles, as mentioned above—Campus Voice and Your Turn. The main ThePrint website primarily offers analysis and opinion by well-established domain specialists.
Let me also ask you a frank question: As a reader, would you rather read what other readers think or the viewpoints of experts?
Also read: Inside ThePrint’s mailbox—readers bring us praise, critique, and everything in between
Keeps sharing your views
I frequently receive mail from regular readers and correspondents. Several share their opinions on many subjects, frequently.
And, here’s one of the compliments we received on behalf of a contributor: “Ms. Karanjeet Kaur’s piece on meritocracy was brilliant, eye-opening and hard-hitting. Hearty congratulations and best wishes on the great work you are doing.”
Thank you.
I hope I have been able to clarify readers’ doubts and queries and explain ThePrint’s position on the various questions raised by you.
We appreciate the criticism as much as the compliments, so keep them coming. We will continue to be responsive and responsible so that our credibility remains high.
Readers help us do that by sharing their views.
Shailaja Bajpai is ThePrint’s Readers’ Editor. Please write in with your views and complaints to readers.editor@theprint.in
(Edited by Prashant Dixit)