Submit a Letter to the Editor

Capitol Hill staffers follow the news closely to understand what their constituents think about the issues of the day. Getting a letter published in your local paper or online news site can make a huge difference in earning the attention of Congresspeople.

Here are a few tips and guidelines for how you can write an effective Letter to the Editor to change minds and motivate action in the halls of power!

Before You Start: Outlet-specific rules and guidelines

Every news outlet will have its own rules and standards for submission. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the expectations of the specific news source before you write and submit your letter.

You can find these standards by googling the name of the newspaper or outlet along with the phrase “letter to the editor.” Alternatively, you can go directly to the outlet’s website and look for the opinion section of the paper. Just make sure to double-check that the information that comes up is current, and not an outdated set of instructions.

Your best chances will be with local and regional newspapers published near where you live. Editors want to hear from their readers, and you’ll have a better chance of success getting published if you’re speaking to members of your own local or state community.

Drafting Your Letter

These types of letters typically respond to a story, editorial, column, or comment quoted in a news report that the newspaper has recently run. You can respond to that content to refute a point or endorse a position. If you don’t have a story already in mind, you can search the paper for a recent piece on the issue you’re concerned about — and don’t forget, UUSC staff are here to help if you come up empty-handed!

Most editors want letters that respond to an article or commentary they’ve recently published. And by “recently,” some specify just a few days, preferably no longer than a week.

Make sure to include a link to the original newspaper piece within your letter.

Word Count

Letters to the Editor limits are typically between 150 – 250 words. Some newspapers are more flexible. Major outlets are not. Note the word count limit and “write to fit,” cutting and reshaping as needed to fit within their guidelines.

Submission

Some submissions are done only through a newspaper’s online form, and others list an email address for you to send the letter text and your complete contact information.

If you are sending your letter by email, do not send material as an attachment. Include the text within the body of your email.

Editors may follow up with a phone call to confirm your identity and review any suggested edits. Otherwise, they may email you with a “thank you, but no thank you.” Don’t lose heart if you do not hear a positive response. We encourage you to keep trying and reach out to UUSC’s Advocacy Team directly for support if you aren’t making inroads.

Good luck and don’t hesitate to ask for our help!