Writing to newspapers

The following guidelines seems to produce reasonable success at getting letters published by the media. If any letters editors would like to offer further guidance, please get in touch!

Focus

Write a separate letter for each paper - the editors prefer it and different styles of letter are appropriate for different papers. The theme and central ideas of each letter can be similar but the actual text should not be identical.

Tabloids generally seem to want short, more opinionated snippets. Broadsheets or quality papers are more likely to accept a longer letter with more detail and justification. It helps to read the letters page of the paper to get an idea about the length and style that they prefer.

Concentrating on one or two papers may be better than a broad mailshot as you can learn their preferred style and the political viewpoints - and hence arguments - to which the editor may be more sympathetic.

Introduction

Start with a short introductory paragraph that links to a current article in the newspaper to which you are writing.

Body

In the main body, try to put different points in separate paragraphs that are capable of standing alone so that the editor can easily remove sections if desired.

Closing

Close with a short paragraph that either concisely summarises your opinion or demands some particular action.

Contact

Finish with your name, full address and phone number. Some papers, such as the Times and Guardian, will phone to check that you really exist and did actually send the letter yourself.

Post script

After the letter, include full references and URLs for all facts and assertions - they won't be included in the printed version but allow editors to check that you are not trying to get them to print rubbish.

Sending

If possible, send the letter before early afternoon - and preferably much earlier - so that it can appear the next day while the article to which it relates is still topical. Reading the papers online when they are updated shortly after midnight can give you a head start for getting the letter included before the editor runs out of space.