How to Write a Letter to the Editor

By: the National Domestic Violence Hotline

Domestic violence tragedies and stories often make the headlines of local newspapers, but unfortunately, these stories are not always reported with accurate information and leave out details that might otherwise shed light on a subject of great importance.

Has a recent event or tragedy in your community inspired you to get your message out to your community via a letter to the editor? Well, a letter to the editor is one of the best and easiest ways to send a message out to your community. Here are a few things to consider when writing your letter to ensure your letter is effective:

• Call the newspaper to find out its circulation and what kind of coverage they have done on your issue in the past. Ask if the newspaper wants your letter to be faxed, mailed or sent via email. Also inquire about the preferred length for letters to the editor. Keep paragraphs down to one or two sentences.
• Find a focus. Most newspapers only want to print feedback/criticism/praise for stories and opinion columns that appeared recently.
• Once you have decided on a specific topic, make an outline. Present your case immediately following the opening sentence. If a news event did not provide the full story, give the full story. If someone gave a misleading or unclear message, make it clear for the readers.
• Close the letter with a call to action for the general public. For example, writing a legislator if the letter is about proposed legislation. It is very important to include this in your letter.
• Be sure to include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Most newspapers will not publish anonymous letters because they do not lend enough credibility. Your address is important because newspapers like to publish letters from local readers. Your phone number is necessary so the newspaper can verify that you actually wrote it.