| Want to get on the air? Try writing a letter to the | | | | publishes. Notice the structure, length and style of |
| editor of your local newspaper! | | | | the letters and use that as a guide when you write. |
| Why? When I was a local radio and TV reporter, one | | | | Make your letter short, direct and catchy. Reference |
| of the newsroom daily duties was reading the | | | | the article you agree or disagree with and briefly |
| Letters to the Editor sections of the area | | | | explain why. Show why you are "in the know" about |
| newspapers. It is a good place to find potential news | | | | this subject by including your background or |
| sources, identify little-known local experts and get | | | | experience with a simple sentence like, "In my 20 |
| ideas for different story angles about the news of | | | | years delivering the mail," or, "When I was a high |
| the day. | | | | school teacher in the 80s." Add a missing fact, an |
| We liked to check the letters because it was clear a | | | | unanswered question or give a quick anecdote that |
| letter writer cared about a topic. After all, they took | | | | supports your point of view. |
| the time to write about it. You could also determine a | | | | The editorial section is one of the most widely read |
| little about their personality from how they | | | | and respected parts of a newspaper. You will be |
| expressed themselves and their ideas. | | | | surprised how many people around town tell you |
| Perhaps the writer was an expert who disagreed | | | | they saw your letter. It is possible the newspaper |
| with the expert quoted in a recent article or | | | | may even call you for their next story on the topic. |
| someone who had had a different experience from | | | | Local radio or TV stations may want to interview |
| the one featured in a news report. Here they were | | | | you or add your name to their contact list as an |
| going on the record in print with a particular opinion, a | | | | expert for future news stories. |
| compliment or a criticism, offering new information or | | | | Am I sure local radio or TV reporters will call, if your |
| a new perspective. | | | | letter gets printed? No. Serious publicity-seekers |
| Best of all, they put their name on it. Today, you | | | | would never make writing letters their only PR |
| often see an email address after their name where | | | | strategy. Still, getting your name in the paper could |
| you could contact them. How easy is that? (Before | | | | open doors in unexpected ways. |
| the Internet, I would telephone every "John Brown" | | | | If you care about something in the news, want to |
| in the phone book looking for a particular letter | | | | add to the community's understanding of an issue |
| writer.) | | | | and/or want to do a little light-handed self-promotion, |
| Will the editor print the letter you write? Maybe. | | | | weigh in with your own ideas in your own words. |
| Maybe not. Here are some tips: Read the letters | | | | Write a letter to the editor and see what happens. |
| section often to get a feel for what the editor | | | | |