Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper

We accept letters by email and surface mail; however, because timeliness is a critical factor in the selection of letters we publish, we strongly encourage submissions by email. Submit via What are the guidelines for letter submissions? We prefer letters that are fewer than 250 words and take as their starting point an article or other item appearing in The Post. They may not have been submitted to, posted to or published by any other media. They must include the writer's full name; anonymous letters and letters written under pseudonyms will not be considered. For verification purposes, they must also include the writer's home address, email address and telephone numbers, including a daytime telephone number. Writers should disclose any personal or financial interest in the subject matter of their letters. If sending an email, please put the text of the letter in the body and do not send attachments; attachments will not be read. How are letters selected for publication? The Post receives more than a thousand letters each week. Letters editor Are letters edited? Letters are edited for clarity, fact-checked and sometimes trimmed to fit the space available in the newspaper. The opinions expressed are always the writer's own. We confer with letter writers about editing to the extent that deadlines allow. When will I hear about my letter? We do our best to read all letters promptly. Because of the volume of submissions we receive, we are not able to respond to letters not chos...

Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to stay engaged in the issues that matter most to them. And with public forums like town hall meetings with our elected officials, civic demonstrations, and neighborhood gatherings currently on pause, it’s even more important to rely on digital communications tools to make our voices heard. One such tool is a letter to the editor (LTE)—a brief piece, usually less than 300 words, that anyone can write and submit to a newspaper. As Maria Michalos, formerly NRDC’s senior executive communications manager, notes, such a letter can be written in response to a piece that’s already been published by a given media outlet, or it can be a proactive statement of support for or opposition against a particular issue that affects the publication’s readers. “It’s the perfect way to reach thousands of individuals and still remain publicly engaged, but without having to leave the comfort of your home,” Michalos says. Here are five tips to produce a successful LTE. Personalize it. “Newspaper editors typically select letters to the editor that are authentic and personalized,” Michalos says, so don’t be afraid to open up and use your own voice as you draft your LTE. For example, say you want to write a letter expressing support for community composting services Making personal opening statements helps establish the writer’s credibility as someone with firsthand knowledge of the given issue and grabs the reader’s attention. Even if you use materia...

Learn how to write and send effective print and e-mailed letters to editors of various media types, together with examples, that will gain both editorial and reader support. • What is a letter to the editor? • Why should you write a letter to the editor? • When should you write a letter to the editor? • Should you use e-mail to send your letter? • How do you write a letter to the editor? • How do you get your letter accepted? What is a letter to the editor? You feel strongly about an issue, and you want to let people know what you think. You believe you can even influence people to take some action if you speak your mind. But, you want to reach an audience larger than just your friends or your group membership. Letters to the editor can be an effective way to get the word out. A letter to the editor is a written way of talking to a newspaper, magazine, or other regularly printed publication. Letters to the editor are generally found in the first section of the newspaper, or towards the beginning of a magazine, or in the editorial page. They can take a position for or against an issue, or simply inform, or both. They can convince readers by using emotions, or facts, or emotions and facts combined. Letters to the editor are usually short and tight, rarely longer than 300 words. Using a few carefully placed letters, you can generate plenty of community discussion. You can also keep an issue going by preventing it from disappearing from the public eye. You can stimulate the in...

Letters to the editor have existed for centuries as a forum for public comment or debate. After the front page of a newspaper, most people read the editorial page. This is one reason why it is a good place for readers to express their opinion or viewpoint about a story they read in the paper. They have the opportunity of reaching a wide audience. A letter to the editor may be printed in the paper if it follows a few guidelines that will help make it a compelling communication. ​ ​Guidelines Each publication has guidelines for accepting email letters to the editor. In many cases, letters that don’t adhere to these guidelines will be discarded. It is recommended for the sender to read other letters to the editor in the paper they have chosen. This will give the sender an idea of what type of letter is selected for printing. ​ They have the opportunity of reaching a wide audience. A letter to the editor may be printed in the paper if it follows a few guidelines that will help make it a compelling communication. ​​ Here are some points the sender should consider before writing a letter to the editor: • The letter should be timely and sent within a day after the article in question was published. Many newspapers will accept letters for two to four weeks after publication, but if the letter is sent quickly, it stands a better chance of being printed. • The sender’s contact information should be included in the letter. The newspaper may call the sender to verify that he or she ac...

This Blog Includes: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Know everything about How to Write a Letter to Editor? Here are all the elements of the Letter to Editor format: • Address of the Sender: This segment includes the address of the person sending the letter addressed to the Editor. It can be an office or residential address, as the question specifies. • Date of Letter: The date on which the letter was addressed to the Editor. This data must be accurate as it serves as a point of reference at many points. • Designation: The designation of the person receiving the letter. In the case of a Letter to the Editor, this is generally filled in as “The Editor”. • Address of the Receiving Editor: This must include the office address of the Editor, as well as the name of the organization to which he or she belongs. • Letter Subject: The letter subject must reflect the objective of writing the letter in very few words. It must be concise, as written in a way as to cover everything the sender deems necessary. • Salutation: This part reflects the courtesy of an individual, hence is extremely important. The writer should use words like Madam, Sir, Miss, or a salutation of both sexes in case of information ambiguity. • Body: The body of a letter is the main point of all its contents. It is generally divided into three sub-sections, namely- Introduction, Content and Conclusion. • Introduction: Gives a brief abstract of the content to follow. Content- Includes the main details and subjec...

Editor’s Name Newspaper Name Editor’s Address Date Dear Editor, The opening line should reference the article you are referencing (i.e., With respect to the article “titled like this,”), and then state your position. The rest of the paragraph should summarize your issue of concern in a way that captures the attention of the reader. This is your opportunity to tie your issue to a recently discussed topic, take a stance on a debated topic, or correct an error or misrepresentation you felt was portrayed in an article. Explain your ties to the issue. In other words, why are you speaking out about the subject? The subsequent paragraphs should further explain your issue and why people should care about it. If you have data or statistics to bolster your argument, this is a good place to use them. Follow your explanation with a call to action. What is at stake if no action is taken? What will happen if people respond with action? Make the consequences of each very clear, and try, when possible, to inform the reader about the direct impact of taking or not taking action. In your concluding paragraph, recap your point, reiterate your call to action, and include specific information on how readers can get involved. Sincerely, Name Organization Email Phone number This resource is adapted, with permission, from Media Matters: The Complete Guide to Getting Positive Media Attention, on the Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC, website. Review the full guide at

Write a Letter to the Editor of a Newspaper Complaining: A letter to the editor of a newspaper complaining is a written communication addressed to the editor of a newspaper to express dissatisfaction or disagreement with an article or editorial published in the newspaper. The letter is usually written by a reader or a subscriber of the newspaper, and it aims to highlight the issues or inaccuracies with the article and request for corrective action. The The letter should also clearly state what action the writer expects the newspaper to take to address the issue. Also Check: Letter to the Editor of a Newspaper Complaining – Format • Determine the issue: First, identify the issue that you want to complain about. It could be anything from inaccuracies in reporting to poor customer service or any other problem you may have experienced. • Choose the format: Decide on the format you want to use for your letter, whether it’s email or traditional mail. • Research the publication: It’s important to understand the tone and style of the newspaper or magazine you are addressing. Read past articles and letters to the editor to get a sense of the tone, style, and issues the publication covers. • Address the letter to the editor: Start your letter by addressing the editor of the publication. Use a formal salutation like “Dear Editor,” followed by the name of the newspaper or magazine. • Introduce yourself: Briefly introduce yourself and state the reason for writing the letter. For exampl...

We accept letters by email and surface mail; however, because timeliness is a critical factor in the selection of letters we publish, we strongly encourage submissions by email. Submit via What are the guidelines for letter submissions? We prefer letters that are fewer than 250 words and take as their starting point an article or other item appearing in The Post. They may not have been submitted to, posted to or published by any other media. They must include the writer's full name; anonymous letters and letters written under pseudonyms will not be considered. For verification purposes, they must also include the writer's home address, email address and telephone numbers, including a daytime telephone number. Writers should disclose any personal or financial interest in the subject matter of their letters. If sending an email, please put the text of the letter in the body and do not send attachments; attachments will not be read. How are letters selected for publication? The Post receives more than a thousand letters each week. Letters editor Are letters edited? Letters are edited for clarity, fact-checked and sometimes trimmed to fit the space available in the newspaper. The opinions expressed are always the writer's own. We confer with letter writers about editing to the extent that deadlines allow. When will I hear about my letter? We do our best to read all letters promptly. Because of the volume of submissions we receive, we are not able to respond to letters not chos...

Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to stay engaged in the issues that matter most to them. And with public forums like town hall meetings with our elected officials, civic demonstrations, and neighborhood gatherings currently on pause, it’s even more important to rely on digital communications tools to make our voices heard. One such tool is a letter to the editor (LTE)—a brief piece, usually less than 300 words, that anyone can write and submit to a newspaper. As Maria Michalos, formerly NRDC’s senior executive communications manager, notes, such a letter can be written in response to a piece that’s already been published by a given media outlet, or it can be a proactive statement of support for or opposition against a particular issue that affects the publication’s readers. “It’s the perfect way to reach thousands of individuals and still remain publicly engaged, but without having to leave the comfort of your home,” Michalos says. Here are five tips to produce a successful LTE. Personalize it. “Newspaper editors typically select letters to the editor that are authentic and personalized,” Michalos says, so don’t be afraid to open up and use your own voice as you draft your LTE. For example, say you want to write a letter expressing support for community composting services Making personal opening statements helps establish the writer’s credibility as someone with firsthand knowledge of the given issue and grabs the reader’s attention. Even if you use materia...

Letters to the editor have existed for centuries as a forum for public comment or debate. After the front page of a newspaper, most people read the editorial page. This is one reason why it is a good place for readers to express their opinion or viewpoint about a story they read in the paper. They have the opportunity of reaching a wide audience. A letter to the editor may be printed in the paper if it follows a few guidelines that will help make it a compelling communication. ​ ​Guidelines Each publication has guidelines for accepting email letters to the editor. In many cases, letters that don’t adhere to these guidelines will be discarded. It is recommended for the sender to read other letters to the editor in the paper they have chosen. This will give the sender an idea of what type of letter is selected for printing. ​ They have the opportunity of reaching a wide audience. A letter to the editor may be printed in the paper if it follows a few guidelines that will help make it a compelling communication. ​​ Here are some points the sender should consider before writing a letter to the editor: • The letter should be timely and sent within a day after the article in question was published. Many newspapers will accept letters for two to four weeks after publication, but if the letter is sent quickly, it stands a better chance of being printed. • The sender’s contact information should be included in the letter. The newspaper may call the sender to verify that he or she ac...