You’ve probably seen the email: Crystal is calling on membership to write letters to the editor (LTEs) to generate support for an issue or candidate. Writing a public, published letter can seem daunting if you’ve never done it before–but you can do it, and we want to make sure you have the tools to get it done!
It’s critically important that we elevate more Democratic voices in the county and beyond. Whether it’s responding to Andy Harris’s latest antics, expressing an opinion about other local candidates, or rebutting another editorial, LTEs are a tool we must be using to rally support and increase visibility of Democrats and the issues we care about.
Our goal is to create a regular pipeline of LTE content to local publications. When multiple people write in about the same topic, the editor will recognize that a segment of their readers are opposed or support a particular candidate, issue, or legislation. This could result in an opinion piece by the editor or a news story exploring our viewpoint.
Here are a few tips to help get you started:
- Follow the posted guidelines. Most publications publish those guidelines on the “Letter to the Editor” page.
- Include your details. Full name, your town, plus any affiliation that might put your opinion in perspective, i.e. local teacher, parent, business owner, service worker.
- Keep it short! Concise writing means a better chance of getting published and getting read. Use simple sentences and avoid the passive tense. Aim for 200 words or less.
- Focus on facts, but also keep it personal. If you are responding to an editorial or news story, do not complain that it was inaccurate or question the author’s integrity. Just focus on the viewpoint you want to express.
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Build your letter on a template:
- Clearly state the subject of your letter up front in the first sentence.
- Clarify your position (whether you agree or disagree) in the next paragraph.
- Support your position with some examples and/or statistics.
- Promote a solution: call for new legislation, ask for more support of civic groups, or suggest other productive approaches to solving the problem.
Most importantly, be sincere and be yourself. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not published the first time. Keep trying and keep submitting. You’re contributing important work to this effort!
For some more tips on writing LTEs that stand out, check out this excellent piece from the team at Indivisible, which includes some great sample phrases.
For more information:
- Visit our Local Media Outlet Contact Information page to see where to send your LTEs.
- Visit our Contact Your Elected Representatives page to write directly to your officials.
- Visit our Andy Harris Watch page for numerous reasons to write an LTE.
Source: Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques by Dennis L. Wilcox and Bryan H. Reber; submitted by Ronnie Gunnerson, QAC Dems member.