What is it?
It’s a letter written to an editor at a newspaper or publication that expresses your opinion or inspires others to take action on an issue. Letters to the editor can react to unbalanced news or feature stories, negative editorials or opinion editorials or unfavorable letters from other readers. They can also be used to compliment favorable stories or opinion pieces.
Why
You will be able to share your expertise or ASHP’s view on issues that pertain to health-system pharmacists and other hot topics surrounding medication safety.
Helpful Tips
Following are some best practices when drafting a letter to the editor:
- Research the letters to the editor policy and guidelines for the publication you are targeting by visiting the newspapers website.
- Include whom the letter is from and how to reach the spokesperson for verification. Include your full name, title, organization name and contact information.
- Write your letter as a direct response to recent coverage of a topic/issue in the publication and respond quickly. Make reference to the article or op-ed that you are responding to in your letter.
- Include your organization’s perspective on why the issue is important.
- Keep the letter concise (typically 150 to 200 words)
- Make one simple point or address one basic issue. The publication may shorten your letter to fit its format so the most important points should be in the first paragraph or two.
- Use statistics sparingly as they can get confusing.
- Remember your audience. Write with the average person in mind and try to remain reasonable and fair.
- Use short punchy sentences to make it easier for the reader and include a catchy first line.
Keep in mind that not all letters to the editor are published. Don’t be discouraged if yours doesn’t make it to print. Keep trying. You will gain recognition with the paper as someone who is interested in and knowledgeable about the issue at hand.
How to Find Guidelines for Letter to Editors
Specific guidelines for submitting letters to editors vary from paper to paper and can usually be accessed by calling the editorial department or by checking the paper’s Web site under the Opinions section>Opinions How To>Submit Letter to the Editor. Or search on the term “letter to editor” on the newspaper’s Web site.
View a sample letter to the editor [PDF] .