10
Steps for Writing a
Letter to the Editor
Letters to the editor prove a valuable and visible forum for you to express your perspective on homelessness. Letters to the editor are among the best-read parts of the paper and a great way for your legislator to know what his or her community is thinking.
- Brevity.
Letters to the
editor should be
short and punchy.
- Strength in
numbers. Try to
generate several
letters from your
friends and
colleagues. The
number of letters
will signal the
importance of the
issue and increase
the likelihood of
the letters being
printed.
- Keep your
objective in mind.
It can be tempting
to respond in anger;
just be sure you
know what your
purpose is. For
example, instead of
saying the service
cuts in your
community make you
mad, say: I
expect my City
Councilman, County
Commissioner,
legislator,
Representative,
etc., to fight
to keep our
community intact.
- Respond
quickly. If you
see something in the
media you want to
respond to, try to
send your letter by
email or fax by the
next day at the
latest.
- Up front.
Mention your reason
for writing in the
first sentence. If
you are commenting
on an issue, be as
specific as you can.
- To the point.
Limit the content of
your letter to one
or two key points. A
letter to the editor
offers the chance
for a concise
statement on a
subject, not an
in-depth analysis.
Keep on the one
message you want
readers to get from
your letter.
- Take a strong
position.
Newspapers look for
fresh facts, honest
statements of
opinion and creative
slants on the news.
Include a call to
action.
- Edit for
length. Keep
your letter to no
more than three
paragraphs. Aim for
about 200 words or
less. The more
direct and simple
your letter is, the
more likely it will
be published.
- Follow
guidelines.
Start your letter
with “Dear Editor”.
Also, include your
name, address and
phone number so an
editor can call you
to verify that you
wrote the letter.
The newspaper will
only publish your
city, not your home
address.
- Deliver. Make sure your letters get into the right hands. Call your paper and ask for the name and contact information of the person to whom you should send the letter.