Write a Letter to the Editor
Help get the word out by submitting a letter or op-ed to your local newspaper.
Every piece of media coverage helps new people hear about Fair Districts PA. You can help by contributing your voice to your community’s publications.
- Letter to the editor: Short, often in response to a recent article in the publication.
- Opinion, op-ed or guest column: A little longer, expressing an opinion or viewpoint on a timely topic, often from an expert or organizational leader, sometimes speaking on behalf of a group or organization.
Tips for an effective letter or op-ed
You’ll be most likely to get published if your letter is:
- Brief: Stay within the word limit and follow all submission guidelines. Most letters are about 200 words, and op-eds are about 600 to 800 words.
- Timely: Start by connecting the issue with current events.
- Personal: Share a story about how the issue affects you and those around you.
- Focused: Choose one central idea and stick to it.
- Clear: Use simple language and sentences, and avoid jargon. Clearly explain ideas and persuade readers—don’t show off vocabulary.
- Readable: Use short paragraphs (2-4 sentences). This makes the text easier to read, whether it’s in newsprint or on a phone screen.
- Unifying: Think about the views of people who might disagree with you. Look for and highlight common ground.
- Persuasive: Make it clear why the reader should care about the issue, and provide evidence. Consider potential counterarguments, and briefly acknowledge and refute them.
- Actionable: End your letter with a call to action: “Learn more at www.fairdistrictspa.com” or “Write your state legislator to support this bill.”
For samples: check the FDPA Media Highlights page
Pennsylvania publications
Below is a list of major Pennsylvania newspapers and how to submit a letter or op-ed.
Western Pennsylvania
Allegheny Times
- Email a letter to lmicco@timesonline.com
Beaver County Times
- Email a letter to timesletters@timesonline.com
- 200-word limit
Butler Eagle
- Email a letter to news@butlereagle.com
DuBois Courier-Express
- Submit a letter online
- 300-word limit
Erie Times-News
- Email a letter toletters@timesnews.com
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Submit a letter to letters@post-gazette.com
- Email an op-ed to opinion@post-gazette.com
- 250-word limit for letters
- 600 to 800 words for op-eds
- Submission guidelines for letters and op-eds
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Email a letter to opinion@tribweb.com or opinion@triblive.com
- 200-word limit
- Submission guidelines for letters
Somerset Daily American
- Submit a letter online
- 250-word limit
Sharon Herald
- Submit a letter online
- 250-word limit
Uniontown Herald-Standard
- Submit a letter online
- 250-word limit
Washington Observer-Reporter
- Email a letter to orletters@observer-reporter.com
Central Pennsylvania
Altoona Mirror
Carlisle Sentinel
- Email a letter to frontdoor@cumberlink.com
Dubois Courier Express
Gettysburg Times
- Submit a letter online
- 400-word limit
Harrisburg Patriot-News/PennLive
- Submit a letter online
- Email an op-ed to oped@pennlive.com
- 250-word limit for letters
- 850-word limit for op-eds
- Submission guidelines
Huntingdon Daily News
- Email a letter to dnews@huntingdondailynews.com
Lebanon Daily News
- Email a letter to rahnforney@LDNews.com
Lock Haven Express
- Email a letter to brolley@lockhaven.com
State College Centre Daily Times
- Submit a letter online
- 250-word limit
Sunbury Daily Item
- Submit a letter online
- 250-word limit
Williamsport Sun Gazette
- Submit a letter online
- Submitted letters may also be shared to Lock Haven Express, Altoona Mirror, and Lewistown Sentinel
York Daily Record
- Submit a letter online
- 300-word limit
Eastern Pennsylvania
Allentown Morning Call
- Submit a letter online
- 200-word limit
Berks Mont News
- Email a letter or op-ed to rblanchard@berksmontnews.com
Bucks County Herald
- Email a letter or op-ed to bridget@buckscountyherald.com
- Include phone number
Citizens Voice
- Email a letter or op-ed to yourvoice@citizensvoice.com
Delaware County Daily Times
- Email a letter or op-ed to editor@delcotimes.com
Easton Express-Times/LehighValleyLive
- Email a letter or op-ed to letters@lehighvalleylive.com
- 250-word limit for letters
- 500- to 600-word limit for op-eds
- Submission guidelines
The Intelligencer
- Email a letter or op-ed to letters@theintell.com
- 300-word limit
Lancaster Intelligencer-Journal
- Submit a letter online
- 300-word limit
METRO Philadelphia
- Email a letter to letters@metro.us
Philadelphia Inquirer
- Email a letter or op-ed to inquirer.letters@phillynews.com
- 150 word limit for letters
- 500- to 800-word limit for op-eds
Philadelphia Tribune
- Submit a letter online
- 250-word limit
Philly News
- Email a letter to oped@phillynews.com
Pocono Record
- Email a letter or op-ed to letters@poconorecord.com
Pottstown Mercury
- Email a letter to editor@pottsmerc.com
Reading Eagle
- Submit a letter online
- 200-word limit
Scranton Times-Tribune
- Submit a letter online
- 300-word limit
Stroudsburg Pocono Record
- Submit a letter online
- 300-word limit
Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice
- Email a letter to yourvoice@citizensvoice.com
- 150-word limit