SUGGESTIONS ON WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
(FOR
MORE DETAIL GO TO
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=122)
v
Make one point (or
at most two) in your letter or fax. State the point clearly, ideally in the
first sentence.
v
Make your letter
timely. If you are not addressing a specific article, editorial or letter that
recently appeared in the paper you are writing to, then try to tie the issue
you want to write about to a recent event.
v
Check the letter
specifications of the newspaper to which you are writing. Length and format
requirements vary from paper to paper. (Generally, roughly two short paragraphs
are ideal.) You also must include your name, signature, address and phone
number.
v
Support your facts.
If the topic you address is controversial, consider sending documentation along
with your letter. But don't overload the editors with too much info.
v
Keep your letter
brief. Type it whenever possible.
v
Find others to write
letters when possible. This will show that other individuals in the community
are concerned about the issue. If your letter doesn't get published, perhaps
someone else's on the same topic will.