Happy New Year! I remember this time of the year last year when Angela, Kathy and I decided to launch The Policy Circle. Our mission is to bring women to together to discuss and learn from fact based research about policies that affect free enterprise and the values of freedom and liberty. We are starting 2016 with 17 circles in Indiana, Illinois, Texas, a year of conversation based on Policy Briefs, a great team and a website to support our nationwide growth. We look forward to the next phase.
Every New Year, I try to follow Chris Brogan’s advice and choose 3 words that will help me keep the year in focus. This year my 3 words are: Laughter. Attention. Courage. I want to laugh more with friends, with family, with my kids, find humor instead of anger. Attention as in attention to details, people and issues. Finally, Courage to go against current for what I believe, courage to grow The Policy Circle to what it can become, and courage to publicly express my views.
Under courage, my first action item would be to write to the Editor of the Chicago Tribune.
Our in-house editor shared the following tips on Writing to the Editor:
Both print and online media encourage readers to submit letters to the editor. Although most receive many submissions (only 20% of those are from women), good writing will help make yours stand out. If published, you can reach thousands of your community members who read your local news and vote in your district. Not only that — congressional staff often monitor letters to the editor in local newspapers from the Representative’s district, and if you mention your elected representative by name, chances are good that your letter will be seen on the Hill.
Before drafting your own letter to the editor, read through the letters to the editor published in the newspaper you would like to submit to get a sense of length, tone, and style. Make sure you are aware of the specific guidelines.
Here are a few tips:
- Most letters to the editor respond to a particular article recently published within the newspaper (an editorial or news story). You may disagree with an opinion expressed, a media bias, or the coverage of a story. You can also write to comment on an unreported story that you think is important. If you are responding to a particular article, refer to it by title in your letter.
- You should be brief, and focus on one major point or issue and provide some evidence to back it up.
- Identify your main point quickly.
- State what should be done about the issue.
- Be specific – again, if you want to influence a specific legislator, mention them by name.
- There are also a few formatting tips that follow traditional letter writing: your return address should be at the top lefthand corner of the page, skip four lines then add the date, skip two more lines and enter the editor’s name, title, newspaper name, and then the address on separate lines. Skip two lines and then begin with your salutation of “To The Editor”. Have a simple closing, and include your name, city and state.
Let’s write a letter to the editor this year. What are your 3 words for 2016?
Sylvie
