Write a "Letter to the Editor" about Amphibian Conservation

Published Letters to the Editor of your local newspaper or favorite magazine can help persuade thousands of readers representing a wide range of knowledge and opinions to support your amphibian conservation ideas.

Just follow these steps to make your next Letter to the Editor as effective as possible!

Get the Guidelines

Each newspaper and magazine has its own guidelines for accepting Letters to the Editor. Check the publication's Editorial pages or call its Editorial Staff to get their specifics.

Here are some general rules:

• Your letter shouldn't exceed 250 words (and the fewer words, the better).
• Your letter should include your name, address, and daytime phone number for verification—anonymous letters are rarely published.
• If your handwriting is illegible, your letter should be typed or sent by email.
• When submitted by email, your letter should be in the text of your email—not in an “attachment” —since some email programs have difficulty opening attachments.

Respond Quickly

Letters relating to a recent article or event are much more likely to be published than letters addressing “yesterday's news.” Be on the lookout for articles or events related to amphibians and to the environment in general. Then submit your letter when the time is right: usually 1-3 days after the first article or event.

Pick a Point

Pick one point—for example, “Frogs are important signals of environmental health” —and make that the focus of your letter.

Keep it Concise

Get to the point. Editors edit! But a concise argument will demand less cutting. Take a look at today's letters to get an idea of what's being published. Then use one of those letters as a model, or follow this general format:

• Paragraph 1: Address the Editor. Reference the article or event to which you are responding, including the date of its publication or occurrence. Then state your position.
• Paragraph 2: Offer two or three supporting statements. Include statistics, current events, and names—your Member of Congress will pay attention to anything that mentions her name.
• Paragraph 3: Conclude and restate your position. If you would like to suggest that readers take action— for example, by donating to amphibian conservation groups—state that here.
• Signature Block: Sign your name and include your contact information. Your contact information will not be printed with the letter, but someone from the Editorial Staff will probably call you to verify your authorship.

Be Positive

Remember to keep your statements as positive as possible. Editors will not publish letters containing personal attacks. Your message will also stick better if your readers feel that you are on their side.

Re-Write

When you finish your letter, don't send it off just yet. Set it aside for a moment, or even for a day. Then look it over again later. You might think of a more poignant way to state your position.

Proofread!

Don't forget to fix the typos!

Keep Trying

Don't feel discouraged if your letter is not published the first time. Editors receive many more letters than they can print, and even if yours doesn't make it into the final publication, your efforts will not have been wasted. Your letter may broaden the Editor's perspective on amphibian conservation, or it may move the Editor to pay more attention the next time a related issue arises.

By Charlotte Hsu
© 2000 FROGS.ORG