How to write a letter to the editor

A letter to the editor is written by someone from the community who wants to comment on the issues mentioned in a particular edition of a newspaper. The editor selects a few contrasting opinions and publishes them in the next edition

The editor is only going to include your letter if it sparks more debate and interest in the newspaper itself. Beware of the line between satire and offensive language though. Keep it formal, but sizzling!

1. Start your letter with ‘Dear Editor,’ and quote the article that you are writing in response to, and the date it was published.
2. Be up front with your comments about the article. Decide whether you are supporting the issue, expressing a concern, trying to show another side of a one-sided story, or setting the record straight. Make sure you source the facts or opinions you are using in your letter. E.g. ‘The 2006 Census showed that…’
3. Make your strongest points first. Not only does this give your letter more impact, but if the editor shortens your letter, the final paragraphs are usually the ones left out.
4. End with ‘Sincerely, your name.’ You might want to include a line underneath that explains who you are or your hometown, e.g.: ‘Connie Jones, HSC Student’ Newspapers try to show a range of points of view, so being young can work to your advantage!
5. Once you’ve poured your heart out onto paper (or screen), walk away and come back in a different frame of mind to edit. Make sure that what you’ve said is easy to follow, to-the-point, well backed up with facts, and uses formal language. A good way to check if you’ve ticked all these boxes is to get a friend or family member to read your letter and see if they get what you meant.
6. Spell-check your letter and make sure it is double-spaced. Your letter will need to meet the particular newspaper’s formatting guidelines. These are usually shown on the letters to the editor page.
7. The guidelines might ask for your personal and contact details. This is because they may contact you to check that you, and not someone pretending to be you, wrote the letter. If you don't want your name published, tell the editor by adding a note before or after the letter itself. E.g. ‘P.S. I would like to remain anonymous so please don’t publish my name.’
8. Post, fax or e-mail your letter to the address listed by the newspaper.

Where should I send letters to the editor?

If you are responding to a local newspaper, you will have to get the editor’s address from the newspaper itself – this info will be located on the page where the letters to the editor are printed. For a full listing of Australian newspapers and their contact details go to: http://www.nla.gov.au/npapers/ The contact information for some of the bigger papers for each state are listed below:

National Papers:
The Australian email to: letters@theaustralian.com.au

 

The Financial Review  www.afr.com/home/letter.aspx


Victoria:
The Age email to:  feedback@theage.com.au

The Herald Sun www.news.com.au/heraldsun/editorial/letter/

New South Wales:
Sydney Morning Herald  email to: letters@smh.com.au 

Daily Telegraph email to: news@dailytelegraph.com.au  

Queensland:
Courier-Mail www.news.com.au/couriermail/editorial/letter/

South Australia:
Advertiser www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/news/opinion/sendletter  

Western Australia:
West Australian www.thewest.com.au/LetterToTheEditor.aspx

Tasmania:
The Mercury www.themercury.com.au/opinion/
letter-to-the-editor-submit.html

The Examiner http://iframe.examiner.com.au/letterstotheeditor/addopinion.asp?class=your%20say 

The ACT:
Canberra Times www.canberratimes.com.au/content/writetous/

The Northern Territory:
Northern Territory News and other NT media

www.ntnews.com.au/feedback/letters_feedback.html