Letters to the editors of local and statewide newspapers are a good way to express your views on an issue while also providing important information to the public. The "Letters to the Editor" section is one of the most popular sections of newspapers, assuring letter writers a wide audience for their views.

Letters render a valuable service to the public by providing information and viewpoints that might not be reported in other sections of the newspaper. Many people have not had the same kinds of experiences you have had, or may have been misinformed about these issues. Your letter can help them gain new insights, and hopefully, encourage them to take some action!

In order to be effective, a letter must be well written and understandable. The following are some tips on writing effective letters to the editors. These tips are also helpful in writing letters to legislators or other public officials you may ask for support on these issues.

• Think about what you want to say before you begin to write; your ideas should be clear in your own mind before you begin to put them on paper.
• Don't try to explain everything there is on an issue. Think of what is most important to you about this issue and focus your letter on it. And remember to emphasize what action you want the reader to take contacting their legislator, writing to the governor, etc.
• Make your letter easy to read; short sentences, short paragraphs and simple words are best. Make sure to include your name, address and phone number because they usually contact letter-writers to confirm that you were the one to send the letter.
• Keep your letter positive. It is more important to emphasize your points and what people need to do to help instead of making things more confusing.
• Don't be rude or threatening. That will often hurt your cause.
• Always send an original, even if you send the same letter to a number of papers. Most papers won't print a letter that is not signed.
• Target your letters, especially to areas that have had little coverage on the issue. Try to imagine who will be reading your letter (farmers, urban residents, unemployed people) and think of what their particular concerns are and what arguments might be persuasive to them.
• Many television and some radio stations have forums for the public to express their views. You may want to send a letter to these stations, too.

Don't be discouraged if your letter is not printed right away, or printed at all. The larger newspapers often have more letters than they can print, or may not print more than one or two letters on a certain topic. Even if only one out of ten letters is printed, you have reached thousands of readers - enough to make your effort worthwhile.

If the editorial position of a newspaper is in opposition to your view or it shies away from printing letters about political or "controversial" issues, remember that it is possible to lobby an editor or editorial board just as you would a legislator. Ask for a meeting, invite others who share your views to go with you and go prepared with specific requests. Remind the editor or publisher that they have an obligation to inform their readers of these public issues.

Where to write:

The Alexandria Journal
2720 Prosperity Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22034-1000

The Arlington Journal
2720 Prosperity Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22034-1000

Bristol Herald Courier/Bristol Virginia-Tennessean
P.O. Box 609
Bristol, VA 24203

The Daily News Leader
P.O. Box 59
Staunton, VA 24401

Daily News-Record
P.O. Box 193
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

The Daily Progress
P.O. Box 9030
Charlottesville, VA 22906

Danville Register & Bee
P.O. Box 331
Danville, VA 24543

The Fairfax Journal
2720 Prosperity Avenue
Fairfax, VA 22034-1000

The Farmville Herald
P.O. Box 307
Farmville, VA 23901

The Free Lance-Star
616 Amelia Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

The Hopewell News
P.O. Box 481
Hopewell, VA 23860

The News & Advance
P.O. Box 10129
Lynchburg, VA 24506-0129

The News-Virginian
P.O. Box 1027
Waynesboro, VA 22980

Potomac News
P.O. Box 2470
Woodbridge, VA 22193

Rappahannock Record
P.O. Box 400
Kilmarnock, VA 22482

Richmond Times-Dispatch
P.O. Box 85333
Richmond, VA 23293

Roanoke Times & World News
P.O. Box 2491
Roanoke, VA 24010

Salem Times-Register
P.O. Box 1125
Salem, VA 24153

The Shenandoah Valley-Herald
P.O. Box 507
Woodstock, VA 22664

Southwest Virginia Enterprise
460 W. Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382

The Sunday News Leader
P.O. Box 59
Staunton, VA 24401

Tidewater Review
P.O. Box 271
West Point, VA 23181

The Virginian-Pilot
P.O. Box 449
Norfolk, VA 23501

The Washington Post
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20071

Reprinted from the July 1999 issue of virginia-organizing, the news magazine of the Virginia Organizing Project.
For additional information, contact the VOP office at (804) 984-4655.