Guidelines for Writing a Letter to the Editor
Writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper can be an effective way to correct misinformation and get an alternate viewpoint in front of readers who may have only heard one side of a story. On the other hand, letters can also be used to voice support for a position a publication may take.
Before You Begin
Every newspaper has its own guidelines for submitting letters to the editor and many vary widely. To increase your chances of having your letter published, even before you begin drafting a response to a story or editorial you have read, be sure to check that publication's policy on submitting letters. Almost all publications will specify a maximum word count, which may sometimes seem unreasonably low. Exceeding the word limit a publication has placed on letters doesn't mean yours won't be published, but it can decrease your chances.
Most publications also reserve the right to edit a letter to fit space limitations. Writing your letter within the word limit helps ensure that your message gets across exactly as you wrote it. However, if you feel there is no way to keep your letter within the word limit and still make your point, do a quick check of letters that have been published to get a better idea of the overage a given newspaper will tolerate. If you find no exceptions to the specified word count, chances are, yours won't be either.
Get the Facts
If you're correcting inaccuracies or misleading information in a story, citing verifiable (i.e., information that can be substantiated through a third party) evidence will not only make your case stronger, but increase your chances of being published. If space constraints limit the number of references you can cite, include them along with but outside the body of the letter.
Composing Your Letter
Once you've done your homework and researched the newspaper's submission requirements, it's time to begin writing your letter. We've provided step-by-step directions below to make it easy for you. You may also want to look at examples of letters to the editor in your local newspaper for ideas.
- First paragraph: Reference the article you are responding to and the date it was published. Confine your comments to one or two key points that were made in the article or editorial. Don't try to take on too many issues as it will make your letter unduly long and seem unfocused.
- Second paragraph : Introduce facts that support the assertions made in the first paragraph.
- Third paragraph: Sum up your letter and reiterate your reason for writing. If you can include a human interest note that readers of the publication can relate to, all the better.
Name, address, phone: Most newspapers will not publish your letter without your full address and contact information, including a telephone number where you can be reached during the day. It is common practice for newspapers to contact the signatories of letters they are seriously considering for publication to verify that they are in fact who they say they are. If you can't be reached, your letter may not be published.
Submitting your letter
Is it better to e-mail your letter or send it via regular mail? If a publication has a preference, use that method. If not, e-mail not only ensures your viewpoint will reach the newspaper quickly, it's also easier to handle once it gets there since e-mailed letters can be cut and pasted. Newspapers receive hundreds, sometimes thousands of letters to the editor every week and the least amount of handling they need, the better.
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