Guidance /
Letters to the editor and op-eds can be a great way to draw attention to your work and spread your message widely. Here are some tips to keep in mind when crafting and pitching LTEs and op-eds.
Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor (LTE) is a short response (usually 250 words or less) to an article or reaction to a news event. As such, it is necessary to make only one or two succinct points in your letter. Sometimes an LTE is a better choice than an op-ed because it is more likely to get published and/or it will get published faster.
Things to keep in mind when writing a letter to the editor:
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Look up your publication’s word limit for LTEs, as well as any other submission guidelines
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Sign the letter off from one or two individual representatives
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Identify your specific League name in the body of your letter
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Keep your angle local
Opinion editorial (op-ed)
Different from a letter to the editor, an op-ed is a longer-form essay (500 to 800 words) on a specific topic aimed at making a case to the public for an explicit action.
It’s important to find an angle for your topic that is specific and clear. When writing an op-ed, it can be tempting to use the opportunity to tell your audience everything you think they need to know, but that is always too much for one piece. Look for a unique, newsworthy angle. A successful op-ed lays out its specific thesis clearly and explains it in around 800 words.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only pitch to regional and local publications. Leagues should not submit op-eds to large national publications, such as the New York Times. For questions, contact [email protected].
Things to consider when writing and pitching an op-ed:
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Pick a specific and clear topic – look for a unique angle or newsworthy hook
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Keep references based in your state/community
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Aim for 500 to 800 words
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Have one designated author; you can use first-person pronouns, and other members can help ghost-write
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Try to incorporate a call to action
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Identify the author’s title and your specific League name
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Only pitch your op-ed to one publication at a time; this piece will be "an exclusive"
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Paste the entirety of your op-ed in the body of your email to the opinion editor, and precede it with a short paragraph (pitch) explaining why you think the piece is good for them to publish right now
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Make your pitch specific to the publication you're pitching to
Here are some examples of published op-eds from the League of Women Voters:
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From LWVUS: How H.R. 1 could help more women make history
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From LWV of Wisconsin: THE TIME FOR REDISTRICTING REFORM IN WISCONSIN IS NOW
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From LWV of Florida: Direct democracy in Florida is under attack at the Capitol
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From LWV of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville: The League of Women Voters urges a Yes vote on Measure F