Letters to the Editor for District 19 Papers
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Letters to the Editor can be a powerful way to make your voice heard, garner media attention and catch the attention of your elected representatives and other decision-makers. Below are some tips to help increase the effectiveness of your letters and to boost its chances of being published.
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DO:
1. Respond directly either to breaking news or an article or commentary published in the previous two days (for dailies) or the previous issue of a weekly paper. Follow the format used in the target publication. The typical format is: Re “Talking With the Taxman,” (national news, Jan. 13). Your report neglected one key fact…
2. Focus on one important point (don’t try to address separate issues in one letter). 3. Follow the guidelines and word count limit of the target publication.
4. Remove every non-essential word. For example, don’t say, “I think…” It’s obvious. This also minimizes the chance of editors changing the letter.
5. Use only verified facts. Take the time to check original sources rather than repeating “fact” cited in another media outlet.
6. Create immediacy by indicating how readers will be affected by the issue you address. Ask your readers for action, when relevant, including your elected representatives — by including their names in the letter and asking for action, you can get their attention.
7. Point people to a source for more information or to engage in action whenever practical.
8. Include your letter in the body of your email rather than as an attachment and put “Letter re: your topic or article name ” in the subject line. 9. Include your address and daytime phone number for verification.
10. If the publication publishes an online version, hyperlink the relevant websites or emails.
11. Pay attention to letters and comments by others. Note effective and ineffective approaches (especially letters that effectively argue a position you oppose), style, length, etc. This will help you improve rapidly.
12. Speak in the language and to the literacy level of that publication’s readers.

DON'T:
1. Send your letter as an attachment.
2. Attempt to address more than one topic in your letter.
3. Insult your opponents (or anyone else).
4. Overstate/exaggerate your points. One overstatement makes every following point suspect.
5. Use jargon or acronyms (spell out any name the first time you use it, followed by the acronym in parentheses).
6. Use all capital letters or bold text to emphasize a word. It will rarely be printed that way and may prevent your letter from being considered. You may italicize one or two words, but most papers will print it in plain text regardless — the words must speak for themselves.




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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PAPERLETTERS DUE BYWORD LIMITSUBMISSION EMAIL/FORMANY OTHER NOTES/REQUIREMENTS
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Albany Times Union<250 preferredtuletters@timesunion.comAttachments discouraged. Must be exclusive to TU. Name, address, and phone number required.
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Catskill Mountain Newsn/anews@catskillmountainnews.com
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Chatham CourierUnder 250https://www.columbiagreenemedia.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/Name, address, phone required
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Daily FreemanUnder 250letters@freemanonline.comNo email attachments. Name, home town, daytime phone required.
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Daily GazetteUnder 200https://dailygazette.com/form/submit-a-letter-to-the-editor or opinion@dailygazette.comMust provide name, address and daytime phone number.
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Hudson Register-StarUnder 500https://www.registerstar.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/Name, address, phone required
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Kingston TimesMonday for following ThursdayUnder 500kingstontimes@gmail.com.docx attachments OK. Name, address, phone required.
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Mountain EagleUnder 250https://www.columbiagreenemedia.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/Name, address, phone required
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New Paltz Times3:30 PM on Friday Under 500newpaltztimes@ulsterpublishing.comName, address, phone required
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Oneonta Daily StarUnder 300https://www.thedailystar.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/Name, address, phone required
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Poughkeepsie JournalUnder 250letterstoeditor@poughkeepsiejournal.comName, address, phone required
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Register Starhttps://www.registerstar.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/Name, address, phone, email required
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Saugerties TimesMonday for following ThursdayUnder 500saugertiestimes@gmail.comName, address, phone required
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The Columbia Papern/aletters@columbiapaper.com
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Watershed Postn/aeditor@watershedpost.com
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Windham JournalUnder 250https://www.columbiagreenemedia.com/site/forms/online_services/letter/Name, address, phone required
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Woodstock TimesMonday for following ThursdayUnder 300wtedit@gmail.comName, address, phone required
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