Any current political issue on the online news

Paper instructions:
Please write a LTE “letter to editor” based on any of the current political issue from San Jose Merury News (online news)

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government

Shape the Media- Write a letter to the Editor
In this assignment, we want you to take an active role in responding to and shaping the media.

Pick a Topic: Decide on a current political issue in the news that you care about and that relates to this class.
Anything you care about – state budge, health care, war in Afghanistan, environment, etc.
Read the newspaper and/or pay attention to the news for a few days to figure out what is current and important.
Try the San Jose Mercury News (online) (http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government)

What’s your message: Figure out what you want to say and how you want to say it, and draft a letter to the
editor of the newspaper. It often helps to respond to a specific article that has been written and to reference this
article in your letter. Your letter should be short and to the point. See other letters to the editor for examples. In
most cases, 200 words is the maximum length.
Once your first draft is finished, show it to someone else and have them provide written edits. Then re-write.
Make copies of your original, the draft with your friend ‘s comments, and your final draft.
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD LETTER TO THE EDITOR
(Borrowed from the Greenforall.org website– Adapted from Salzman’s “Making the News” and SPIN Project
Materials)
What is a Letter to the Editor?
• Letters to the editor (LTE’s) most often discuss a recent event/issue covered by a publication, radio station, or
TV program.
• They are your chance to “sound-off” to your community about issues in the news.
They are widely read—so make them an important part of your media strategy.
Elements / Hints
• It is much easier to publish a letter to the editor than it is to place an op-ed.
• Your letter has the best chance of being published if it is a reaction to a story in the paper.
• Respond as quickly as you can.
• Read the letters page—you will learn how to develop an effective letter-writing style, and you will see if
someone has already responded with your idea.
• Keep it short and concise—150-200 words. The paper will take the liberty to shorten your letter to suit its
format; the more it has to cut, the less control you have of what gets printed.
• Lead with your most important information.
• Focus on one main point and make a compelling case.
• Write in short paragraphs, with no more than three sentences per paragraph.
• Don’t write too often. Once every three months is about as often as you should write.
• Avoid personal attacks.
• Put your full name, address and phone number at the top of the page and sign the letter at the bottom. You
must include a phone number for verification purposes.
• Follow up to see if the letter was received.
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