Did you know that the “opinions” section of the newspaper is the most read section?
Share your message! Send a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of Your Local Newspaper!
*You can also learn more about current 350 CO’s Letter to the Editor/Op-ed priorities, including additional talking points and resources HERE.
Here’s how:
1) Check the “opinions” section of the paper to see what the guidelines are. LTEs are usually limited to 150 words or less, although some papers allow 250 words.
2) Write compelling content and email it to your local paper.
Here are LTE contacts for some of the local papers:
Boulder Daily Camera; 303-444-3444; openforum@dailycamera.com
Boulder Weekly: (303) 494-5511; editorial@boulderweekly.com
Colorado Daily (303)473-1111; letters@coloradodaily.com
Colorado Politics: opinion@coloradopolitics.com
Colorado Springs Gazette (719) 632-5511 opinion@gazette.com
Colorado Springs Independent 719 577 4545 letters@csindy.com
Denver Post (303)954-1010; openforum@denverpost.com
Steamboat Today (970) 879-1502; editor@steamboatpilot.com
Fort Collins Coloradoan: (970) 493-6397; KathleenDuff@coloradoan.com
Daily Times-Call (Longmont): opinion@times-call.com
Greeley Tribune: (970) 352-0211; rbangert@greeleytribune.com
Tips:
- Put a clear, catchy title in the subject line
- If there has recently been an article in the paper related to your issue, refer to it and the editorial staff is much more likely to print/post it. Put Re: “The name at the top of the article” (Name of Paper, date article was printed) at the top of your letter.
- Always put your full name, phone #(s), and address at the bottom
- Call to make sure they received it and ask if they plan to print your letter
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Opinion Editorials (Op-Eds)
An opinion editorial is also in the opinion section of the newspaper, but far fewer of them are printed, so they are harder to get in the paper. The upside is that you are usually allowed between 650-750 words, allowing you to go far more into detail on the issue. It is advisable to call the editor to discuss the op ed you plan to submit to find out if they might be interested first. Then email the op ed and follow up with another call to make sure it was received and ask if they plan to print/post it. As with a LTE, it is best if it’s a hot topic; ideally something that has been covered in the paper recently that you can refer to. See your local papers for an example of the types of op eds they print.