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Veterans For Peace - 20 Years of Waging Peace
Letter to the editor

Inform Your Local Media about Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan - Letter to the Editor

Typically, a letter to the editor is written in reference to a story, article, or column previously published in the newspaper. In this case, we are trying to encourage our local media to cover the Winter Soldier Investigation and letters to the editors are a very effective way to do this.  > download sample Letter to Editor

What is a Letter to the Editor?

A letter to the editor is written in reference to a story, article, or column previously published in the newspaper.

Tips for writing a letter to the editor

  • Be timely. Your letter has a better chance of being published if it is in response to a previously written story.
  • Be precise. Keep your word count between 100-200 words.
  • Be sure to explain what the Winter Soldier Campaign is in your letter!
  • Get to the point in the first sentence. The rest should be supportive material
  • Keep your paragraphs short.
  • Always add your name, phone number, and address to your letter.
  • Letters are best submitted by email, fax, or regular mail.
  • Avoid personal attacks.

Additional notes: When you have something that you want addressed, be sure to have many members and supporters of your chapter write letters to the editor. While they may only publish a fraction of what they receive, many newspaper editors assume public opinion coincides with the types of letters to the editors they are receiving. The more letters your chapter is able to send about Winter Soldier, the louder your voice will be and the more likely the media will cover it!

Sample Letter to the Editor

Your Name
Veterans For Peace
Adress
City, State Zip Code

February 5, 2008


Letters to the Editor
Star and Star Daily Newspaper

Dear Editor:

Roughly two members of our military die in the war and occupation of Iraq every day. However, the news of the war seems to have faded from our headlines. There is a brave group of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are standing up against this war.

March 13 - 16, in Washington D.C., veterans from the war will participate in the "Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan" to speak out about what they have seen and done in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is reminiscent of the original Winter Soldier Investigation by Vietnam veterans in 1971.

It's time to turn our attention away from Hollywood happenings and long election campaigns and back to the fact that both members of the U.S. military and Iraqi citizens are dying and struggling on a daily basis - and we have real veterans who can tell us first hand about these struggles. Members of the ____ community want to learn about Winter Soldier. Our expectation is that you cover this important and historic event.

You can learn more about the Winter Soldier Campaign at www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier or call the Veterans For Peace National Office at 314-725-6005.

Sincerely -

Your Name
Veteran Status