Tips for Writing a Letter for the Editor
In many newspapers the Letters to the Editor, or "LTEs," are the most widely read part of the paper, after the front page. Here are some LTE tips.
• Be personal. The reader should know how and why the issue of climate change affects you, your family and your community.
• Be creative. By using a counter-intuitive argument or an interesting or humorous turn-of- phrase you will catch the editor's attention.
• Choose your words carefully. A short, pithy letter-to-the-editor may not be edited at all; it's your opportunity to get your message directly to the public.
• Steer clear of extreme rhetoric. By going too far with your point of view you can alienate people who support your position and share your values.
• Follow the rules. Most papers list certain guidelines to follow when contributing a letter. Follow these guidelines closely or your letter may get tossed before it is even read.
• Follow-up. With a smaller paper, it will often help to call the person responsible for the letters-to-the-editor after you mail it. If they can connect a real person with the letter is it much more likely to get printed.
• Relate climate issues to people's daily lives. Quoting legal language or policy studies can cause eyes to glaze. Effective public outreach uses common sense language, incorporating real people and places.
