UNIVERSITY COALITIONS for GLOBAL HEALTH

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Writing for the Media

Interviewing and writing are great ways to increase the profile of your issue to the public. The best part about it is that you can do it on your own. The following sections include writing and interviewing suggestions.

Letters to the Editor

Writing a letter to the editor is something that anyone can do. It is an avenue to present your opinion on a particular topic.

Remember your Cs:

Current – Responding to a recent article or to a recent event is a great way to increase your odds of being published. Refer specifically to the article by using the name of the article and date, such as, “In response to your recent article on AIDS in Africa…”
Tip: You can do a search on the newspaper’s website for recent articles, using search words like “AIDS”.
Clear and Concise – Keep your letter short and sweet by sticking to one subject. Have you made your point clear? Can you shorten your letter and still get your point across? Most papers will not print letters that are more than 250 words, or three to four paragraphs in length.
Controversial – Question what others have said or done. However, avoid personal attacks.
Contact Information – Include your address, e-mail and phone number.

Tips for Submission:

Send the letter to more than one publication, as long as they are not in the same media market
Don’t send to editors via Cc: or Bcc; send one message at a time
If you can comment on a specific story in the paper, do so, mentioning the headline and date
Send your letter in the body of the e-mail message, not as an attachment
Don’t send letters relating to other localities
If you letter doesn’t run, re-send it
Send a copy to your legislator and to the UCGH fellow

Op-Ed

Opinion editorials or op-eds are submitted to newspapers to express a position on a topic. It is a good way to show that you feel reporting is missing on your issue and explain details about your issue.

Characteristics of Op-Eds

700 words long
Short and creative
Lead with a main point
Include recommendations for solving the problem
Present a local angle
Include statistics
End with a strong statement
Indicate authorship and/or group affiliation
Include all contact information

Tips for Submission

You should call the op-ed editor before you write the piece to gauge his/her interest. Explain why you think the issue is important to the paper’s readers.
Most papers have an op-eds section and review process that can take any where from weeks to months: find out how that process works.
Often op-eds are written by one person and then signed by one or more prominent people. “Big name” writers are more likely to get published.

Media Interviews

Using local television shows and radio stations are some of the quickest and easiest ways to raise attention to your issue. Radio especially presents an opportunity for you to speak directly to the public about your issue. It is an excellent way to reach all of the members of your community.

Tips for media interviews