Michigan’s citizens are tired of the divisive political culture in Lansing. Midnight deals, closed doors meetings, lobbyists, and special interest influence have stood in the way of long-term solutions. As Governor, I will ensure that government is open, fair, and accountable to the citizens by making Michigan a national leader in transparency and ethics. – […]
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
State neglect has worsened communities' legacy-cost crisis
Jacqueline Noonan is mayor of Utica and president of the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees. Bridge Magazine’s recent series examining unfunded municipal pension and health care costs was indeed “fairly terrifying,” as one of the stories concluded. But also terrifying are four directly related issues that went largely uncovered by the stories. First, the […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
In migration, New Jersey giveth to Michigan, and Florida taketh away
Welcome to Michigan… Donor state Incoming population Maine +145 Louisiana +204 Oregon +241 Wyoming +312 Massachusetts +383 New York +540 Alaska +589 New Mexico +716 Wisconsin +851 New Jersey +1,293 Source: U.S. Census Bureau While the Internal Revenue Service works to fix the problems with their 2010-2011 state-to-state migration data files, the Census Bureau has […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
What’s for dinner? Families on food stamps may say ‘nothing’
Michael J. Brennan is president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan Michiganders are feeling the sting of a slow economic recovery — especially throughout Greater Detroit — and the lingering effects of the Great Recession are hitting families each night around the dinner table. As unemployment in Michigan continues to eclipse the majority […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Disinvestment, structural flaws driving school funding crisis
John Austin and Casandra Ulbrich/courtesy photo The State Board of Education is responsible for ensuring that Michigan’s public schools are providing a high-quality education for the state’s youth. Part of that responsibility includes advocating for sufficient and stable funding. A recent analysis conducted by researchers at Michigan State University’s Education Policy Center, on behalf […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Redistricting reform is key to fixing our “jerry-rigged” government
Jocelyn Benson and Joe Schwarz (courtesy photo) Washington is broken. Those three words may have become the most common description of the sad state of affairs in our nation’s capital. But they don’t begin to capture the frustration, anger and disgust that Americans feel when they watch our Congress careen from one manufactured crisis […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
A crucial ingredient as one young Michigan resident signed up for Obamacare
Marianne Udow-Phillips is the director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation, a nonpartisan health policy center based at the University of Michigan with a mission to promote evidence-based care delivery, improve population health and expand access to care. Like everyone I know who is a health policy junkie, I have been very excited […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
How can students get ready for college if their counselors aren’t college ready?
Patrick O’Connor This fall’s crop of education articles brings us a bumper crop of stories about college. In addition to the usual bounty of college rankings, this harvest is rich with stories about the value of college, predictions of the stress of applying to college, and answers to the perennial question, is college for everyone? […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Diversity loses in some areas, holds steady in others
Thomas Costello is president & CEO of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. (Courtesy photo) As the U.S. Supreme Court continues to wrestle with the issue of affirmative action in Michigan and around the nation, it’s time to take a look at what the end of the practice in public and university decision-making has […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Don’t leave teacher training, support to chance
Amber Arellano is the executive director of The Education Trust-Midwest Last week I had the pleasure of catching up with dear old friends during a trip up north. As their daughters geared up to return to school, my friend Marsha shared an observation about why her daughter’s public school does such a fine job. “The […]