LETTER TO THE EDITOR GUIDE

Need help in drafting a letter to the editor of your local paper?  Here are a few tips and tricks.

 

1. Consider your audience: LTE’s reach a broad base of readers with varying degrees of interest and concern for the topic at hand.  Be respectful of that entire audience.  You’re seeking to influence public opinion.  Best to do it rationally.

2. Be factual: you’re expressing an opinion.  And the more factual you are, the more relevant your opinion will be.

3. Be concise: many news outlets limit the size of LTEs.  500 words or less is a common cap.

4. Be careful with personal information: you never know who’s reading.

5. Be polite: too strong a language, expletives, rants and calls for pitch forks and flaming torches will quite likely have your letter rejected by the editor.

 

​