Letters to the editor are great advocacy tools. How do you help ensure that your letter is published and is as compelling to readers as possible?
Lend credibility to your letter by noting your professional experiences in the community that prompted you to write on this topic.
That means we have a competitive job market, and employers are all competing for good quality workers.
Here in Connecticut, 52 percent of children under the age of 3 experience at least one risk factor — poverty, residential mobility, unemployed parents, among others. Be mindful of the tone of your letter The tone of your letter can either support or overpower the substance of the message you are trying to communicate.
If you have the editor's name, however, you should use it to increase the possibilities of your letter being read.
Reinforce with facts Letters to the editor are opinions, and yours gains credibility when you clearly state data, facts and sources that support your point.
Keeping the letter short will help ensure that the newspaper does not edit out important points.
A newspaper may not print every letter it receives, but clear, well-written letters are likely to be given more serious consideration. Keep it short Typically newspapers will accept op-eds of words. Most of all, don't limit your communications. For these reasons and for the health and safety of all youth in Colorado, banning edible marijuana seems like the clear choice.
Newspapers will not give out that information, and will usually only print your name and city should your letter be published.