Writing Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor are an easy quick way to share your opinions. A letter should remain short, focused, and only have one central point. You should also address a specific article, editorial, or op-ed in the newspaper and it is important to send the letter in as quickly as possible (preferably the same day the article appears in the newspaper). Each specific newspaper will have its own regulations, that you can usually find of their website, but you should expect to write a piece that is about 150 words and to include your contact information for verification purposes.

Here are some quick tips:
• Keep it short and to the point
• Address a specific article, editorial, or op-ed
• Write and send the letter ASAP
• Follow the newspaper’s specific letter to the editor regulations
• If you are submitting to a Jewish paper, try to submit it on a Thursday or Friday

For an interesting article on how to write a letter to the editor take a look at an article titled, “Editors’ Note; The Letters Editor and the Reader: Our Compact, Updated,” from The New York Times.