Tips for writing your Letter to the Editor

Writing a letter to the editor is a quick and powerful way to voice your opinion about current issues.

Surveys of newspaper readers show that the opinions of readers are of great interest. And the letters section of the paper is read by elected officials and other policy makers as a barometer of public opinion.

Here are some suggestions for writing an effective letter to the editor.

Summary

• Include your name, address and telephone number.
• If you would like your opinion to be published, write 'For Publication' at the top of the letter.
• Avoid personal attacks and bad language.
• Focus on one issue in a few paragraphs.
• If sending by email, put text in the body of the message. Don't use attachments.

What are Letters to the Editor?

Letters to the editor usually address a recent event or issue covered by a newspaper. They provide people in the community with an opportunity to make their voice heard on current issues in the news. As such they tend to be widely read.

You have a much better chance of getting your letter to the editor published than you do of having an op-ed piece (that is, a story length version of your opinion) printed or getting a story written about your concern.

Vital Statistics

Put your full name, address and phone number at the top of the letter. Odds a very good that before your letter is printed, you will be contacted for verification that you really did write the letter. If you would like your opinion to be published, write 'For Publication' at the top of the letter. And, write your message in the body of the email message. Don't use attachments, because they can contain computer viruses.

Do Your Homework

Read the letters section of your newspaper to see what issues are being covered. See how your issue is being covered and become familiar with the writing style used in the letters that are printed. Focus on current issues and events. Read the newspaper's guidelines for submitting a letter to the editor.

Be Concise

Be clear, concise and specific. Several paragraphs is the ideal length, on the order of 150 to 250 words. Keep each paragraph to no more than 3 or 4 sentences. To acheive this, you will need to focus on a single topic.

Start by being clear about your purpose. Are you writing to express a point of view, to correct or clarify information, to introduce new information?

Support your opinion with relevant facts and avoid stereotypes, in particular those to the effect that "all newspaper editors are idiots." And remember there is no good writing, only good rewriting. Write your letter, set it aside then go back, improve and proofread it before you send it.

Don't waste valuable space by restating incorrect information. Make your case, not one you disagree with.

Write A Headline

Eye-catching headlines are essential in the newspaper business. Try to give your letter an engaging title, and use that title as the subject line of your email message, along with the words 'Letter to the Editor.'

Use Humor and Wit

Be clever, witty and disarming, as humor indicates that you have a sense of perspective about the issue at hand and don't intend to commence a fire-bombing campaign. Beware of any but the most subtle and cheerful sarcasm.

Mind Your Manners

You may be mad as hell as you may not plan to take it any more, but expressing anger is likely to be counterproductive. As in, the editor has a good laugh and sends your letter to the magnetic dustbin. Avoid bad language and personal attacks, as they reflect poorly on you and your opinion about the issue.

Follow Up

There is nothing wrong with calling or emailing the newspaper to follow up and see if the letter was received and if the newspaper intends to print it. However, a visit to the office without an appointment is only appropriate at small town newspapers where the staff probably already know you. Carrying a weapon into a newspaper office is a sign of either phenomenal stupidity or psychological distress, but sadly it does happen.

Related to the above, writing to the same newspaper more than every two to three months may gain you a reputation as a person with an unhealthy obsession.