seattleDIRT

Want to see your name in print? Have an opinion on a local issue that hasn’t been represented in the local papers? Ready to rant? Have you ever thought of writing a Letter to the Editor, but don’t know where to start?

I got this handy guide from contributing writer JP Kemmick that might help get you on your way. This guide is focused on the Lightbulbs to Ledership campaign of the Sierra Club, but the structure can be applied to any issue you want to write about.

How To Write a Letter to the Editor and LIghtbulbs to Leadership Talking Points

PICK A TIMELY TOPIC – Newspapers rarely publish letters about topics that are not being covered in the news. Referring to a previously published article or column will increase your letter’s chances of being published.

Feel free to talk about the house party you just attended or hosted and about how great it was to get together with like minded Washingtonians who are eager to fight global warming.

The Seattle Times and the Seattle P-I published articles last Friday about the EPA’s decision not to regulate green house gas emissions. (Links included below) This is a timely topic and a great launching board for your LTE. Focus on the failure at a federal level to do something about global warming and stress the opportunity that Washington state has to be a leader. Remind readers of the great work we’ve already done and urge our leaders to continue the good work as we still have a lot to do. A good specific focus would be on thanking governor Gregoire for her work and urging her to stay strong on the Western Climate Initiative (WCI).

Some points to remind Governor Gregoire of, and Washington in general, in relation to the WCI are:
-Ensure that transportation pollution is included in the initial cap and trade program. At a time when oil companies are seeing record profits, the WCI should not give the oil industry a pass. The WCI must ensure that the transportation sector fully participates in being part of the global warming solution.
-Uphold the principle of polluter pays. Our atmosphere is a public trust that belongs to us all; pollution rights must be sold to polluters rather than given away for free. The WCI should call for 100% auction of allowances. The European experience with emission trading has shown that giving allowances away for free results in massive windfalls for polluters at the expense of consumers. We must not repeat these mistakes in our regional program.
-Make cap and trade fair. Climate change is deeply unjust: low-income communities, who contribute least to the problem, will disproportionately suffer its worst impacts. The WCI must create a program that addresses this inequity. A fair climate policy will direct the funds generated by the auctioning of pollution rights to programs that benefit the public, including a combination of direct payments, tax breaks and investments that speed and ease the transition to our clean energy future and protect our region’s critical natural resources.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008045922_climate11.html

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1151ap_bush_global_warming.html
RESEARCH THE GUIDELINES – Most papers’ length limit on LTEs is around 250 words. Stick to this so that an editor does not cut out the important points of your letter. Some papers require a typed letter. Others may want it sent via e-mail. Often newspapers want your address and phone number so they can verify that you wrote the letter. You can usually find a paper’s guidelines on the letters page. If not, call the paper directly or visit its Web site.

ASSUME NOTHING – Do not assume that your readers are informed on your topic. Give a concise but informative background before plunging into the main issue. Refer to any newspaper article or editorial by date and title. Also include any relevant credentials that prove you are informed about your topic.

BE BRIEF – State your position as succinctly as possible without eliminating necessary detail. Keep your paragraphs short. Long rambling sentences and digressions will cause people to lose interest quickly. Stick to one subject.

MAINTAIN COMPOSURE – It is okay to express outrage, but it should be kept under control. Avoid personal attacks and focus instead on criticizing specific policies or ideas.

FIND A LOCAL ANGLE – Readers are more interested in an issue when they see how it affects their lives and communities. Find a way to show how budget cuts or environmental policies will affect this particular readership.

Here’s a list of some Washington newspapers.

The Everett Herald
Letters Section
P.O. Box 930
Everett, WA 98206
fax: 425/339-3458
letters@heraldnet.com

Bainbridge Review
PO Box 10817
Bainbridge Island WA 98110
editor@bainbridgereview.com

Seattle Post-Intelligencer (300 words)
Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 1909
Seattle, WA 98111-1909
Fax: 206-448-8184, or
Editpage@seattle-pi.com

Seattle Times (250 word limit)
Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 70
Seattle, WA 98111
Fax: 206-382-6760, or
opinion@seattletimes.com