Inside the CCWF Paper Trail Mailbox
This month marks six months since CCWF Paper Trail’s inception. During this time, Paper Trail’s editorial board and contributors have settled into the business of crafting stories and gathering news.
We invite letters to the publication, whether feedback, critique, submissions, or ideas. As we stated in our first editorial, we welcome an open dialogue with our readers to better serve our audience.
Paper Trail has received numerous letters. Some congratulate Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) for having the first syndicated newspaper at a women’s facility. Others are reflections on articles or submissions from prisons that don’t have a newspaper. We’ve received everything from poems to art to photos to policy questions.
Based on conversations with our advisors, who support newspapers in men’s facilities, one thing separates some of our letters from mail sent to them: We receive many letters designed to solicit pen pals or relationships with members of the paper.
Given that San Quentin News and other publications at men’s institutions have existed for decades, the question arises: Why are so many of these letters being sent to this newspaper? Since the only difference is that CCWF is a women’s facility, one conclusion may be that women are viewed differently and are easily objectified by people who see only their pictures.
Historically, women have dealt with unsolicited comments, catcalls, and wolf whistles when men wanted to get their attention or demonstrate their physical admiration. What may be intended as flattering verges on insulting, degrading, or presumptuous when the two people don’t know each other.
In short, the Paper Trail website is not a dating site. Our profiles are intended only to give an idea of who our hard-working journalists are and what we’re working to achieve. Personal information is notably missing – for example, orientation and preferences, relationship status, and interests outside of journalism.
Some incarcerated individuals are open to correspondence, and various websites showcase profiles of people seeking pen pals. However, writing to Paper Trail or Pollen Initiative is not a way to find a pen pal or begin a relationship.
Members of Paper Trail are journalists. We are professionals working hard to present different perspectives from incarcerated individuals at CCWF. We strive to help those who’ve been marginalized tell their stories and have a voice. We promote accurate news, productivity, and engagement with community – in short, we prioritize substance over the superficial.
As our tagline says, “Amplifying voices. Empowering choices.”
We look forward to receiving correspondence that helps us establish more trust and an open dialogue with you, our
