By: Mike Dunbar, Citizens Count
Is it your goal to be a more informed and engaged citizen in 2023? Citizens Count’s Weekly Democracy Toolkit gives you everything you need to get started. These simple, step-by-step guides help you answer questions like “how do I participate in a public hearing?” and “how do I find bills I am interested in?”
If you care deeply about an issue or want to convince people in your community to vote for your favorite candidate, a great option is to write a letter to the editor. A letter to the editor is a short essay that you can submit to your local paper for the chance to have it appear in print and online. Follow the steps below to get started.
1. Identify your cause
Before you can write a letter to the editor, you need to have something to write about! A great way to start is to think about the issues that matter most to you. Maybe it’s animal rights or gun laws, for example. Then, do some research to find out what’s happening with those issues in New Hampshire—what bills are being considered in the Legislature, what policies are being debated. You can see a broad list of important New Hampshire topics and read articles about them by visiting CitizensCount.org/Topic.
2. Do your research
Now that you’ve identified the topic you want to write about, it’s time to do some research. For example, maybe you’re interested in business taxes and you’ve found a bill that’s up for debate that you’d like to support. Try searching the web to see if any news articles have been written about the bill. Find out what folks on both sides of the issue have to say. The better you understand the context of the debate, the more you’ll be able to speak intelligently on the issue and bring your unique insights into the conversation.
You might have a personal experience related to the topic you want to write about. Perhaps you’re a teacher who wants to write about how the state funds schools. Telling a story about how the issue impacts your life can be a great way to help make your point. Search your memory for such compelling stories and think about how to frame them.
3. Find your audience
Now that you’ve found your specific topic and have done some brainstorming, it’s time to choose which newspaper you want to submit to. In other words, it’s time to identify your audience. Therefore, you should ask yourself, who needs to hear what I have to say about this issue? If it’s a local issue, like matters related to zoning or ordinances, you’ll want to write to your local newspaper. If the issue impacts the whole state, you can still write to your local newspaper, but you may also want to try writing to regional or statewide newspapers.
4. Write your letter
Now you’re ready to sit down and write your letter. To do this, you’ll want to make sure you follow any guidelines the newspaper requires. For example, there is probably a maximum number of words you are allowed to use. This number is usually around 250 words. You can often find the submission form for your newspaper by searching online for “[your newspaper] submit letter to the editor”.
When writing your letter, you’ll want to be concise. Start by coming up with an opening sentence that grabs readers’ attention. Explain where you stand on the issue and why. It can also be helpful to include a few details about yourself that show you have some authority to speak on the issue. Here is a helpful template you could follow:
Date
Name of Editor
Name of Publication
Office Address
City, State, Zip
Dear Editor,
Opening paragraph with strong first sentence. Make your point right up front, then back it up with arguments in later paragraphs.
Middle paragraph explaining the context of the debate you are writing about for people who may not be aware of the issue. This might be a great spot to include how the issue personally impacts you. If you have specific solutions to community problems you wish to offer up, you can mention them here.
Closing paragraph that summarizes the point you are making.
Sincerely,
Your Name
5. Submit your letter
The last step is to submit your letter. The fastest way to do this is usually to submit via the newspaper’s website. If you prefer to use snail mail, that will work too. Look in the newspaper to find the address to mail to. Be aware, however, that any letter submitted by post will have to be retyped into a computer by someone at the newspaper. This means you will likely wait longer to see your words in print.
Citizens Count is a nonprofit serving the New Hampshire community by providing objective information about issues, elected officials, bills, elections, and candidates. These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.