Links to Local Editors: Write a Letter to the Editor
Make Your Voice Heard. Write to your local newspaper editor.
See tips below on how to write
a letter.
How to Shape Our Summit:
Tips for Getting Involved
Writing
a letter to the editor is one of the best tools for a grassroots activist to
use in order to get his/her message out to the public. Letters are easy to write, and our community
has several newspapers in which you can submit your letter. Sending letters to the editor can help you
achieve your goals because they:
reach a very large audience
can be used to rebut information not
accurately addressed in a news article or editorial
create an impression of widespread
support or opposition to an issue
are widely read by community leaders to
gauge public sentiment about current issues in the news.
The
purpose of submitting a letter to the editor is to have it published so that
you can influence your targeted primary audience, the readers of the
newspaper. The letters to the editor
section of the newspaper is one of the most popular features in many
newspapers. If your letter is not
published, write another one. Most
newspapers receive many more letters than they can print. Even though they are not published, all
letters are read by the editors, and may influence them in determining which
topics should receive further attention or follow-up articles.
The following techniques
should help you when writing your letter to the editor:
Tips for your
letter:
Be brief
Address only one issue at a time
Say why the issue matters to you
Give facts and background about the issue
State your reasons for opposing or
supporting an issue
Be positive and constructive
If possible, suggest a solution
Send a copy to your local newspaper to
help build support for the issue
Ask others who are concerned about the
same issue to send letters also
You don’t need to be an expert
For more information, please contact
Jennifer Pratt Miles
Shaping Our Summit
105 Village Place; PO Box 1829
Dillon, CO 80435
phone: (970) 513.8340 x213;
fax: (970) 513.8348; sos@merid.org
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