How to Write an Effective Letter to Editor

Letters to editor of various magazines and newspapers are mostly read by local activists, government officials, legislators, community members and innumerous ordinary readers. So, this is a great opportunity to convey your opinion or stand to a wide audience on an article that is already published or on any contemporary issue. A letter to editor can support and expand the views expressed in an article and can add some points if missing. On the contrary, the letter can also disagree with correct/incorrect information from a report, article, another letter or editorial. Remember the following points to write a convincing letter.

Dos: Keep in mind the following points to do while writing a letter to an editor. A letter becomes appealing when it is written with emotion and logic.

1. Write the letter within 2 days for dailies or the current issue of periodic magazines.
2. The letter must be concise and within the word limit. Typically, world limit is about 100 for newspaper dailies. For magazines, it may be little more than that.
3. Focus on a single issue/point. Don’t write two separate issues in a single letter. Use verified facts to support your arguments. Don’t quote anything from any other media. Check original references in support of your views.
4. Remain conscious about the reactions that may be created among the readers of your letter.
5. If possible, ask for any action by the target readers of your letter
6. Make a follow up phone call if your letter is not published within 5-7 days for local print media. This is not recommended for large or daily newspapers.
7. If you want to send to more than one media, send through separate mails. Never send in the same mail.
8. E-mail your letter in the body of the email (never send unsolicited attachments) and put "Letter re (article title or topic)" in the subject line.
9. Write in plain texts without CAPSLOCK or Italic or Bold. However, you may use quotations if required.
10. Never forget to include your contact information. Be sure to include your name, address, and daytime phone number; the paper may contact you before printing your letter.

Don’ts: Keep in mind the following points to avoid while writing a letter to an editor.

1. Don’t insult the writer/reporter of the article/report.
2. Don't overstate/exaggerate your point. Make arguments. Don’t just assert your opinion.
3. Omit discrete words like ‘It’s obvious’, ‘It’s evident’, ‘I suppose’, ‘I believe’, ‘I’m writing to’, etc. Always battle with arguments.

How to write a short letter: Don’t think about the word limit at the beginning. Think over what you want to communicate. Strictly focus on it. Prepare your vibrant and unbreakable arguments. Then write a short letter to pen down what you have thought without strictly thinking about the word limit. Once it is written, you have a count over the words. I hope the number will be more than the limit (~100). Now, try to shorten the sentences by using alternate literary styles until the world count is within the limit.

Forward a copy of your letter to PR Secretary: Always send a copy of your letter in either CC or BCC to the Public Relation Secretary of SIO WB Zone. When you intend to write personally, keep the id of the PR Secretary in BCC. And when you write the letter with organizational identity, keep him in CC. It may be noted that when you keep an email id in BCC, the recipients in ‘To’ and ‘CC’ sections can not see the ids mentioned in BCC.

Don’t ignore the Community Portals: The possibility of getting the letters to editor published may be small. However, one can assume that you have done enough research on the topic/issue of your letter. So, it is always a good practice to elaborate your letter and communicate the same through different community portals. The priority must be given to the organizational organs. In West Bengal, it is Yuba Pratyasha on which we should publish. Other than this we have, The Islamic Voice, The Milli Gazette, Kalam, Meezan, The Eastern Post, Akhbar e Mashrik, etc.

Sample letters to Editor: Follow today’s dailies and recent magazines.

[Comment posted on 16th June, 2009 in reply to an online report on “Dead Snake Found in Mid-Day Meal Served to Birbhum School Students”. See http://www.mypopkorn.com]

Mid-day meal indeed damaging the children

Negligence in serving hygienic meal is not a new phenomenon. Other than malfeeding the children, the scheme is in fact damaging them. Although, the attendance has increased, the students come to the centre with an intention of having the food and so the focus on learning remains shadowed. Such students hardly go ahead in educating themselves. Such the real purpose of the scheme which is to empower all classes of people through education seems to fail.

Ayatullah Faruque, Kolkata

[Comment posted on 22nd April, 2010 to an online report on “SIO launches Muslim reservation campaign in West Bengal” at www.twocircles.net]

Great Initiative

Mashallah. That is a great initiative of SIO. It has been the rule of India that the state can take extra initiatives for any class/section of people if they are backward in some respects. And, that is the case as reported by Justice Ranganath Mishra and Justice Rajindar Sachar. Their report portrays a deplorable condition of Muslims. Reservation is a must. Otherwise, they can not move forward against the tyrant Hindu zionists (Hindutwa) who very often discriminate and act against the Muslims

Ayatullah Faruque, Kolkata