Got Ink?
Hints on Getting Your Letters to the Editor Printed
Letters to the editor (LTEs) are a popular section of every newspaper. Many readers are more interested in what fellow citizens are thinking than the formulaic regurgitation of much standard news coverage. Immigration reformers have been getting printed more often in local papers, though with plenty of noise from the opposition. It is reassuring to see one's own letter, as well as others, in print — it is always good to be reminded that there are many other citizens who feel as you do, despite the national condition of neurotic denial.
Politicians in Washington and state capitals regularly read their hometown papers to stay in touch, so it is very likely that your letter will be noted by your elected officials. It's not a bad idea to send a hard copy also, just to make sure they don't miss your important message of population sanity.
Writing letters that get printed is not rocket science. It is a learnable skill. Don't give up if your LTE doesn't see print on the first try. The San Francisco Chronicle receives about 250 letters per day and runs only around 10-12. The New York Times receives around 500. Those are some tough odds so you simply have to persist. Keep at it.
If you are seriously angry and need to write an emotional rant, then fine. Get it out of your system and begin again with a clear mind. (You can send it to Limits To Growth — we understand rants here.) Settle on one or two important points and make them clearly.
Make Strong Points Briefly
You are trying to make a big point in a small space. You have to condense arguments and convince with simple facts, logic and emotion. Remember those important skills from English class — use strong verbs; don't use complicated sentence structure; use active voice. It can be effective to sprinkle short, dramatic sentences among larger ones.
Keep it short: aim to write just three or four paragraphs. Longer letters are published, but rarely. Also, a long piece is much less likely to be read. And those paragraphs should be short — big blocks of type will be skipped by readers. The Chronicle has a 250-word maximum, but most letters on their editorial page are considerably shorter than that. Try to keep it under 200 words for local papers and under 100 words for nationals like the New York Times and Washington Post.
• A really smashing first sentence can be the ticket to success — if you can possibly construct an attention-grabbing opener, you are probably in. At any rate, the first paragraph should clearly introduce your concerns. It is generally good to have a connection to a recent article in the paper or to some current event. Make sure the LTE is clear to someone who hasn't read the originally mentioned article.
• The middle paragraphs are the place to build your case. Bring out examples that support your ideas. If you are quoting facts and figures, it can be very helpful to cite references to convince the letters editor you know your stuff. Use asterisks and have a section below your name and contact information with online or print references.
• Sum up with faultless logic and a zingy one liner. Voilá! Easy, or what?
Increase Your Letter's Reach
Unfortunately, if your letter is not printed, it is likely that only one person, the letters editor, will read it. But there are other ways to increase the effectiveness of your message.
When you refer to an article or editorial from the paper, always be sure to include a copy to that writer when possible. If your cogent communique is not printed, this contact will be the only way the writer can know of your concerns. And if the letter is edited beyond recognition, your real intent will still be communicated to the author.
Should the LTE refer to legislation, include a copy to the email address of the appropriate Senators or Representative.
If the article or editorial to which you are responding was unfair, poorly written or in some way objectionable in a journalistic sense, then definitely send copies to the publisher, managing editor, news editor or editorial page editor, depending on what category is appropriate. If the paper has an ombudsman, then include that reader representative as well. You may wish to remind the luminaries of the high standards of their profession, such as the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics or the Committee of Concerned Journalists: Citizens Bill of Journalism Rights. Take a minute and look around for the appropriate email addresses on the paper's website, generally under a section called Contact Us or something similar. You may have to look at the Site Guide to find this contact information, which is sometimes downright hidden. For example, to get a list of the New York Times staff email addresses, send an email to staff@nytimes.com and you should get an automated list back in a minute.
A very helpful media book is "Who's Covering Washington" which actually has a lot of information about local newspapers in spite of its slightly misleading title, including phone numbers and email addresses. For under $20, it is moderately priced and good to have.
Another good tool is the media information center available on FAIR's website. Go to the following link, and then enter your ZIP code in the box marked Guide to the Media to find a very complete list of newspapers in your general locale. Obviously you can get creative with another ZIP code for a different region.
FAIR Legislative Action Center
With the simple act of copying to appropriate others, you can potentially multiply the effect of your letter many times over.
Other Details
Since you are reading this online, you must have internet access, a situation that makes letter writing infinitely easier. Not only do you save money on paper and stamps, but it is simpler to keep track of what you have sent out and what remains in the figment stage. Usually the paper will include its email address on the Contact information page or will direct you to some form page to insert your text.
Local papers are more likely to print your letter, though only a very few refuse completely to publish anyone from outside their area. Consult a geographically oriented listing (such as Yahoo's) to locate local newspapers you may not know. Those little papers are in communities whose elected representatives have just as much voting power as legislators from big cities.
And don't limit yourself to standard newspapers. Special interest publications offer a niche audience which may be very receptive to the idea of limiting immigration. Motorcycle riders, hunters, historical preservationists and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are possible readers worth pursuing.
Some serious LTE authors keep files of pithy quotes on favorite subjects, like “No matter how cynical you get, it's impossible to keep up” (Lily Tomlin) or “Democracy cannot survive overpopulation” (Isaac Asimov). When you find a cool one-liner, write it down or save it immediately in some way, because no matter how memorable it is, you will forget it by tomorrow.
Does your computer have a built-in thesaurus? My informal polling shows that not everyone has even noticed this most helpful bit of technology in their machine. If you need a print version, my favorite is the Random House Thesaurus, College Edition. It's very usable and has lots of words.
If you are using facts or statistics that might be questioned, cite references after the letter. Online links that back up your point are the best because the letters editor can easily have a look, but using a book with page number is also acceptable. Quoting a report or an expert strengthens your case. Use an asterisk by the item in text to direct the editor to a REFERENCES section below. Demonstrating your knowledge in this way will help overcome any doubts and will get stronger, more factual letters into print. Remember that the letters editor doesn't have a clue who you are or what you know — the burden is on you to show your expertise.
When your letter is done, don't fire it off immediately. Give it a rest for a bit. A fresh look will alert you to phrases that seemed perfectly clear the first time round but are actually a little ambiguous. The reader shouldn't have to read it twice to understand.
Finally, nothing helps more than practice. Forget all the mystique about writing: it is a learnable skill. It goes faster, feels easier and comes out sounding better over time when you write often.
Okay, no more excuses — see you in print!
— by Brenda Walker
FURTHER READING: SOME EXAMPLES
Growing diversity is no joy ride
Dana Garcia writes to the Christian Science Monitor on the point that too much diversity is Babel.
Immigrant Tide
Tim Aaronson effectively uses irony and mathematics to demonstrate the folly of endless immgration-fueled population growth.
Immigration: Is This Progress?
A pair of letters in the Washington Post ask fundamental questions about continued population growth.
Population Glut
More math reality from Tim Aaronson, as he skewers those who remain mired in immigration nostalgia.
Miller Disappointing
The third letter shows well earned criticism for a local Congressman from a constituent. Rep. George Miller is an acknowledged environmental leader in the House of Representatives, yet he votes consistently for American overpopulation via immigration.
