Write a letter to the editor

Write a letter to the editor.

A great way to spread the word and educate.

Topics that continue to be a priority. Feel free to use for ideas or use your own.

1. Pentagon budget & cost of F-35s vs. needs for Coronavirus relief and healthcare.  The destructive part of the military is massive and unneeded
2. Hospital flyovers by military jets are wasteful when we need medical supplies (doctors, nurses, staff, clinics, hospitals, ventilators, masks and other equipment)
3. The Air Force ignored our input and their own analysis when making their decision. The process was a sham, just for public relations to pacify the community.
4. Military pollution, PFAS toxic forever chemicals and burn pits
5. False promise of local jobs

Read this Wisconsin State Journal article on the impact of your letters.

With a rotation of letters we can be sure to more consistently get letters in.  A rotation helps us avoid having a bunch of letters go in at one time and having periods where no letters are submitted.

If you would like to write a letter for us, please send us your contact information: name and  e-mail address.  We will let you know when it is your turn.

• For background … Safe Skies – No F-35’s Website  Use the search function to search for your topic.

• Writing tips below.

 

We will gladly give you feedback if you want it.

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Variety of papers you may submit to: 

Madison Area… 

Capital Times – Submit online

+ The letter writer’s name and hometown will be published. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.

+ We do not print letters that have been copied from advocacy websites or organizations.

Wisconsin State Journal – Submit online

200 word limit

Northside News 

https://www.northsidenews.org/

Eastside News 

https://www.goodmancenter.org/services/eastside-news

Isthmus

e-mail to…

edit@isthmus.com

200 words max

Badger Herald (students and community)

Daily Cardinal 

Letter to the Editor – The Daily Cardinal

https://www.dailycardinal.com/page/letter-to-the-editor

Madison College Clarion

https://www.theonlineclarion.com/submit-a-letter/

400 words max

https://www.hngnews.com/monona_cottage_grove/site/forms/online_services/letter/

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National 

The Nation Magazine

The Progressive Magazine 

Washington Post Letters to the Editor

NY Times Letter to the Editor

other Wisconsin … 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Submit on line

+ Generally, we limit letters to 200 words.
+ Name, street address and daytime phone are required.
+ We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.

Green Bay Press-Gazette – Submit on line

+ A letter must include your first and last name, complete address and daytime phone number. Only your name and community will be published. Anonymous contributions, pseudonyms and first initials are not allowed. Contributors whose identities cannot be verified to our reasonable satisfaction may be required to submit further identification or their contributions will be withheld from publication.

+ We publish letters about issues and from writers in the Press-Gazette coverage area.

+ Letters must be no longer than 250 words. They will be edited if necessary for clarity or brevity.

+ All material must be original to the author. Mass-mailing letters will not be accepted.

+ You must support claims, data or figures by including sourcing (such as web links) with your letter.

LaCrosse Tribune – Submit on line

+ We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, conciseness, taste, and to prevent libel.
+250 word limit.

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US Newspaper Listing

A few tips if you’d like to check them out…( Adapted from Friends Committee on National Legislation: fcnl.org )

Publishing letters to the editor and op-eds is a great way to get the attention of your elected officials. But first, you need to write a piece that tells your story – not just the facts.

Respond to Recent Reports

Find a news article or story that relates to the issue in some way. Make sure you’re responding to a recent story or topic – no more than a few days old.

Ask for Action

Make a specific ask to specific policymakers. Mentioning your elected officials or others by name is an important way to make sure they see it.

Find the Facts

Illustrate your argument with one or two facts. Statistics can be helpful in moderation, but too many statistics can be confusing. Share your expertise.

Tie It Together

Bring in your personal connection or moral approach to the issue. State your connections to the community as they’re relevant to the points you’re making.

• Keep it short: Newspapers are most likely to publish letters to the editor that are short and make one succinct point (that is supported with facts or quotes from validators!). Check the newspaper you’re submitting to for a word limit. If you can’t find a limit, keep it to 150 words or fewer. Op-eds can be longer.

• Write from your own voice: Your piece is more likely to get published if it comes from your voice. Don’t be afraid to tell your story and to appeal to the audience from the heart as well as the head. But do try to use good grammar and refrain from ranting or insults.

• Submit it to the newspaper: Submit the letter directly to the newspaper (most newspapers have an online submission page) and follow up by phone or email if you don’t get a response within a week or two. Put the letter in the body of the email to make it easy for the editorial staff to read. As you submit your letter, don’t miss an opportunity to build a relationship with staff. Include your contact information, but if you don’t want your full name to be published be clear about that in a separate paragraph.

• Report Back: If you’re published, email a link to safeskieswi@gmail.com so we can track the impact.

• Follow up: Call and/or email your elected official and include a link to the published letter.