How to Write a Letter to the Editor

Source: Wisconsin State Journal

By Thomas W. Still
Associate Editor
Wisconsin State Journal

We welcome letters of 200 or fewer words on matters of public interest. "Public interest" means topics that are potentially of interest to a wide audience. That normally precludes "thank you" letters or letters dealing with personal matters. The shorter the letter, the better the chances of publication.

• All letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number for verification purposes. That includes E-mail letters. Only names and hometowns will be published.
  
  
• If possible, the letter should be typed. Handwritten letters are fine, however, and our Opinion page staff agrees those are often among the best letters we receive. People who write in longhand tend to think before they write, and they keep their letters short.
  
  
• Letters are subject to editing (length, grammar and basic facts) and not all can be run. Roughly one-third of the letters we receive by mail are published. The publication ratio is much lower for E-mail letters. Why? Not everyone who communicates via E-mail writes in complete sentences, knows when to stop writing and remembers to include an address and phone number. We also receive a number of E-mail letters from out-of-state, which fall in line behind letters from people close to home.
  
  
• Factors such as space, timeliness and the number of letters on the same subject limit how many letters can be run,. The first half-dozen letters on a topic might merit publication; Letter No. 63 is likely to sound much like those that came before it. We run letters to the editor almost every day, however, and we're one of the few daily newspapers in the country to devote an entire page to reader views. Our Saturday "Your Opinion" page has been a fixture for more than 20 years.

Other commonly asked questions about letters to the editor, guest columns and our Caller Ideas line:

• Will the State Journal accept letters via fax? Yes, but not routinely. Faxed letters don't necessarily get published any faster than letters received by snail mail. If it's really urgent, give us a call.
  
  
• How long does it take for a letter to be published? It depends on the length of the letter and how timely it is. Some letters have longer shelf lives than others; shorter letters can find space more easily. A rule of thumb: From your mailbox to our page usually takes a week or less, unless we've got a backlog.
  
  
• Does the State Journal print letters with which we disagree? Practically every day. We look for a mix of opinions and points of view.
  
  
• Can readers write us on a regular basis? Of course, but in order for the paper to print that wide variety of viewpoints, a writer cannot expect to see more than one letter of his or hers published per month.
  
  
• Who gets to write guest columns? Over the years, our guest columnists have ranged from the governor to a homeless man and hundreds of citizens in between. Guest columns are not just overwritten letters; they are compelling opinion pieces that our editors believe are deserving of the extra space. If you submit a guest column, try to include a picture of yourself (other readers enjoy seeing the face behind the byline) and some information about your background. For example: John Smith is a dairy farmer who lives near Stoughton.
  
  
• When I call the Caller Ideas line, it only gives me a minute to talk Why? Because if it takes more than a minute, your opinion is probably better presented in a letter to the editor. Caller Ideas is intended for quick thoughts and suggestions.
  
  
• What happens if I forget to clip this article and have questions later? The basics about how to write us are printed every day in the "Please get in touch" box on the Opinion page.

We hope to hear from you soon.