Tips on Writing Effective
Letters to the Editor

The letters sections of newspapers and magazines are prime forums for getting your message to a wide audience. Letters to the editor in local and regional papers are  read by local activists, government officials, legislators and many community members.

Your letter can support and expand on something already in the news, make a point that was omitted, or disagree with/correct misinformation from a news story, editorial or another letter.

To maximize your chances of getting published:

Do:
* Respond directly either to breaking news or an article or commentary published in the previous two days (for dailies) or the previous issue of a weekly paper / magazine. Follow the format used in the target publication. The typical format is: Re "Talking With the Taxman," (national news, Jan. 13). Your report neglected one key fact...

* Focus on one important point (don't try to address separate issues in one letter). Be sure to follow the guidelines and word count limit of the target publication (100 to 250 words is typical for local and regional papers, but many larger outlets have a lower limit).

* Maximize your chance of being published by removing every non-essential word. For example, don't say, "I think..." It's obvious. This also minimizes the chance of editors changing the letter. (If this were a letter to the editor, our advice would be "omit needless words," or "be concise.").

* Use verified facts. Take the time to check original sources rather than repeating "fact" cited in another media outlet.

* Create immediacy by indicating how readers will be affected by the issue you address when possible; try to balance criticism with a positive -- ask readers for action when practical. This includes your elected representatives -- by including their names in the letter and asking for action, you can get their attention.

* Point people to a source for more information or to engage in action whenever practical.

* When writing to your local newspaper (not recommended for larger city or national publications), follow up with a polite phone inquiry about its status if it doesn't appear within 4-7 days to ensure it was received and considered.

* E-mail your letter in the body of the email (never send unsolicited attachments ) and put "Letter re: Your Topic” in the subject line. If you wish to copy others or submit to more than one publication, do so in a separate email. Include your address and daytime phone number for verification.

* If the publication publishes an online version, hyperlink the relevant websites or emails.

* Pay attention to letters and comments by others. Note effective and ineffective approaches (especially letters that effectively argue a position you oppose), style, length, etc. This will help you improve rapidly.

Things to Avoid:
* Don't overstate/exaggerate your point. Rather than, “corporations will dictate who gets elected” try something like “corporations will enjoy tremendous influence over who gets elected and who chooses to run for office.”

* Don't insult your opponents.

* Avoid jargon or acronyms (spell out any name the first time you use it, followed by the acronym in parentheses).

* Never use all capital letters or bold text to emphasize a word. It will rarely be printed that way and may prevent your from being considered. You may italicize one or two words, but most papers will print it in plain text regardless -- the words must speak for themselves. Use quotation marks to indicate the title of a book, article, etc.

On Magazines
* Acceptable lengths for letters in magazines vary widely, so look for guidelines and observe the range and style used in each publication. Letters to major news weeklies tend to be extremely short (100 - 200 words).

Consider the typical reader of the publication, and keep her in mind when writing. Many magazines tend to be read by like-minded people, rather than the broader cross-sections of society who read most newspapers.

Notes
* Don't consider your effort a failure if your letter isn't used in larger publications (where even the best letters face long odds). Each letter is read and plays some role in molding the thinking and content selection of the editors.

* Please note ReclaimDemocracy.org as a resource where applicable. This helps generate interest in our work and lets people know others in their area feel the way they do. One caveat: do not reference us if you are advocating for or against a politician or political party or otherwise identify yourself as a partisan. in your letter. We are thoroughly non-partisan and must be sure that never is doubted. If you have any questions, please contact us.

We love to get copies of letters written by our supporters and we're happy to offer editing help. Send drafts via our contact form or to info@... (our domain name)

Writing for ReclaimDemocracy.org
If you wish to propose writing an article for us please email us your query and at least two published samples (links to publication preferred). These may include letters to the editor.

Resources
Strunk and White's The Elements of Style is a timeless collection of great suggestions to help you write concisely and powerfully.

For a print-ready flier with this information in pdf format, click here (it includes our tips on making effective use of talk radio).

© 2010 ReclaimDemocracy.org.