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Tips on getting on to the Letters Page
Letters to the Editor are one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and reach a large audience. Here's six ways to make sure your letter gets there.
Keep it simple: Keep your points short and clear, and stick to one subject. If you focus on one specific issue, you’ll already have an edge on the writer who thinks they will be able to fill up their letter with a shopping list of details. Also, stick to commonly used terms and avoid jargon.
Connect to basic values such as special concern for the most vulnerable and helping to help themselves.
Be brief! Sometimes one short, pithy paragraph is enough - try to stay under 150 words. Make your first sentence short, compelling and catchy. No more than four paragraphs total, two paragraphs is best. Editors are much less likely to print long letters.
Get personal! Newspapers, at their core, are community entities. Editors will be much more likely to publish a letter, and the letter will have much more impact, if it demonstrates local relevance. Use personal stories. If you have them, use local statistics.
Use your credentials. If you have expertise in the area you are writing about, be sure to include that information even though it may not be printed in your letter.
Make sure you include your name, address, and telephone number in your letter. Some newspapers verify authorship before printing letters. Oh and the date.
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