We all have excellent angles to comment on the mishandling of Katrina, our preparedness, our National Guard, our environment etc.
Getting our converging point-of-views through the Media with LTEs is the best way to channel the energy we're getting here into action.
So check out, bookmark and distribute these tips to Write Letters to the Editors that have more chances of getting published (the tips include a link to the Media Database to find local papers to target), and get to work.
And to make sure more Kossaks see this primer and learn the ropes, please Recommend this Diary and Reply to it with extra relevant info: other tips & suggestions, sample letters, newspaper stories to respond to, etc.
See a good sample from this compilation below the fold...
Why Writing Letters to the Editor?
The "Letters to the editor" page is a popular and widely-read section of any newspaper, assuring letter writers a wide audience for their views.
From the newspaper's point of view, letters help the editors decide which topics to cover in future news stories or editorials. So even if your letter doesn't get printed, it may influence the editors, or help get a similar viewpoint printed.
Even more important, elected officials carefully monitor this section along with the editorial page to gauge local opinion.
Where/whom/how to send it?
Before submitting a letter, check with your local newspaper (or its website) for its guidelines.
You can use this Media Database to locate your newspaper contact information
Direct your missives to "Letters to the Editor," and be sure to include your contact information: full name, address, phone number and e-mail address (most publications will want to call to confirm that you wrote the letter before they publish it).
There's more...
Make it short, focused, and real
Try to keep your letter under 150 words - under 100 words for big papers. Most papers won't accept submissions longer than 200 or 250 words, and long letters are also more likely to be edited -- it's better that you do your own editing. Besides, most people read the shorter letters first (don't you?) and then perhaps later read the longer ones. Thus your shorter letter has a better chance of being published and read than a long, meandering one.
Stick to a single subject. Deal with one issue per letter.
Open with a specific reference to a recent news story, editorial, or previous letter, no older than a few days.
Present your experience of an issue in the news. A (brief) personal story will make your letter compelling. Or mention your perspective on the issue ("As a mother of two, ...")
Working a local reference into your letter also helps (mentioning your city or community, or a local personality or elected representative).
There's a lot more...
See the Full Compilation here, where I'll maintain it regularly.
And check these other entries from our activism toolkit: Gathering signatures, Door-belling
And if you think this is useful, remember to make sure more Kossaks see this primer and learn the ropes, by Recommending this Diary and Replying with extra relevant info: other tips & suggestions, sample letters, newspaper stories to respond to, etc.