This is a great way to voice your opinion, to effectively influence public opinion and show support for leaders and issues. It helps your representatives and lawmakers gauge their constituents’ opinions and it’s a great way to raise awareness about the issues.
Following are the email links for various local newspapers. (If the email links don’t work well for you, the actual email address for each newspaper is listed as well. You can copy and paste that into your email program.)
All papers require that you include your name, address, phone number and email address when you send a letter to the editor.
Franklin News Post
info@thefranklinnewspost.com
Bedford Bulletin
news@bedfordbulletin.com
The Roanoke Times
letters@roanoke.com
The News and Advance
letters@newsadvance.com
Smith Mountain Eagle
steve@smithmountaineagle.com
Some helpful hints for writing letters to an editor:
1. Most newspapers impose a word limit, usually 200 words. If you use Word to draft the letters, there is a “Word Count” option under the “Tools” icon on the toolbar. Shorter, to the point letters are most effective.
2. Don’t include personal attacks in a letter (i.e. don’t use names like “weasel”, “communist”, “Nazi”, “stupid”, “un-American”, “liar”, etc.)
3. Be factual! Don’t include statements or accusations that may not be accurate.
4. If you mention any of our Republican leaders, letters should always include positive comments about them, their record, and/or endorsements. We have some great leaders, and we should be proud to extol their excellent credentials.
5. If you are writing about the opposition, focus on the destructive aspects of a person’s record as a politician – his votes on the House or Senate floor, his press releases, his public statements, etc.
6. Many newspapers have limits on how frequently they will accept letters from the same individual; some have 30 day limits, some have 60 day limits. Check what limits the newspaper you are writing may have. Some papers have rules saying they won’t publish a letter that has been published elsewhere. You may want to check this out if you are “blasting” the same letter to multiple newspapers.
MEDIA COMMENT LINES:
Roanoke Times – (540) 981-3173
News & Advance – (434) 385-5400
Smith Mountain Eagle – (540) 719-5100
Franklin News Post – (540) 483-5113
Bedford Bulletin – (540) 586-8612
ABC News – (800) 230-0229
CBS News – (212) 975-3247
NBC/MSNBC News – (212) 664-4444 is the only phone number listed. The best option may be to go on their website – NBC.com has both – and click on a program and go down to the Contact Us link where you will be able to send a message with your feedback.
CNN – (404) 827-1500
FOX News – (888) 369-4762