The "Letters to the Editor" section is one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper, and can help shape the opinions of both the public and policy makers. We'd love to hear from you if you have suggestions on how to improve these tips, or if they have helped you get a letter published.Click here to send in your letter to the editor.
Four steps to a great letter
1. Sentence 1: What was recently in the news that prompted you to write this letter, and what about it moved you to take action? Say it in as few words as you can.
I was dismayed to see today’s editorial entitled, “People who oppose the war in Iraq are terrorist loving traitors.”
2. Sentence 2: What is the one, single most important point you want to make?
The fact is that opposition to the war in Iraq often comes from a deep love of our country, and a desire to see our nation’s best values reflected in our foreign policy.
3. Sentence 3: What is at least one fact, observation or personal statement that backs up your point? Personal anecdotes often work great here.
As a mother of two, my own desire for peace is deepened by my commitment to leaving a greater country and a safer world behind for my own children.
4. Sentence 4: In conclusion, make your point again. It’s often effective to call for specific change to help drive your point home, as in the example below where the writer calls for more seriousness and less name-calling.
It’s time we all moved past the name-calling and terrorist-baiting, and start looking seriously at what kind of foreign policy is needed to move us all forward as a nation.
More examples:
Example 1:
Dear Editor,
I am appalled at President Bush’s veto of a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq. The facts on the ground in Iraq make it clear that there is no military solution to our problems there. In fact, the polls show that the majority of Americans and Iraqis want US troops out of Iraq. It is about time that Congress stands up to the Bush administration, and this veto should not change that.
Sincerely,
Name, Address
Example 2:
Dear Editor,
Today Sen. McCain wrongly insisted that Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr initiated the ceasefire that calmed the violent clashes that burned Baghdad and Basra. This is just another example of Sen. McCain’s habit of getting the facts wrong on Iraq, and coming to enough wrong conclusions to fill an alternate universe.
In McCain’s version of events, al-Maliki’s US-backed assault on Basra was a success, and the ceasefire al-Sadr’s white flag; but in truth al-Maliki’s attack failed, and Iraqi officials had to travel to Iran to persuade al-Sadr to rein in his army.
This may possibly be the next commander of the world’s most powerful military, and it is critical that the press not give Sen. McCain a free pass on his tenuous grasp of the facts.
Sincerely,
Name, Address
More Tips:
* Use legislators’ names. If your printed letter mentions a representative or senator by name, be sure to clip it out and send it to them.
* Don't rant (not that you would). Hard hitting criticism is a big plus, but rants won't get published.
* Get to know the tone and style of letters selected by your paper.
* Check the length of the letters your paper publishes. As a rule, shorter is better.
* Use statistics and personal stories when you have them.
* Your letter should be signed and must include your address and telephone number or it won’t be published. The paper may call to verify that you wrote the letter.
* Be patient. It may take you several tries to get a letter published, but even unpublished letters have an impact.
* Work with friends or groups. Letter writing is a great group or volunteer activity, and the more letters on a given subject, the greater the chance that one or more will be published.
