Advice for Letters to the Editor

[SteppingRazor]

Folks --

I've been getting lots of letters about the Downing Street memo story. Nearly all of them illustrate what NOT to do when writing letters to the editor.

From one with the subject line "How can you ignore the Downing Street Memo?":

"Dear so called media professional,

Why aren't you all over this story?

The media made us suffer endless, tittle-tattle coverage when President Clinton got caught cheating on his wife. Well now President Bush has been caught cheating and lying to every man, women and baby in America. Is this not news? Eighty-nine members of the U.S. Congress think so:
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/05/11/britain.war.memo/"


Another one seemed polite at first, then carried the snarky P.S. "While a runaway bride may appear more news worthy, the war in Iraq has real consequences."



This is just a small sampling -- out of several dozen letters, nearly all of them reflected this tone. Folks, if you want to be taken seriously, you have to be serious. Please keep that in mind. It's the best advice I can give about these letters. No media professional is going to take seriously a letter that begins "Dear so-called media professional."
What you think of journalists doesn't matter. If you want the stories you care about to get some attention through the letters you write, you have to treat people with just a touch more respect. Otherwise, you'll just be ignored.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. How about "Dear christo-fascist corporate lapdog"?

:)

[SteppingRazor]

4. Touche!

;)

[EFerrari]

2. someone really said, "dear so called media professional"?

Geeze. There should be a rule: "If you don't know I'm not your parents, you won't be published."

[MADem]

3. I agree with everything you said, times ten!

Often, the best way to write the first draft of these letters is from the point of view of someone on the opposite side of the political spectrum from yourself...that tends to calm you down. If you feel angry, tone it down to disappointment. Ask questions, don't accuse. Stay fact-based, do not ascribe motives.

It is hard as hell to do, but when you do it right, you see your letter in the paper.

Also, I have a four paragraphs, max, rule. Three is better, but if the subject is complex, I will go to four.

Write it, put it away, come back, read it again, edit, put it away, read it, and if you like it, send it.

[Ilsa]

5. I think all LTTEs should be restricted to issues.

I'm sick of personal bashing and name-calling on our Opinions page in the paper.

[bryant69]

6. Well probably if said letters aren't an attack on their profession

they might like the heat. I mean, sad as it is, angry partisan letters are popular, apparently.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com