Write Letters To The Editor

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Writing and Submitting a Letter to the Editor: It’s Easy!

Process

Identify which paper you’d like to submit your letter to (see below for a partial list).
Google the paper’s letter-to-the-editor policies to confirm the length requirements and submission process
Write up your response to a current event.
Sign your name, and provide your location and contact information. Sometimes they call to clarify/confirm.
Send it off!

Best practices

Reference a recent article
Stay within word count; brief is better anyway
Specify a desired outcome
Incorporate why you care: your story
Stay within the general tone of the publication and editor

Submitting an Op-Ed is a bit more complex.
Op-Eds are deeper dives, more about education, and provide an authoritative voice beyond the newspapers’ regular journalists. Op-Eds usually start with a pitch which presents a story idea and establishes the writer’s credibility. Stay tuned for a link with more detail about writing an Op-Ed and getting it published.

Submission Links and Guidelines:

News Source

How to Submit

Twitter Handle

Berkeleyside

Topics should be Berkeley-related, local authors are preferred and anonymity is not allowed. The recommended length is 500-600 words, and at least 72 hours’ notice is required. Please send Word or Google docs, not PDFs. Send your name, phone number and a one-line bio with all relevant disclosures to editors@berkeleyside.org.

@berkeleyside

East Bay Times

Submission Form (up to 150 words): https://www.eastbaytimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/

@eastbaytimes

Mercury News

Submission Form (up to 150 words): https://www.mercurynews.com/letters-to-the-editor/

@mercnews

San Mateo Daily Journal

Submission Form (up to 250 words): https://www.smdailyjournal.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/

@smdailyjournal

Press Democrat

Email letters of no more than 200 words to letters@pressdemocrat.com . Include your full name, home address and phone number

@NorthBayNews

Napa Register

Submission Form (up to 800 words):
https://napavalleyregister.com/forms/contact/letter_to_the_editor/

@NapaRegister

Benicia Herald

Email letters of no more than 500 words to beniciaherald@gmail.com
More guidelines here: https://beniciaheraldonline.com/letter-guidelines/

@BeniciaHerald

Marin Independent Journal

Email letters of no more than 300 words to: opinion@marinij.com

More guidelines here: https://www.marinij.com/2013/07/18/how-to-submit-a-letter-to-the-editor/

@marinij