Writing effective letters
You can let your representatives in state government - and local government, too - know that you want a way to pay for public education that is fair, adequate and effective by writing them directly or submitting letters to local media.
Newspapers generally have explicit directions for letters to the editor. Letters to legislators should follow similar guidelines.
- Keep it brief - Letters to newspapers should be 200 words or less. Keeping the letter short will help ensure that the newspaper does not edit out important points.
- Get to the point - Start with a compelling introductory sentence and follow with short, clear factual points. Address only school funding, not other issues.
- Relate it to your community - Readers care about how an issue will impact them or their families.Include brief information on the educational and economic impacts of school funding in your town or district.
- Personalize the issue - Provide real-life examples of how the problems with school funding impact you, your family or others in the community.
- End with a call to action - Ask readers to call on Gov. Strickland and state legislators to reform school funding in 2009. When appropriate, include policymakers' names.
- Identify yourself - Use your full name and sign mailed letters personally. Include any information highlighting your expertise on the issue. Provide an address and daytime phone number so the newspaper can verify the letter's authenticity.
Where to send your letters
Newspapers
Akron Beacon Journal Email letters without attachments to vop@thebeaconjournal.com.
Canton Repository Submit letters online or send to Letters to the Editor, The Repository, 500 Market Ave. S Canton OH 44702-2193; fax to (330) 454-5745. Letters should be 300 words or less.
Cincinnati Enquirer Send letters to Letters, Enquirer Editorial Page, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202; fax to (513)768-8569; or e-mail to letters@enquirer.com. Include your community with address. Send e-mailed letters as plain text without attachments and limit letters to 100 words.
Cleveland Plain Dealer Submit letters online or send to Letters to the Editor, The Plain Dealer, 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland 44114; fax to 216-999-6209. Include full name, mailing address, phone numbers and e-mail address for verification purposes. Submissions that exceed 200 words are not likely to be considered.
Columbus Dispatch Send letters to Letters to the Editor, The Dispatch, 34 S. 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43215; email to letters@dispatch.com with no attachments; fax to 614-461-8793. Typed letters of 200 words or fewer are preferred; all might be edited.
Dayton Daily News Send to: Letters to the editor, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton, OH 45409; fax to (937) 225-7302; email to edletter@daytondailynews.com with no attachments. Keep submissions to 200 words or fewer.
Toledo Blade Email letters to letters@theblade.com (plain text, no attachment). Letters should not exceed 300 words.Contributors are limited to one published letter a month. Supply a full home address and daytime telephone number.
Youngstown Vindicator Send letters as emails without attachments to letters@vindy.com.
Other cities You can find other newspaper websites at Wikipedia under “List of newspapers in Ohio.”
Most newspapers also allow readers to post comments on news stories, blog entries and editorials online.
Legislators
Find your representatives in the Ohio Senate and House and write to them, making it clear you are a constituent.