Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor are a great way to communicate information and viewpoints to the members of your community. The Letters to the Editor section is one of the most popular parts of a newspaper because it represents the views of the average reader and gives the general public a forum to express their opinions and concerns.

We suggest that you write a letter to your local paper, so that our message is spread far and wide. You may also write to a national outlet, like USA Today, The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. You may also consider writing to Newsweek or Time magazine.

An important note: Are you writing as a NOW officer on behalf of your chapter, or as an individual? If you are writing in your capacity as a NOW officer, you should identify yourself as such. Remember, only elected officers can speak publicly on behalf of an entire chapter. However, anyone can write a letter to the editor as an individual, advancing essentially the same opinions and ideals.

When you sit down to write your letter, keep these things in mind:

• Your first goal is to get the newspaper to print your letter.
• Your second goal is to effectively communicate an important point to other readers.

With that in mind, here are some important tips:

1. Know Your Audience
   Are you writing to a local newspaper? If so, you can touch on issues specific to your state and/or community. If you're writing to a nationally-read newspaper or news magazine, you will need to focus on issues of national importance, unless the specific article you are referring to is about a local event.



2. Make Reference to a Specific Article
   While some papers print general commentary, many will only print letters that refer to a specific article, opinion piece or editorial. Here are some examples of easy ways to refer to articles in your opening sentence:
   • The Post's May 18 editorial "School Vouchers Are Right On" omitted some of the key facts in the debate.
   • I strongly agree with [author's name]'s view on women's reproductive rights.
   • Senator Doe's efforts to roll back affirmative action ["Title of the Article," date] will be a blow to education in our state.
   
   
3. Keep it Brief
   Different publications prefer different lengths, but the maximum length for most letters is 200 words — which is remarkably short. The best thing to do is read the letters section of your paper before you start. This will give you an idea of how long your letter should be, and what kinds of letters your paper typically publishes. If you're still not sure about length, call your paper's letters to the editor office or visit their web site. Remember, if you send a letter that is too long, either it won't be printed, or edits will be made without your input (and you might not like them!)



4. Make it Simple
   Be conversational, clear and concise. Settle on one main point and make it right away. Explain the thinking behind your point as simply as possible. If you have facts to back-up your opinion, include them. Just make sure you get your facts from a reliable source.



5. Personalize Your Message
   Editors receive numerous letters every day. If you really want yours to stand out, make sure that it is not copied word-for-word from a form letter. If you have a personal story that shows how this issue affects you and/or your family, share it — briefly.



6. Be Polite
   While your letter can be critical of the newspaper or author for misleading readers or omitting important facts, it should always be written in a civil tone. Papers will not publish insulting or offensive letters.



7. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
   Don't forget to perform spell check on your letter. If you are not completely confident about the tone or content of your letter, have a friend read it and make suggestions. You should always read through your letter one last time for typos before sending it off.



8. Include Your Contact Information
   When you send in your letter to the editor, you must include your name, address and daytime phone number. Your name is needed because anonymous letters are not as credible as those that are signed, and the large majority of newspapers will not publish them. Your address is important because papers prefer to print letters from local readers, and it lends credibility. Also, include your phone number because most newspapers will only print your letter once they have called and verified that you are, in fact, the writer.



9. Watch for Your Letter
   If your letter is going to be published it will be within the next week (unless you are writing to a news magazine, in which case it should run two or three issues later). Watch for your letter and if it runs, let us know right away. Save the original for yourself and send us a copy by mail or send us a link to it via email.



10. Responding As a Chapter
    A NOW chapter has the right to challenge an article that contains incorrect information about NOW or a NOW-sponsored event. An elected officer must be the author of this type of letter. You should call the letters editor as soon after the article is printed as possible and before you submit your letter. As always, be polite, but be firm — especially where inaccuracies about NOW are concerned. Check back within 24 hours to ensure that they are publishing your letter.




Good luck! You can use our online media guide to submit letters to the editor to your local media outlets.

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