ACTIVISM TOOLKIT: Tips to Write Good Letters to the Editors

[cyrilb]

Bookmark these tips to Write Letters to the Editors that have more chances of getting published (the tips include a link to the Media Database to find local papers to target), and pass the link around, too.

Also, to make sure more DU readers see this primer and learn the ropes, please recommend this topic, and reply to it with extra relevant info: other tips & suggestions, sample letters, newspaper stories to respond to, etc.

Some sample tips from this compilation:

Before submitting a letter, check with your local newspaper (or its website) for its guidelines.

Be sure to include your contact information: full name, address, phone number and e-mail address (most publications will want to call to confirm that you wrote the letter before they publish it).

Try to keep your letter under 150 words – under 100 words for big papers. Most papers won’t accept submissions longer than 200 or 250 words, and long letters are also more likely to be edited -- it's better that you do your own editing. Besides, most people read the shorter letters first (don’t you?) and then perhaps later read the longer ones. Thus your shorter letter has a better chance of being published and read than a long, meandering one.

Stick to a single subject. Deal with one issue per letter.
Open with a specific reference to a recent news story, editorial, or previous letter, no older than a few days.

Present your experience of an issue in the news. A (brief) personal story will make your letter compelling. Or mention your perspective on the issue ("As a mother of two, ...")

Working a local reference into your letter also helps (mentioning your city or community, or a local personality or elected representative).

An especially effective ways to catch the attention of your legislator (you can be sure they read the letters too!) is to mention him/her by name, and/or stating the specific legislative action you would like your representative to take

Most papers won't print the same writers over and over again. Therefore, if you have had a letter published recently, try to get a friend or co-worker to sign the next one

See the full list here, as well as other Activism Toolkit lists, and bookmark it!

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