-
among the most commonly read section of the newspaper;
-
routinely clipped and circulated by politicians and opinion leaders as indicators of what is important to their constituents;
-
capable of keeping a story alive and a debate raging (exchanges on the letters-to-the-editor page warms the hearts of reporters and delights editors as, among other things, it means people are reading the paper);
-
effective when they are published and important even when they are not. Unpublished letters to the editor can affect which others make it to newsprint. Typically, an editor will want to publish a selection of letters that fairly represents those that were received. The more letters that agree with your point, the more likely your point – even if it isn’t your actual letter – will make it to newsprint;
-
a powerful advocacy tool, a no-cost means of educating and influencing the minds and hearts of others in your community, and an inspiration for others to take action.
Letter writing rules to live by:
-
When editors make decisions about printing letters they use the rule “beware of predictability.” You need to present another point of view or a reaction to a news story, say something no one else has said, or say it in a new way. Larger newspapers receive dozens of letters a day, so yours must stand out to be printed.
-
Be current (respond to recent events or articles) and be concise (the general rule is 250 words or 2-3 paragraphs in length). Cut to the chase and focus on 1 or 2 key points.
-
Refer to the article by name and date and include your contact information. Many newspapers will only publish a letter to the editor after verifying the author’s contact information, and when printed, the letter usually lists your name and city.
-
Criticize facts, not people or opinions, and don’t repeat misinformation or write from a defensive posture. Tell what is true vs. directly responding to inflammatory statements.
-
Stick to one subject and make sure you can corroborate your facts. Statistics can become overwhelming and confusing, so use them sparingly. If the topic you address is controversial, consider sending documentation along with your letter.
-
Send letters to weekly community newspapers too. The smaller the newspaper's circulation, the easier it is to get your letter printed.
-
Coordinate your efforts with others who share your beliefs and opinions. Have as many people in your group send in letters to the editor at the same time to maximize your odds of getting published and emphasize the importance of the issue. Whether they print your letters or not, you are letting the paper know what issues the community cares about.
-
Monitor the paper for your letter. If your letter has not appeared within a week or two, follow up with a call to the editorial department of the newspaper.
-
Be persistent. It may take a few tries before a larger paper publishes one of your letters.
