The convention felt like the Democratic Party of my father’s, that welcomes people from all backgrounds, even when they don’t agree on every issue. The hope and joy that came out of this coalition was contagious.
Guest Commentary
At Bridge, we believe in listening to voices from all over our state. Got something to say? Contact us and join the conversation (details below)
How to submit a Guest Commentary
What to know:
Bridge welcomes a diversity of voices and perspectives from readers on issues important to Michigan. Guest commentaries reflect the views of the author(s), and are independent of the nonpartisan, fact-driven reporting of Bridge’s newsroom staff.
Commentaries must be the author’s original work and preferably will not have appeared first in other publications. Bridge reserves the right to decline submissions at our discretion.
We reserve the right to edit commentary for grammar, clarity, brevity or to address legal or factual concerns. We may offer editing suggestions, but in the service of making your work more accessible, not to alter your views.
We do not pay for guest commentary.
Here are some guidelines:
- Columns are usually 500-700 words
- They generally focus on a Michigan topic or policy and should avoid ad hominem attacks
- The more direct, distinct and/or intimate your perspective, the more effective your column will be
- The best columns do more than identify problems; they also offer solutions and facts to back them up
- Please include a one- or two-sentence bio, including the writer’s organization or relevant background.
- Authors must show their work, by backing up facts with links to reports or studies
- Bridge does not publish self-promotional columns or candidate endorsements
- Send a good quality, large headshot of the writer(s) as an attachment
- We also ask that, in return for publishing a guest commentary, the author(s) and their organizations generously promote the link to the published column through your Facebook, Twitter and other social or professional networks.
That’s about it. Keep the writing clear, conversational and free of jargon, and sell our smart and receptive readership on the argument you are trying to make.
Who to contact:
Email your submission or idea to guestcommentary@bridgemi.com. Please briefly describe who you are and what you would like to say and put the words “guest commentary” in the email subject line.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan must regulate nicotine pouches before new generation lost to addiction
Nicotine has serious long-term consequences to the developing brain and body. Michigan needs to act on two fronts. First, move pouches behind the pharmacy counter. Second, close the online sales loophole.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Building AI infrastructure the Michigan way
The upside is clear. Beyond the new jobs, the Saline Township site will also generate new local revenue to support schools and essential services like police, fire departments, and other first responders. It will be AI infrastructure by Michigan, in Michigan, and for Michigan.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Why political elites fear a Michigan constitutional convention
Like any democratic process, the convention process is imperfect and could benefit from reform — but it exists for a good reason.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Lake Allegan Association board supports Consumers dam sale
This is not merely an emotional argument. Our community, and the Allegan community at large, risk significant economic consequences if the dam is removed.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan must commit to shift from seat time to learning in budget process
Research reinforces that there is no reliable relationship between time spent in a seat and meaningful learning gains. What matters is how time is used, not how precisely it is counted.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | What Michigan is about to lose
If Planned Parenthood of Michigan is forced to close more health centers or scale back services further, that access does not simply shift elsewhere. It disappears, and the impact will be felt in missed cancer screenings, untreated infections, gaps in birth control access, and delayed care.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan must stay ahead of synthetic opioid cychlorphine before cases appear
Cychlorphine is 10 times more potent than fentanyl. Modern overdose surveillance depends heavily on whether laboratories are looking deeply enough to identify what routine screens can miss.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | We need to address kratom, 7-OH in Michigan but there’s more to the story
While kratom and 7-OH must be addressed, let us not allow the current focus on these products to distract us from the underlying threats that fuel our substance use epidemic.
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan state, congressional leaders: Act now to protect mail-in voting
The US Constitution gives the states the power to hold elections. States make the rules. Silence from Michigan’s elected officials right now reads as acceptance.