Every person concerned about freedom, taxes, and good governance in Illinois should make an effort to write an occasional letter to the editor if they are able.
Quite simply it is the most effective way to reach the hearts and minds of voters and elected officials and to affect public policy outcomes.
This page is dedicated to helping Illinois citizens become more effective letter to the editor writers and increase the chances of getting published.
List of Illinois papers & letter to the editor submission info.
Letter to the Editor Publishing Tips
2.Be specific. If you're commenting on an article in the paper, mention the day and page number of the article. If you're commenting on a specific political position or speech, restate it briefly. Don't assume the reader knows what you're talking about: Tell them.
3. Stick to one topic. Deal with one issue, article or speech in one letter.
4. Use facts and figures to back up your arguments. Quote other experts who commented on the same subject, especially if the news article did not mention them.
5. The shorter the better. While a word count limit might be 250-300 words if you can get across everything you want to say in 100 words that's even better. Shorter letters can be just as effective and persuasive and the are easier for an editor to place.
6. When possible, compare and contrast. State why your candidate is better and why the other candidate is poor on an issue.
7. Be concise. Short letters are more likely to be printed than lengthy screeds.
8. Be original. Don't sound like everyone else. Use your own voice.
9. When appropriate, use humor.
10. Be grammatically correct. The paper will correct any minor spelling errors, but they won't edit letters where the sentences make no sense.
11. Be positive when appropriate. Don't hesitate to send a complimentary letter to the newspaper for a good editorial or story. Congratulate politicians you agree with.
12. Read your letter out loud. Does it sound good? Does it make sense?
13. Send the letter to more than one newspaper, if appropriate. Smaller papers print letters too. Be careful in doing this, if two local newspapers print the same letter they get very angry at you and refuse to publish you in the future. Make significant changes for each newspaper you send your letter to.
14. Save a copy. Just in case they edit it, you'll know exactly how it was changed.
15. Include all the necessary information about yourself that the newspaper asks for. When sending e-mail, this means your city and telephone number. When sending a letter by mail, make sure it's typed (or legible) with your full return address as well as phone number and signature. This is for your protection, so others can't sign your name to their letter.
16. Keep track of any response you get. If it's a caller who agrees with you, great! You've made a friend. If someone calls you and doesn't give you their name, hang up. If someone calls and politely disagrees, that's fine: Talk to them, and agree to disagree.
17.There are many places to express your opinion, not just letters to the newspaper. There are weekly and monthly magazines. There are Internet web sites, blogs, Usenet newsgroups, and chat rooms. Express yourself, in friendly terms, in conversations with friends or in social situations.
18. State your qualifications, if useful to the letter. Example: "I've been a teacher for 15 years, and Betty McCollum's plan to invest in childhood education excellence is good because in my experience..."
Good luck in getting published!
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