Writing Letters to the Editors and Op-Eds UCONN ADVOCATES encourages members to submit a letter to the editor or an op-ed to their local newspaper. Both are very effective ways to increase public awareness about the importance of higher education. See our sample letters and points to include for ideas and formats. WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR The most effective strategy to ensure getting a letter to the editor published is to be a regular reader of the newspaper and to respond quickly to a specific story. Look for any article to which you can draw a link to the issue. Your letter may be edited, so realize from the onset that you should be concise, to the point, and as clear in your statement as possible. If responding
to an article, include a few passionate comments about why you
agree or disagree with the article. Be certain that one sentence: Keep letters to the editor less than 250 words. As in other opportunities for communicating your position, state your case through positive, not argumentative, language. Proofread, then proofread again. Find out the preferred or optional delivery methods (fax, e-mail, or mail) available to submit the letter. Address the letter to "letters to the editor" at the address of the paper's main office, unless the editorial page directions specify otherwise. Be sure to include your name, address, home and business phone numbers and sign the letter. Papers will verify with you that you sent the letter before running it. Watch the paper for approximately 2-3 weeks to see if your letter gets printed. If it does, send a copy to the university. Don't be discouraged if it is not printed. Not all letters are accepted. If you follow up with a second letter, you have doubled your chances for it to be printed. Side tip: Get others to write about the same issue. The more a paper hears from people on an issue, the more likely it is they will print a response. Op-Eds are an opportunity for you to get your opinion printed in the paper. Op-Eds refers to "opposite editorial" and are usually 750-1,000 words articles that appear adjacent to the editorial page. Op-Eds vary on topics, but most relate to topical issues of interest to the readers. Choose a topic that relates to the time of year and focus your narrative on specific, timely topics. Be sure that the issue is of great interest in your community. Be certain of any data or references you make in the text. As with other written materials, have others you have confidence in read the article for clarity and accuracy. As with any written materials -- proofread, proofread, proofread. Send the Op-Ed with a cover letter explaining your purpose in writing the piece. Be prepared to edit the article as requested. Send the article to only one paper. If the first paper you choose doesn't run your Op-Ed, try a weekly newspaper or specialized publication (newsletter, community paper, alumni magazine, or others).
The following is a list of e-mail addresses of local Connecticut newspapers where Letters to the Editor can be submitted: Bristol Press: 99
Main Street Connecticut
Post: 410 State Street Danbury News-Times: 333
Main Street Hartford Courant: Letters,
The Courant Journal Inquirer :
Attention: Keith Burris, Opinion Page Editor Meriden Record
Journal: 11 Crown Street Middletown
Press: 2 Main Street New Britain
Herald: One Herald Square New Haven
Register: 40 Sargent Drive New London
Day: P.O. Box 1231 Norwich Bulletin: 66
Franklin St Stamford Advocate: 75
Tresser Boulevard Torrington
Register Citizen: 190 Water Street Waterbury
Republican American: 389 Meadow Street Willimantic
Chronicle: 1 Chronicle Road |
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