How to Get Your Letter to the Editor Published

Be succinct, clear and controlled if you want your letter to be in the paper.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Printers
• Bonded Paper
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

1. Use plain white paper, or use letterhead for added authority or weight.
2. Print your letter on your computer or on a typewriter. If you must handwrite your letter, make certain it's legible.
3. Address the letter to the editor, whose name can be copied from the masthead.
4. Spell the editor's name correctly to elicit the best response.
5. State your opinion right off the bat in the first line: "I am writing to say ..."
6. Clarify your context. For example, "In response to yesterday's headline, let me say ..." or "In printing John Smith's diatribe against big dogs, you've lost this small reader's subscription ..."
7. Trim your letter. Column inches are precious, and the newspaper will edit the letter if you don't.
8. Keep insults, name-calling and hearsay out of the contents if you want your letter published.
9. Proofread carefully, then hand your missive to someone else to proofread a second time.
10. Sign the letter with your name and title, if appropriate. A signed letter has a much greater chance of getting published.
11. Send the letter promptly for relevance.

Tips & Warnings

• Humor, wit, intelligence and solid reasoning go a long way to persuade.
• Newspapers, online magazines and traditional press are public forums, so use them.
• Sarcasm, bigotry and subjective condemnation will get your letter into the circular file, not the opinion pages.