Tips on Writing Letters

Letters to the Editors

• Daily Newspapers
• Weekly and Monthly Publications

1. Write about an issue which is current. You are more likely to have your letter printed if you are responding to a current news item. Try to write within a couple of days when the news item appears. Make sure you specify which item you are responding to.



2. Write to a publication in which you read of the issue. Chances are a different newspaper will not be interested in printing your opinion on an item which they did not carry.



3. Be concise. Try to keep your letter to a few short paragraphs. Many publications will not consider printing letters beyond a certain length, or will edit your letter in a way you may not like. If you need more space to make your point, consider contacting the publication regarding a guest editorial.



4. Type your letter if possible. If they cannot read it, they will not print it.



5. Respect legalities. It goes without saying that your letter should not be defamatory or obscene, no matter how provoked you may be.



6. Make sure you include your contact information. Publications want your full name, address, postal code and daytime phone number to verify your letter or discuss changes prior to publication.



7. Don’t give up. Most publications are selective about the letters which they publish. Do not get discouraged.

Daily Newspapers

The Calgary Herald Letters to the Editor P.O. Box 2400, Station M Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W8 Fax: (403) 235-7379E-mail: letters@theherald.southam.ca	The Calgary Sun Letters to the Editor 2615 - 12th Street N.E.Calgary, Alberta T2E 7W9 Fax: (403) 250-4180 E-mail: callet@sunpub.com
The Globe and Mail E-mail: letters@globeandmail.ca	The National Post E-mail: letters@nationalpost.com
The Edmonton Journal P.O. Box 2421 Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2S6 E-mail: letters@thejournal.southam.ca	The Edmonton Sun #250, 4990-92 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 3A1 Fax: (780) 468-0139 E-mail: sun.letters@ccinet.ab.ca
The Lethbridge Herald Contact information can be found at: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/letterbox/submit_letter.html

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Selected Weekly and Monthly Publications

The Okotoks Western Wheel 9 McRae Street, Bag 9 Okotoks, Alberta T0L 1T0 Fax: (403) 938-2518 E-mail: okotoks_western_wheel@awnet.net	Fast Forward Weekly 220, 932 - 17th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2T 0A4 Fax: (403) 244-1431 E-mail: ffwd@greatwest.ca
The Banff Crag and Canyon 201 Bear St., 2nd floor Banff, Alberta, T0L 0C0 Fax: (403) 762-5274 E-mail: banffweb@telusplanet.net	The Canmore Leader Suite 100, Bldg 50 103 Bow Valley Tr. Canmore, AB T1W 1NB Fax:(403) 678-2996 E-mail: canlead@telusplanet.net

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