GETTING STARTED

Communicating through the media allows you to reach a larger audience on issues that are important to you. The letters to the editor and op-ed sections in newspapers provide a forum to voice your opinion and send a message to your community and its leaders. 

• Letters to the Editor: 
  Letters to the editor are sent to publications, usually newspapers and magazines, to raise concern about an issue. They are often in response to previously published articles or current issues. Letters to the editor are an easier alternative to an op-ed, as they are shorter, about 250 words or less, and a great way to begin press activism.
  
  + HELPFUL HINTS FOR WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
  + SAMPLE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

• Op-Eds:
  Op-eds, named for their position opposite the editorial page, provide an important opportunity to get your personal perspective into a newspaper and add facts that a news story may have left out. Op-eds are written by both professionals, writers and members of the community like you. They offer a chance for a reader to make a contribution to the paper on an issue.
  
  These articles, however, carry a lot of weight and are often difficult to get published. In national papers, op-eds are often written by well-known public figures, so you should target a local paper, magazine, or campus media. A well-written and strongly supported article can have an impact on your entire community and those who govern it.
  
  + HELPFUL HINTS FOR WRITING AN OP-ED
  + SAMPLE OP-EDS

Updated March 27, 2006