Is this a bad reply?

I always reply to both favourable and unfavourable mail. I don't think we're above explaining why we do what we do. If it turns bad from there, I just say thanks for reading.

 

Never be afraid to tell someone why you wrote a story they way you did. Why did up write about the boys?

If there is a compelling case, you are all set. If you made a bad decision, admit it.

But,m above all else, don't just say thanks for reading. What a jerk you are being. And, I complain to people about how they do thier jobs all the time. If my burger isn't done right I complain. It's not like journalists are the only one that has to get complaints.

Hell, at least people are reading.

 

For the same reason you would expect a store clerk or waiter to acknowledge you. The readers are your customers.
If you're swamped or the e-mail gets lost in the flood of press releases, that's understandable. But if you have a minute, you should respond.

 

Slam a half-dozen shots, then fire off the e-mail.
In vino veritas my friend, in vino veritas.

 

So why was 75 percent of the story about the boys?

 

Yeah. Unless the boys did something amazing -- including a local kid winning first -- I'm not sure how it warrants that much of the story space. And how low was the girl's accomplishment in the story?