Peter:
>From: Jon Anderson <anderjda at dfw.wa.gov>

>>You know, if we Tweets wrote half as many letters to the editor and
>>letters to our elected and appointed officials as we post to Tweeters, I
>>wonder what kind of difference we could make.....


>Please. Don't delay a minute longer....! And, do it again, and again, and
>again

Some tips learned over time writing "letters to the editor" to the
Oregonian:

1. Decide on your main point, and make it clearly. Letters which
attempt to give two or more reasons for a position on a topic
will often not be published, or will have all but one reason
edited out. When they start editing, Murphy's Law is dominant.

You can sometimes work around this by bulleting factoids.

2. Use short, clear sentences and use common words with very few
letters in them. Jargon or "science-speak" isn't understood
by many folks, and LOE editors tend to toss 'em.

3. Be certain it's topical.

4. Be wary of criticizing the paper. Rather than ragging out on
the fact that your paper hasn't reported on the Grazing Bill,
for instance, make the point that the bill has been meandering
through the law-making process with little notice by the public
or press. (the latter approach is positive, rather than
accusatory).

5. It's OK to refute bullshit spewed by columnists or fellow LOE
contributors. When the Big O regularly ran Alton Chase, each
column would be followed up by at least one LOE pointing out
his factual errors.

But ad hom. attacks won't fly.

6. My only experience is with the Big O. They apparently have an
informal policy of printing LOEs from an individual every 6-8
weeks. I found this out via the Braille method, and when I
reached what apparently was their comfort level regarding
frequency found that nearly all my letters would be published.

7. Don't expect a response. Either it get published or disappears
into the round file.

8. DO be prepared for public response if you're in the phone book.
I've gotten mostly postive responses (including a fine thank-you
from a retired Eastern Oregon judge for "telling it like it is",
and a fine letter from my state representative asking me to
send her more details on a statewide forest issue, which I did.
Both on seal-of-Oregon letterhead).

I've also gotten a couple of "nasties" on my answering machine.

If you want to present a detailed case, call the editorial staff
and ask about their more lengthy reader venues - the Oregonian's
is called "In My Opinion", for instance.

This is based on my experience with one paper. Study the LOE
section of the paper you wish to write, and see if you can
figure out their guidelines (it is normal for them to print
the basics, i.e. length guidelines, double space, provide
name and daytime phone so they can tell you're for real, etc)


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>