In many cases, letters are your best shot at getting published, if only because newspapers print more letters than editorials each day. And Letters to the Editor are widely read and well worth submitting. Here are some things to keep in mind when writing a Letter to the Editor:

• Letters-to-the-editor pages differ from newspaper to newspaper. You will need to take a look at your own newspaper to get a feel for what they do and do not publish.
  • If the paper writes anything related to afterschool or education, use that article as a starting point for your own editorial; the paper is more likely to print a Letter to the Editor if it relates to its own coverage.
  • You can also look at the newspapers section of our media tools to read sample Letters to the Editor.

• Though most Letters to the Editor are opinionated, you can also write them just to raise the issue of afterschool, especially as it relates to the community.
  • Send a copy of your letter to as many publications as you can in your area; you never know who will pick it up, and you can never have too much publicity.
  • Make sure to use your database to reach out to high-profile members in the community who are sympathetic to your cause.
  • Encourage and work with these individuals to place Letters to the Editor or Op-Eds in the local and regional news outlets.