A letter to the editor is an opportunity for individuals to express their views on a specific topic. This can be in response to an article that has been published in the newspaper or magazine or it may be on a completely different topic. In either case, a well-written letter can have significant impact on readership and possibly influence public opinion and policy.
Your letter should begin with an opening paragraph that tells the editor what you are writing about and why you feel strongly about it. This should be followed by body paragraphs that support your position and provide facts or personal experience. Finally, your letter should end with a call to action or some way for readers to get involved.
It is important that you stay within the publication’s word count guidelines and make your letter as concise as possible. It is also helpful to have someone else read your letter before submission to help catch typos and wordiness. Finally, be sure to include your name and contact information with your submission; editors often need to verify that you are the author of a letter before publishing it.
Letters to the editor are an excellent tool to use any time you want to shape public opinion, tell the community about people or programs that your organization supports, or simply inform the public on a particular issue. Many legislators and other policy makers track letters to the editor to keep tabs on what their constituents are thinking and feeling about a given issue.
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