Writing a Letter to the Editor
Tips for Writing a Letter
Be sure to provide all your contact information in the spaces provided. Some editors may have questions about your letter and need to contact you and many papers will not publish a letter without them knowing name, address, and phone number of the author.
Be sure to choose a topic that matters to you. Passion is important. The talking points provided are there to provide an outline of the issue and to serve as a starting point to your own letter. Your letter will have more merit and will be more likely to be published if it is in your own words.
Focus on relevent issues in the news, particularly those that were recently published in the paper you are writing. If possible, cite a specific article. The more recent your topic made news the more likely you are to be published.
Finally, keep your letter concise. Different newspapers have varying word requirements, with the shortest being 150 words, and some ranging up to 250 words. A letter to the editor should be brief and to the point.
DETROIT FREE PRESS: letters@freepress.com
DETROIT NEWS: letters@detnews.com
LANSING STATE JOURNAL: opinions@lsj.com Election letters are limited to 100 words. Deadline for election letters is 5 p.m. Oct. 25. They will be published until Oct. 31.
LIVINGSTON DAILY PRESS & ARGUS: Click here
OAKLAND PRESS: vop@oakpress.com or click here.
FLINT JOURNAL: letters@flintjournal.com or click here.
CLINTON COUNTY COMMUNITY NEWS: slounds@gannett.com
INGHAM COUNTY COMMUNITY NEWS: cbleck@gannett.com
OBSERVER AND ECCENTRIC: bkadrich@hometownlife.com
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT: Click here.
