Volunteer


Newspaper and Letter Squad


Writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper is a great way to help heal the culture. Letters to the editor serve to educate subscribers, inform newspapers of their readers' values, and call local leaders to responsible action.

In general, letters should be less than 300 words, should be positive, and should include your name, address, and phone number (so that the newspaper can verify that you actually wrote the letter). Typically, letters can be submitted by postal mail or electronically, but most newspapers are more likely to publish letters written by people who actually subscribe to their paper. Consult your newspaper editorial page for specific instructions.

We have found that the following advice tends to increase your chances of being published:

  • Follow all rules laid out by your paper's guidelines.
  • Submit the letter electronically AND by postal mail at the same time.
  • Do not submit a letter to more than one paper, unless one paper refuses to print it.
  • If your letter deals with a time-sensitive issue (for example, if it is in response to something that you just read in the paper), write your reply immediately. Waiting more than a day (or two at the most) will significantly decrease the likelihood of being published.
  • Include a very short, personal cover letter thanking the editor and encouraging him or her to publish your letter.
  • Telephone the head of the editorial page on the same day that you write the letter, to tell him or her that a letter is on its way and to encourage him or her to publish it. While this is not required, our statistics show that the personal phone call increases the chances that your letter will be published simply by drawing more attention to it.
  • Do not write more than six times a year. If you do, the editor may stop taking you seriously, thinking that you just want a place to vent frustrations.
  • Letters should embrace the very spirit that you are trying to encourage. In other words, if you are seeking a culture of common cause, love, hope, faith, and good will, then your letter should be written in a spirit of common cause, love, hope, faith, and good will. Your letter should never attack, dehumanize, insult, threaten, or divide. Always assume the best intentions on the part of those to whom the letter is directed -- especially if your letter is directed to the newspaper itself. Seeing the best in people is more likely to bring the best out of them. Insulting people with rude, angry, defensive, or unkind remarks, even if they are clever and humorous, will likely harden the division that already exists, and may even anger people who would otherwise agree with you in principle.
  • If your letter is published, send a very short 'thank you' letter, email, or voicemail.
  • Please send an electronic copy of your published letter to Healing the Culture. We occasionally print the best letters on our website!

Included on this webpage are essays that discuss pro-life issues and the Life Principles (under Life Principles Library in the Resources tab in the menu above). You may feel free to use these resources in writing your letters.

If you would like a Healing the Culture consultant to review or edit your letter, or to make suggestions, send your letter and a $20 suggested donation to: Healing the Culture, P.O. Box 82842, Kenmore, WA 98028; Attn: Letters to the Editor.