|
Writing a letter to your local
newspaper is an effective way to share your concerns with the public
and policy makers.
Please view the tips below if you need some
help writing your message.
Writing letters to the editor is one of the easiest
ways to get a message out to the public. Politicians and other decision-makers
regularly keep abreast of the letters page to see where public opinion
lies.
Tips for Writing Letters
to the Editor
1. Be concise. Most
publications have established limits for the length of the letter
they will accept. This is usually between 150-300 words. Try to
keep your letter to a few short paragraphs to ensure it is considered
for printing, and that important parts are not edited out. Make
sure to follow the paper's letter submission guidelines, which are
usually found on the editorial page of the paper (see sample letters
policy below). If you require more space, contact the publication
and see if they will accept a guest editorial.
2. Respect legalities.
It's common sense that your letter should not be defamatory or obscene,
no matter how controversial the issue is.
3. Include your contact information. Always
include your full name, address, postal code, and daytime telephone
number in case the publication needs to verify your letter's authenticity
or discuss changes prior to publication.
4. Follow-up. If your
letter is not published within a reasonable period of time, call
the letters editor to ensure that the letter was received. If it
was, politely ask if they plan to publish your letter. If not, send
it again.
5. Keep trying. Don't
be disheartened if they don't publish your letter. The majority
of publications are selective about the letters they publish. Your
letter may not be selected the first time, but that should not discourage
you from writing in the future. Keep in mind that many publications
have guidelines about publishing repeated letters from one individual,
so don't expect to have your letters printed on a regular basis.
6. Stick to the facts. Avoid
embellishing your story or statements. Include background information
such as statistics, documented facts, and studies in your letter
to add credibility and strength. But keep it simple-only make statements
that you can back up.
7. Write about the issue promptly. You
will have the best chance of having your letter published if you
respond to the item within a few days of seeing it in the news.
It is important to specify which news item you are responding to.
Example:
Calgary Herald Letters Policy
Letters should be fewer than 250 words and deal
with a single topic in the news. All letters must be signed. Include
your full name, address, and phone number. All letters are subject
to editing. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted to
the publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author,
but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in
print, electronic or other forms.
Example:
Here is a "short and sweet" letter to the editor of the
Calgary Herald that was published on Jan. 8, 2002:
Both sides still smoking
re: "Warning signs usher in smoking bylaw,"
Jan. 2
Welcome to Calgary. Would you prefer the smoking or
the second-hand smoking section?
Karin Bock
|
