Smart People Can Write Letters to the Editor Too!

Have you ever read the letters to the editor in a newspaper and been bowled over by how ignorant people are? Have you ever sat at the breakfast table mumbling to yourself about how the world would be a better place if people would just listen to you? Well...why aren't you doing something about it? If you're intelligent, your chances of getting your opinions published in the paper are very very very good. All you need to do is whip up a quick email!

Margaret and I have each had several letters to the editor published in our local papers over the last few years. In fact, look for Margaret's letter to the editor in tomorrow's Sacramento Bee (May 1).

Here are some tips for getting your letters published in the Sacramento Bee (taken from sacbee.com):

Keep it brief -- 200-word limit
The best letters are short and limited to a single point. The average length of a published letter is around 150 words. Yes, we publish letters that are longer, but we publish many more that are shorter. In any case, letters are likely to be condensed in the editing process.

Make it timely
Your letter should refer to a recent event and arrive within two weeks following the event. It is not required, but it helps if you can reference a story in The Bee.

Pace yourself
Letter writers are limited to one letter a month. We count that month as 30 days from the publication date of your last letter.

Use e-mail
Since letters received electronically don't require re-typing, there is less delay between when the letter is sent and when it appears.

You still need to include your full name, street address and daytime phone number.

The e-mail address is opinion@sacbee.com.




 
posted by Chris at 2:49 PM