Our annual year in review sections, including the names of everyone who has submitted a letter for our Your Voice page(s), will appear in the Jan. 7 edition of Columbia Gorge News.
But, because I find it interesting to look at how many people write in the span of a year, and how that compares to the year before, I’m going to give you letters stats now.
Keeping track of this information, incidentally, is time-consuming and kind of boring. But when the end of the year rolls around, I’m always glad I stick with it. (I mean, not when I’m playing catch-up, but all the rest of the time.)
Columbia Gorge News received 455 letters from 281 individuals in 2025, between Jan. 1 and this issue, Dec. 31. Last year — 2024 — saw 471 letters from 308 individuals. (And in 2023? We received 349 letters from 249 individuals.) I suppose a major election year makes a difference, seeing as we’re behind 2024 but up from 2023.
Our biggest letter month was April, with 60 total; we received the fewest letters this month (December), with just 22. January was also slow, though, with 23.
The most letters printed in a single edition this year was 19 — the May 14 issue (for reference, that number was 28 in 2024, also in May). And the very lowest letter count? Several issues won that honor, with two total letters: Jan. 1, Aug. 6, and Dec. 2.
Letters to the editor are a vital part of any newspaper. Chelsea Marr, our publisher / owner, likes to say that the letters page is a good indicator of the health of your publication — because it shows how engaged readership is. We thank all of our letter writers and encourage you to keep them coming in 2026.
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