SF State Budget Central

Image: Photos of SF State students and scenes from around campus

SENDING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WHY LETTERS MATTER

Letters serve three important purposes:

  1. They show assignment editors that readers, listeners and viewers are interested in a topic and letters encourage them to continue to report on that topic. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
  2. Letters to the Editors pages of newspapers and letters segments on TV and radio are popular items. Letters add our angle to the public discussion.
  3. When editors receive numerous letters on a topic they will run one. So even if your letter is not published, it helps to convince the editor to publish one of them.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Keep it short. 50-200 words maximum.
  • Stick to one main point.
  • When possible reference an actual article that appeared or aired on the topic.
  • Express a clear opinion – for/against, right/wrong. Send it right away. After a few days it's too late, the news marches on.


LETTER FORMAT

<date>
<name of newspaper>
<fax or email of newspaper>
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Regarding: <topic, or title/date of article to which you are responding>

Dear Editor,

<TEXT>

Sincerely,
<your name>
<your titles>
<your contact information for the newspaper letters editor>

 

SF State Home