Your words can carry a lot of weight.  Look for opportunities to connect your letter to current issues involving children, education and economic development.  In addition to the newspaper, don’t forget weekly business and community publications.

Here are a few tips to increase the chances your letter will be published:

• Make it timely.  If you are responding to an event, a news article or another letter or opinion piece, you’ll want to email your letter within 1-3 days.
• Be concise.  Try to keep your letter to 200 words or less.
• Don’t forget to include your full name, address and phone number.  Newspapers will not print anonymous letters.

Here are a couple of sample letters to the editor.  (They are merely examples and have not been submitted for publication anywhere).

Dear Editor,

As our public officials work to make the best use of limited resources, I urge them to invest in our youngest citizens.  An investment in quality early childhood programs brings significant long-term benefits to the community.
Studies have shown the return can be as high as $17 for every $1 invested, with a more typical return of between $3-7.  Little else gives us that much bang for our buck!  Quality services that intervene in the first few years of a child’s life can ultimately lead to a decrease in teen pregnancy, welfare dependency and prison costs.  Wouldn’t we rather spend our money on pre-schools than on prisons!
As we work to rebuild our economy, it is critical that policy makers commit resources to quality programs for our youngest children.  It is one of our best strategies to strengthen our future workforce, break the cycle of poverty and secure our community’s economic prosperity.

Jane Doe
Street Address
City, State Zip
Phone Number

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the article “Families Struggle to Pay for Day Care” (Feb. 15).  We must make sure all families who need it have access to quality child care.  From the time they’re babies, children need to be in a stimulating environment where they interact with responsive, nurturing caregivers.
More than 60% of all infants, toddlers and preschoolers in Kent County have both parents in the workforce.  It benefits all of us to make sure they receive quality child care.  We know the experiences children have in their first few years of life have a profound impact on their later success in school.
The average cost of full-time care in Kent County is 16% of the average wage-far higher for low-income workers.  We need public policies that ensure families can afford quality child care and pre-school.  Without them, far too many children are beginning kindergarten without the social, emotional and academic skills they need.  When that happens, both our children and our community pay a heavy price.

John Doe
Street Address
City, State Zip
Phone Number

Contact information for a few Kent County publications:

Grand Rapids Press:  pulse@grpress.com

Grand Rapids Business Journal:  bjletters@grbj.com

Grand Rapids Times:  staff@grtimes.com