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The letters to the editor section of your local paper presents an ideal forum for getting your message to its readers, be they local citizens, state officials, or elected local, state and national officials.
More people read the letters to the editor section than almost any other part of the paper. It is one of the first pages many elected officials turn to. Letters to the editor show that an issue is of concern to the community and are excellent tools for education.
Quick page links:
1. A few guidelines for getting your letter to the editor printed
2. How to write letters to the editor that don't get edited
3. How to Write Effective ‘Letters to the Editor’
4. What to Write?
5. Here are some stylistic considerations
6. If you have a letter to the editor printed anywhere, please be sure to let us know!
7. Click here for submitted “Letters to the Editor” from throughout the state
Here are a few guidelines for getting your letter to the editor printed: - Keep your letter short and to the point — 150 words maximum.
- Think about what your objective is when writing a letter to the editor. Writing on behalf of a state, local or campus organization will give your letter more weight. Writing as an individual citizen will show impression of citizen support for or opposition to an issue.
- Your letter should carry its most important message in the first paragraph.
- Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Editors like to call to confirm that the letter was actually written by the person whose name appears on the letter.
- Avoid rambling sentences and big words.
- Type the letter — double spaced, one page maximum.
- Limit the number of points you make, and stay on the same subject.
- Be as factual as possible without being dull.
- Localize your letter — explain how the issue will affect your area or personalize the letter by mentioning people in your own life or community who will be affected.
- Accentuate the positive. When you criticize, also propose a solution to the problem or a better alternative, if possible.
- Don't be disappointed if your letter does not get printed. Newspapers get many letters every day and can't print all of them. 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 member of your group to sign the next one. Have a number of veterans submit a letter on the same topic at the same time. Editors are more likely to print letters on 'popular' issues.
- Make the letter timely. Your letter stands the best chance of getting printed when it responds to something recently printed in that newspaper — such as a news story, column, editorial, advertisement, or another letter. You can use the reference to that item as a springboard for stating your case.
- Your letter can support and expand on something already in the news, make a point that was omitted, or disagree with and correct misinformation in whatever form it appeared.
- Don't be afraid to ask for action — tell readers what you want them to do. This includes your elected representatives; you can be sure they read the letters to the editor. By putting their names in the letter and asking for action, such as a vote, co-sponsorship of a bill, an explanation, you get their attention fast.
 How to write letters to the editor that don't get edited:
The keys to writing letters to the editor of newspapers or magazines that won't get edited are: - Keep your letter short. And I mean VERY short. 150 words is a good upper limit. Editors want to print as many letters as possible and frequently need to trim letters to fit the space. In fact, long letters are often not printed at all.
- Keep paragraphs short (2-3 short sentences). Otherwise, for readability, the layout editor will change your paragraphs (often making letters less intelligible).
- Keep the reading level low. Use short, simple words and short sentences. Complex sentences cause readers to lose interest – or to lose your train of thought.
- Focus your letter on one point. If everything in your letter drives at a single point, the loss of a paragraph to editorial license will injure your letter less. Furthermore, if you make one point in a short, concise letter, the chances of being edited at all drop substantially.
- Proofread, proofread, proofread. And then have someone else go over it. If your grammar or spelling are poor, readers (including the editor) automatically reduce their respect for your opinion. And, of course, the editor is more likely to make "innocent" changes.
- Sit on letters for at least a day. Then proofread again. Letters sent in the "heat of the moment" are usually much more poorly written. Plus you'll catch more of your own mistakes and be able to take advantage of any insights you come up with while the topic is on your mind.
How to Write Effective Letters to the Editor
Short, concise letters are always more likely to be published than long, meandering ones; try to keep them under 150 words -- for big papers, keep them under 100 words. The longer letters are also more likely to be edited -- it's better that you do your own editing.
Ever notice how you read letters to the editor in the paper? Most people read the shorter letters first and then perhaps later read the longer ones. Thus your shorter letter has a better chance of being read. What to Write?
Unlike single-issue or special-interest groups, libertarians can select from an enormous range of subjects. Replying to editorials, agree or disagree, is very effective. Every day the news offers us all too many topics on which to comment.
Be timely; try to respond within two or three days of the article's publication. Pick an issue of particular importance to you -- don't be afraid to let some passion show through.
One suggestion is that a letter shouldn't be mailed the same day it is written. Write, proofread and edit the piece. Then put it aside until the next day. Rereading your letter in a fresh light often helps you to spot errors in reasoning, stilted language and the like. On the other hand, don't let the letter sit too long and lose it's timeliness. Here are some stylistic considerations: - 1. State the argument you're rebutting or responding to, as briefly as possible, in the letter's introduction. Don't do a lengthy rehash; it's a waste of valuable space and boring to boot.
2. Stick to a single subject. Deal with one issue per letter.
3. Don't be shrill or abusive. Editors tend to discard letters containing personal attacks. Even though you're dying to call someone a parasite, stifle the urge. - 4. Your letter should be logically organized. First a brief recitation of the argument you are opposing, followed by a statement of your own position. Then present your evidence. Close with a short restatement of your position or a pithy comment.
5. Use facts, figures and expert testimony whenever possible. This raises your letters above the "sez you, sez me" category. Readers respect the opinions of people with special knowledge or expertise. Use expert testimony to bolster your case ("George Will claims we need to draft to defend America. But General Edward C. Meyer, Army Chief of Staff, recently stated . . .").
6. Proofread your letter carefully for errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. Newspapers will usually edit to correct these mistakes, but your piece is more likely to be published if it is "clean" to begin with. Read your letter to a friend, for objective input.
7. Try to view the letter from the reader's perspective. Will the arguments make sense to someone without a special background on this issue. Did you use technical terms not familiar to the average reader?
8. Should your letter be typed? In this day and age, generally yes. Double or triple space the letter if it is short. For faxing purposes, we appreciate it if the letter is all on one page, so single spacing might be the only option available unless you shorten it.
9. Direct your missives to "Letters to the Editor," or some similar sounding title.
10. Always include your name, address, day-time phone number and signature. The papers will not publish this information, but they may use it to verify that you wrote the letter.
11. Most important -- WRITE! Do not try to do a perfect letter. Just give it a good effort and send it off. Letter writing is the one thing that any one of us can do on our own without the need to work through a group. No committees are necessary. Just do it!
Finally - Don't be discouraged if your letter isn't published. The editor may have received more responses on that issue than he feels he can handle. |
