lauranik

Write Letters To The Editor

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.

East Bay Times

 

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

Mercury News

 

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

San Mateo Daily Journal

 

Press Democrat

 

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

Benicia Herald

 

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

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/