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HOW DO I...
A GUIDE TO WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the editor are one of the easiest and best ways to get unfiltered messages on particular topics out to the public. The letters to the editor section of the paper is one of the most widely read sections and since the letters are written by average citizens, they often lack the political bias of the paper in which they are printed. Here are some guidelines to help you with your letter.
Writing Your Letter
- Be concise – Shorter letters are more likely to be published than longer ones. In addition, most people read shorter letters first and then, if time permits, read the longer ones. If the editor does choose to publish a longer letter, the letter may be edited to an appropriate length. It’s better for you to do your own editing before you send the letter, so important points are not left out.
- Address only one issue per letter.
- Your letter should be structured as follows: 1) summarize the issue that you are writing about, briefly, in the first paragraph 2) state your position on the issue 3) present your evidence – tell the readers why you feel the way you do 4) close with a short restatement of your position.
- Use facts, figures and testimony from credible sources whenever possible.
- Do not be afraid to show some emotion.
- Do not be abusive – Editors tend to disregard letters of this nature.
- End your letter with some call to action for the public if appropriate. For example, “Call or write your representative . . .”
- Be sure to include your contact information including your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters are not deemed credible and are rarely printed. Including your address is important because it lends more credibility to your letter in the eyes of elected officials. It is also very important to include your phone number because many papers will call to verify that you wrote the letter before they publish it.
Submitting Your Letter
- Newspapers typically list postal and e-mail addresses for submitting letters to the editor on their editorial pages or websites. Use websites and e-mail whenever possible to shorten the time between possible publication and the event which you are writing.
Click here for information about newspapers in North Texas and where to send your letters to their editors.
- You can also send your letter via fax or snail mail.
- Make sure to include your contact information (phone number, address, and e-mail if available) so the newspaper can verify that you sent the letter. When sending a letter to a university/college newspaper, include your major of study and current year in school. Allows include a signature in letters sent through snail mail or fax.
After Publication
- Clip your letter and any other identifying information (header of page, name of newspaper, and date) from the paper. Then photocopy the letter and other information on one page and send to your elected official(s). *Include a note that you are a constituent in their district.*
- Let PPNT know about your accomplishment! E-mail us at info.public@ppnt.org or call our office at (214) 363-2004 and tell us about your letter.
Sample Letters
To the Editor:
In a huge step forward for women's health, the FDA approved over- the-counter access to emergency contraception for women 18 and older one year ago. But the fact is that too many women are still being denied access to this essential form of contraception at their pharmacy counter.
EC is a safe, effective backup birth control option and every woman deserves every chance to prevent an unintended pregnancy. EC is more effective the sooner it's taken — that's why it's critical that pharmacies stock it and provide it promptly. Some women live miles from the next pharmacy and a referral to another pharmacy causes needless delays, increasing the risk for an unintended pregnancy.
Contraception is basic health care for women, and the bottom line is that any woman at any age should be able to walk into any pharmacy, anywhere in the country, and get EC without discrimination or delay.
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To the Editor:
One year ago, the FDA granted over-the-counter status for Plan B emergency contraception for women 18 and older. Emergency contraception is a woman's second chance to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, as a result of sexual assault, contraceptive failure, or any other reason,
While research has shown that over-the-counter access to EC does not increase or encourage sexual activity among teens, the FDA still requires teens 17 and younger to get a prescription. The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy among the most developed countries — an estimated 750,000 will get pregnant this year. Shouldn't we do all we can to help protect our teens from unintended pregnancies?
The bottom line is that contraception is basic health care for women, and it should be available to every woman who needs it, whenever she needs it.
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