Letters to the editor can be GREAT to get info out to large numbers of people. The letters page is the second most widely read page in the newspaper. Journalists read the letters page.
You can write a letter in a few minutes and send it to many newspapers with the press of a single button, with a reasonable likelihood that at least one newspaper will print it. Well worth the effort.
Tips:
* Keep it short and simple. Max. 200 words. Some great letters are just 25-50 words.
* Aim to respond by 1pm on the day of an issue arising.
* File your letters so you can recycle them − this saves heaps of time.
* Most likely to get published if the letter is REACTING to articles or letters in the paper (or to prominent news stories being covered in all the media). Occasionally letters to the editor can GENERATE discussion/debate in the letters page so don’t discount that possibility.
* Most letters can be sent to many newspapers, increased chance of publication. You can send a letter to multiple newspapers with just one email but make sure to use the blind carbon copy (BCC) option. This type of letter is best if an issue is getting widespread coverage across many media outlets.
* The other type of letter is referring to a specific article in a specific newspaper. Reference the article in your letter (in brackets at the end of the first sentence), and don’t use the bcc option (because you want the letters editor to know the letter is specifically for that newspaper).
* Write in the body of the email (not as an attachment). No formatting (no colour, bold etc).
* Make sure to include your name, job/organisation, address, phone number. Occasionally the letters editor will ring to confirm that you are the author of the letter they’re planning to run.
* Avoid making defamatory comments, stick to the issues − see www.foe.org.au/defamation
TEMPLATE
Write yourself a template like this and keep it where you can easily find it (e.g. in a file called LETTERS on your Desktop, and in the same file you can keep your collection of published and unpublished letters for recycling).
Date
Dear Letters Editor,
I would be grateful if you could consider the following letter.
Yours sincerely,
Your name
Your address
Your phone and email
—
TITLE OF LETTER (not essential)
… text of letter …
Your name
Job/organisation (if speaking on behalf of an organisation)
Your suburb/state
EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR LETTERS EDITORS
N.B. SOME OF THE FOLLOWING INFO IS OUT OF DATE — BEST TO COMPILE YOUR OWN LIST OF UP-TO-DATE CONTACTS.
NATIONAL
Australian Financial Review edletters@afr.com.au or via web: www.afr.com/home/letter.aspx
The Australian letters@theaustralian.com.au
Crikey boss@crikey.com.au
VICTORIA
Herald-Sun hsletters@hwt.newsltd.com.au
Sunday Herald Sun shsletters@hwt.newsltd.com.au
The Age letters@theage.com.au
ACT
Canberra Times letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
NSW
Sydney Morning Herald letters@smh.com.au
Daily Telegraph letters@dailytelegraph.com.au or via web www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/your-say
NSW Sunday Telegraph letters@sundaytelegraph.com.au
NT
Northern Territory News ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Alice Springs News alicenews@ozemail.com.au
QUEENSLAND
Courier Mail cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au
Qld Sunday Mail smletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au
SA
Adelaide Advertiser advedit@adv.newsltd.com.au, or via web www.news.com.au/adelaidenow
Sunday Mail mailedit@adv.newsltd.com.au
TASMANIA
Tasmania: Mercury mercuryedletter@dbl.newsltd.com.au
WA
Western Australian letters@wanews.com.au