There’s a lot to raise your voice about right now when it comes to defending public education. Getting a letter to the editor published is an efficient and easy way for you to identify an issue and communicate your opinion. It’s not hard but in case you need some suggestions or encouragement, read on!
-
Be concise. Newspapers have word limits (The Daily Hampshire Gazette’s is 250.) Concision will allow you to say all you have to say without exceeding the limit. In its Web site, the Gazette states that letters might be edited for length, which means that it’s serious about its limit. If you want to go over the limit, ask the editorial page editor if they’ll accept a column from you.
-
Don’t be surprised or upset if they change the letter, as long as they don’t change its message. Revisions are part of the territory. If they don’t print your letter at all, don’t worry about it. Rejection happens.
-
Don’t submit exposés. Restrict your letter to what the paper has reported.
- No matter how incensed you are about your issue, keep your tone calm. Including a personal story can be a powerful way to bring the issue home to people.
- Link to Gazette opinion page: https://gazettenet.com/Opinion
- Link to Amherst Indy: https://www.amherstindy.org/category/opinion/