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Letters written by FCNL constituents and staff can be read in newspapers across the country, including each of those pictured above. Letters-to the-editor are extremely effective for alerting members of Congress to issues FCNL cares about.
Elected officials carefully monitor newspapers to gauge local opinion. By mentioning your senators or representative by name and stating the specific legislative action you would like them to take, you can guarantee that your letter will catch the attention of your members of Congress.
Write a letter to your local newspaper today! You can use FCNL's Media Action Center to send it, and these tips to help you get started:
Keep it short
Try to limit your letter to 100-200 words or less, and focus on a single issue. In the first paragraph, state your main point and why the issue is important to you. (What impact does the issue have on the local community? How are you personally invested in a particular policy or piece of legislation?) Provide facts, quotes, and numbers in the second. Use the last paragraph to restate your point and make your recommendation. You can use FCNL's letter-to-the-editor worksheet to guide you in composing your letter.
Respond to a news story
Open with a specific reference to a recent news story, editorial, or previous letter. "Recent" means no older than a few days. For national papers, no further back than 48 hours.
Make a local connection
Your letter will be of more interest to editors of your local paper if you highlight the local impact of a national or foreign policy issue.
Demonstrate your reach
If you know that your opinion also represents that of others, be sure to mention it. However, if you want to submit a letter signed from representatives of more than one group, be aware that most newspapers limit signatures to two or three names.
Consider your options
Submit letters to your local paper for the best chance of publication, though you may certainly submit to national publications as well. Other options include suburban or neighborhood papers, specialized magazines, ethnic press, religious publications, and college alumni magazines.
Contact FCNL
Let us know if your letter has been published. Send an email to fcnl@fcnl.org or call (800)630-1330. If possible, send a clipping to us at 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002.
Read Published Letters
Here are letters-to-the-editor written by FCNL constituents and published in local newspapers.
Stop Runaway Spending on War (San Angelo Times-Standard, 11/4/1008)
Seek Alternatives to Military Conflict (The Eagle-Tribune, 10/20/2008)
For more ways to engage your local media, go to FCNL's Grassroots Toolkit and click on the options under "Speaking Through the Media."
Reviewed:
09/11/2008
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