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Tips for Writing
Letters to the Editor
Letters from readers
help the editors decide which topics to cover in future news
stories or editorials. They are a great way to educate the
uninformed.
Elected officials also carefully monitor
the editorial pages of print media to gauge local opinion. By mentioning your senators
or representative by name and stating the specific legislative
action you would like them to take, you can guarantee that your
letter will catch the attention of your members of Congress. In
fact, congressional offices use media clipping services to
ensure that staff have access to all letters-to-the-editor that
mention the legislator by name.
Start a dialogue in your community by
reaching out to your local media. Click
here for newspapers in your state.
Before submitting a letter, check with your
local newspaper for its guidelines, and follow these general
tips:
Keep It Short
Try to limit your letter to 100-200 words or
less, and focus on a single issue, i.e., documents on the
Peltier case still withheld by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI); a congressional investigation on the
long-term effects of the FBI's counterintelligence program
(formerly known as COINTELPRO); or a grant of parole or
Executive Clemency to Leonard Peltier.
In the first paragraph, state your main point
and why the issue is important to you. (What impact does the
issue have on the local community? How are you personally
invested in a particular policy or piece of legislation?)
Provide facts, quotes, and numbers in the
second.
Use the last paragraph to restate your point
and make your recommendation.
Respond to a News Story
Open with a specific reference to a recent
news story, editorial, or previous letter. "Recent" means no
older than a few days. For national papers, "recent" means no
further back than 48 hours.
Make a Local Connection
Your letter will be of more interest to
editors of your local paper if you highlight the local impact of
a national or foreign policy issue.
Demonstrate Your Reach
If you know that your opinion also represents
that of others, be sure to mention it. However, if you want to
submit a letter signed from representatives of more than one
group, be aware that most newspapers limit signatures to two or
three names.
Consider Your Options
Submit letters to your local paper for the
best chance of publication, though you may certainly submit to
national publications as well.
Other options include suburban or
neighborhood papers, specialized magazines, ethnic press,
religious publications, and college alumni magazines.
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