Writing a Letter to the Editor

(A Factsheet adapted from NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota)

Be Brief.

Letters should be no more than 250 words, and in general, shorter letters are more likely to end up in the paper. Short, focused letters are also less likely to be significantly edited.

Hang your letter on a news hook.

Letters that address a specific event—legislation under consideration, a recent anti-choice commentary, a politician’s statement, the anniversary of Roe, et cetera—are more likely to get printed. Editors give priority to letters that address timely events.

Make it controversial and personal.

Even a brief reference to your background—family, community, profession, life experience—can offer a unique take on an issue that has been debated for decades. It can also make your argument more appealing to editors and readers.

Always include your name, address, and telephone number.

Only a name and city will be published (occupations are generally included only if the information has direct relevance to the issue). Phone numbers are not published but are necessary for the paper to contact you to confirm your identity.

Send letters to your local paper and to the larger metro dailies.

A good letter might be printed in both your local paper and one of the large metro dailies (i.e. Capital Times or Journal-Sentinel). If you have the time, it’s a good idea to tailor the message to the paper—e.g., mention local officials’ positions in letters to the local paper. Please also send a copy of your letter to NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin.

Don’t be discouraged if your letter isn’t published.

On controversial subjects, letters are published in proportion to the number received. So even if yours isn’t published, it may help to get another pro-choice letter in the paper.

Write!

The only letters that will definitely not get printed are the ones you never write. The most important thing (and the hardest thing for many of us) is to find time to just sit down and write a letter. If you write to your paper with some frequency, even if you follow none of these tips, you will eventually get published.