How to Draw Attention
There are influential people in your community, often with the power to make the change you seek. It may seem surprising, but you can often draw attention to a topic or a policy—and essentially talk directly to them—by writing a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.
After all, who reads the editorial pages of newspapers most closely?39 Elected officials, decision makers within your community, and local media. That’s right, writing a short letter to the editor is a powerful and often underutilized way to help create change. Elected leaders often figure out what to prioritize by reading their local editorial pages, so getting your voice in those outlets can have a big impact. Since these letters must be short, writing a letter to the editor is fun and relatively easy. Here are some tips:
Do your research.
Do a little online search to see which local papers in your area accept letters to the editor. This can include daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, and neighborhood papers, too. Search online to find their submission criteria, including the maximum number of words and how to submit your letter to the editor. If the information isn’t obvious online, find their main phone number and call to ask. (Many papers also print short responses to letters to the editor as well, so this could be another option for you to ask about.)
Typically, effective letters to the editor are roughly 150–200 words. Be sure to check with your local paper for their word limits and submission guidelines.
Think before you type.
Decide on one main point you want to get across, and find one fact as well as one short story to back it up. A personal experience is powerful if you can fit it in. If you’re having trouble with your draft, contact an organization that works on the policy area that you’re writing about, and they’ll likely be overjoyed to help you with finding a fact, reviewing your draft, or assisting with anything else that you may need.
Be concise.
When you start writing be sure to make one point, at most two, in your letter. Use an active tense and try to start with a catchy opening.
Keep it current.
Mentioning something that’s been in the news in the past couple of days significantly increases your chances of getting published. You can also mention a recent specific article or letter that appeared in their paper, and refer to the title, date, or author.
If you use a fact, share where you found it. I always like to keep the links to the facts handy so I can easily find the fact again—and I usually share the link to the fact with the paper, too.
Be nice.
Avoid attacking reporters or the newspaper. It’s fine to refute specific statements, but do so politely if you want to get printed. This is especially important when responding to a previously published letter to the editor from an opposing viewpoint.
Be relevant.
Connect the issue to the community. If you’re writing about a national issue, then share what it means to your local area.
Be inspired.
You only have to write 150–200 words, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Have fun with it! To get an idea of the tone and length of what’s being published, take a quick look at the letters to the editor that the paper has printed in the last month. It’ll give you ideas and inspire you to put your own words to paper.
An effective next step is to get a writing group going. Hold a writing party, host a writing circle, or make letters to the editor part of your monthly #KeepMarching agenda. (There are tips on how to start a #KeepMarching Circle in the conclusion.) Often local papers limit the number of letters to the editor that they’ll print from one person per year, so getting others to also write is not only fun but also a highly effective way to amplify your impact. In order to help encourage people to write, you can share the talking points and facts you pulled together to write your letter to the editor.
Writing a letter to the editor is a great way to get your point across, be heard by leaders at the top, sway public opinion, and have an impact with a very small number of words. I highly recommend it.