LTE Header | UNWLA - Ukrainian National Womens League of America

Letters to Editor for Ukraine

Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor (LTEs) can be one of the most effective, and cost-efficient ways to educate citizens and influence public officials. The opinion page continues to be one of the most read sections of a newspaper, and its articles are tracked by politicians, companies, and organizations as a way to monitor public opinions.   

As we continue to engage American’s around the issue of Ukraine’s stolen children, Op-Eds & LTEs give us a unique opportunity to highlight aspects that may have been overlooked.   

We’ve put together a kit with instructions, possible subjects, and list of publications to help you expedite the process. 

Instructions & Tips: 

Decide if you want to write an Opinion Piece or Letter to Editor

    1. Op-eds are usually 500-700 words & typically written by guest columnists or experts on a particular topic and are intended to persuade or inform readers on a specific issue.
    2. Letters to the Editor, on the other hand, are shorter, usually around 150-200 words, and are written by individuals who want to express their opinions on a specific issue or respond to a previous article. They are often more personal and less formal than op-eds

Decide to which papers you plan to write

  • For maximum advocacy impact, you should focus on the local papers which you read & which cover relevant subjects.   Do a quick google search for “YOUR STATE local newspapers” – Each state has a wikipedia page like THIS
      1. TIP:  Don’t fixate on large papers like the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post & the like.   Smaller papers are easier to submit to & are looking for engagement with readers.
        1. CAVEAT: You can be too local – some hyperlocal papers only cover local issues so an LTE about something international will not fit with their subject matter
      2. TIP:  Read other letters to the editor for an impression of what gets printed.

Find out how to Submit your piece

  • Letter to the editor: 
    • Most papers either have a submission form or an email.   You can find it by searching the newspaper website or looking in the contact Us section
  • Op-Ed:
    • Every newspaper has a staff of opinion page editors. Larger newspapers may have someone who deals exclusively with op-eds, while small papers might have one person who handles op-eds, letters to the editor, and also writes the paper’s own editorials. 
    • The easiest way to find out who’s in charge of op-eds & their email address is to simply call the general number at the paper and ask. It’s not a secret. 

Write the piece

  • See below for a more detailed breakdown.  The most important points to highlight are why is this issue important, and why now.  Be sure to include specific information instead of vague statements.  Bonus if you can find a way to create a more local tie to the issue being discussed.  

Submit the piece

  • Send in your op-ed, using the information you learned in step 3. Make sure to include your phone number and local address as well.

Call to follow up

  • This is the most important part. You can write the most brilliant op-ed ever, and it’s very unlikely to be printed unless you call and make a compelling pitch to get it printed.  A good follow up call will stress that the op-ed is timely, and why it’s interesting for readers. 

Once Your Piece is published – Share Widely

  • Please let us (UNWLA) know if your article is published.  Share among your community and please be sure to forward to your elected officials.

Op-Ed Structure: Advice for Crafting your Op-Ed:

  1. Headline: It doesn’t hurt to provide your preferred headline. It’s a chance to frame the piece strategically, and some editors will take the suggestion  
  2. Identify your main point: i.e. No Peace Without Ukraine’s Kids. You should be able to clearly state the central aspect of your point of view before ever writing a full op-ed piece about it. This will help you remain focused and weed out details or arguments that don’t advance your point. 
  3. Lede: Open with a lede that hooks the audience: Your lede is the first sentence or, in some cases, the entire opening paragraph of your op-ed project, and it should grab the reader’s attention. An effective op-ed keeps anyone reading it engaged from the first paragraph to the last.
  4. Body paragraphs: Preview the solution you are advocating for in the first few paragraphs — if you leave it until the end, people may not read that far. Let the reader know where you are going; then take them there. Remember to use active voice and address counterarguments.
  5. Concluding paragraph: Reiterate why this issue is important.
  6. Engage your reader in a call to action: Encourage your audience to contact their senators and representatives and insist on the passage of the Supplementary Bill.
  7. TIP:  Call out your Senators & elected officials by name in the piece – either to thank them or to challenge them. 

Helpful Tips To Increase Likelihood of Placement 

  1. Know your paper’s policies. Be timely. Your Op-Ed should be sent in advance of the Day of Commemoration in order to allow the newspaper editors time to consider your submission
  2. Be direct. You have limited space to get your point across. Make sure your letter is concise, informative, and compelling. Grab the readers’ attention! 
  3. Think about your audience. Editors are more willing to publish an Op-Ed that shows relevance to its readers.
  4. Make sure any facts and figures are correct. 
  5. Be brief. It’s worth repeating. Be short and to the point. 
  6. When submitting, be sure to provide:  Full Name  Address  Phone Number  Email Address

Additional Resources:

Writing Letters to the Editor

Washington Post Guide To Op-Eds

Berkeley Media Studies Group: Crafting Effective Op-Eds: 

MasterClass Guide to Op-Eds 

30 Tools for Strong Writing

*The Op-Ed Project offers Ask a Journalist office hours each Thursday at 5pm EST to support people.