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- Newspapers are looking for a variety of voices on issues, so find your voice, your opinion, and state it. Speak for yourself!
- State why you are writing and what connects you to a greater issue. Are you a local farmer who knows the efforts of farm workers and you’re concerned about their abuse? Are you a woman who works with homeless and has seen the effects of welfare reform on them?
- Don’t use clichés.
- Verify facts, give appropriate citations to facts, then add in your opinion.
- Write short letters (150 words), with a clear point, accurate statements and an opinion on what to do.
- If it’s a topic that’s in the news now, write the letter within a day!
- If you have a title with your name (Dr., Rev., Ph.D., etc.), use it, especially if your title gives you an expertise on an issue.
- Try to stimulate discussion and healthy debate on the issue.
- Don’t promote an organization in a letter. Newspapers will look at it as trying to get a free ad.
- Sign the letter with your name and hometown. Local newspapers want letters from local people. Then, be sure to give your contact information. Newspapers usually call before publishing the letter to verify that you wrote it.
Date posted:
Jun 14, 2005
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