With some newspapers receiving dozens and even hundreds of letters to the editor each day, you face severe competition in having your letter published. Here’s how to stand out from the crowd and boost your chances of getting your letter published.
1. Carefully read the article you’re responding to
You’ve read the article once and were outraged. Now read it again. If you miss a key point in the original article, you’ll undermine your own argument. The same goes if you accuse the writer of not mentioning something specific, which actually is mentioned somewhere – even if only deep within the article.
The last thing you want to do is appear ignorant to the very people you most want to persuade in your critique. If you don’t take the time to read their article, why should editors extend the same courtesy to you? Remember, these are the people most intimately involved in writing and editing the article you’re upset by. They know it better than anyone. There’s almost zero chance of having your letter published if you’ve missed a crucial detail. Make sure that your argument is water-tight by taking the time to read and re-read the offending article before drafting your response.
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2. Be civil and to the point
Keep your letter brief, short, and respectful. This includes no improper language, personal attacks or going off on tangents. Calling a writer anti-Semitic is counterproductive. Journalists generally consider themselves truth-seekers and impartial. Whether or not this is true, use this to your advantage by outlining things in a factual manner and asking why the article failed to give the whole story. Describe facts that aren’t mentioned, or highlight that it’s missing crucial context.
Also be advised that many publications limit letters to around 150-200 words. If you want your letter published, don’t write much more than that. Editors are highly unlikely to waste their time editing down a lengthy letter when they can just as easily publish a short one.
3. Don’t copy and paste writing from elsewhere into your letter
Newspaper editors are often on the receiving end of letter-writing campaigns, getting numerous copies or variations of the same text. It doesn’t take long for editors to notice a pattern. These letters inevitably all end up being dismissed. In fact, many newspapers expressly write on their websites that they refuse to carry open letters, press releases, or form letters.
If you want to have your letter published, be original and on point. You’ll have a greater chance of seeing your words in print if you mention a specific article and respond to it, rather than make an observation about a general issue or event. If published, this will also have the added benefit of causing the journalist responsible for writing that article to see your words, and help them realise their commitment to the public.
4. Send your letter to just one newspaper
Don’t copy your letter to more than one media outlet. The vast majority of newspapers and websites demand that letters be exclusive. This means that you should carefully select your target audience. Many websites warn that they never publish letters that are known to have been sent elsewhere, and are less likely to run them if they have reason to suspect that you have done so. If you break this rule, be advised that you may end up black-listed.
5. Use your real name
Stand behind your words. Don’t sign using a fictitious name or expect to be published anonymously. Many newspapers ask for contact details – don’t try to avoid this, it will only arouse the editors’ suspicions. Faced with a massive volume of correspondence and in order to prevent fraudulent letters from hitting print, papers understandably have guidelines. Follow them.
