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Letter-to-Editor Writing Workshop

Letter-to-Editor Writing Workshop. Making Climate Change News. Why Letters to the Editor?. The Letters page is one of the most popular sections in the paper. Politicians and their staff tend to read the letters to gauge their constituents on the news of the day.

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Letter-to-Editor Writing Workshop

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  1. Letter-to-Editor Writing Workshop Making Climate Change News

  2. Why Letters to the Editor? • The Letters page is one of the most popular sections in the paper. • Politicians and their staff tend to read the letters to gauge their constituents on the news of the day. • It’s a relatively easy way to get your views published. • Priority of Publishing: • News/Editorials • Columns • Op-eds • Other Letters

  3. How to get published • Letters to the editor typically are 150-200 words. 3 or 4 paragraphs. Short and Sweet. • Tip: After drafting, cut 50 more words to trim the fat. • When writing, ask yourself: What is my message and how does that relate to the article that was in the paper?

  4. How to get published • Don’t try to say everything in one letter. There’s no room for it and it muddies the message. • In addition to your full name, the newspaper will want your address and phone number (not for publication) to verify your letter. • Even if you don’t get published, you still got an assist.

  5. Template Email To Newspaper

  6. Common Emails of Editors • Toronto Star: lettertoed@thestar.ca • Globe and Mail: Letters@globeandmail.com • National Post: • Google Search "National Post letter to the editor“ and submit on National Post website • Toronto Sun: Cynthia.McLeod@sunmedia.ca • Now Magazine: letters@nowtoronto.com

  7. Finding Articles on Climate Change Create Google Alert to get emailed climate change articles in major Toronto Newspapers • Go to alerts.google.com • Copy and Paste the following into the Google Alert: • "climate change“ | "global warming" and "Toronto Star" | "Globe and Mail" | "National Post" | "Toronto Sun" | "Now Magazine“ • Save Google Alert

  8. Sample Article 1 Toronto Star: Editorial How jobs are changing in a warming climate by RAVEENA AULAKH on DEC 02, 2013 • …. • A changing climate has made our lives more complicated, says Yussuff, but he adds it needn’t be a struggle between jobs and the environment. • “As I see it, there is potential to create thousands and thousands of well-paying green jobs . . . there is transportation, retrofitting of homes, energy efficiency,” he says. “The statistics speak volumes.”

  9. Sample Letter 1 • One of the most frustrating parts about reading an article on the effects of climate change on the economy and labour is the lack of actions that a reader can take. • We’ve been so disconnected from our involvement in the democratic process. Each of us has the right to write an email/letter to our MP. We each have the right to ask them to support policies to reduce climate change, such as carbon fee and dividend. This puts a price on carbon and returns the revenue in reduced taxes. • It has worked in B.C. to reduce emissions by 17 per cent. Economists agree it’s the best way to reduce emissions. Even oil companies favour this approach because it’s easiest for them to implement. • So why is Canada still not doing it? That’s a question your MP should answer. Amar Kumar, Toronto

  10. Sample Article 2 NOW Magazine: Front Page Article FOUR REASONS KEYSTONE REALLY MATTERS - AND TAR SANDS OIL DEVELOPMENT IS IN DEEP TROUBLE by NAOMI KLEIN on DECEMBER 3, 2014 • It doesn't matter: ever since the debate over the Keystone XL pipeline exploded three and half years ago, that's been the argument from the project's liberal supporters. • Sure, the oil that Keystone would carry from the Alberta tar sands is three to four times more greenhouse-gas-intensive than conventional crude. But that's not on Keystone XL, we're told. Why? Because if TransCanada isn't able to build Keystone to the south, then another pipeline will be built to the west or east. Or that dirty oil will be transported by rail…..

  11. Sample Letter 2 CARBON TAX CHANGES EVERYTHING • If we want to shift into a renewable-energy-based economy, we need to put a price on carbon. It's worked in BC to reduce emissions by 17 per cent, but still our federal government remains silent. • It's up to us as citizens to flood our politicians with emails and phone calls telling them to take action. Some citizens have already started doing this, like the group Citizens Climate Lobby. • In a country where 59 per cent of Canadians agree that climate change should be top priority for our government, we have to realize that we are an army. We can stop our MPs from stalling on climate change. It's up to us to make the move. Amar Kumar, Etobicoke

  12. Let’s Practice! • Choose an article: 10 minutes • ask yourself: What is my message and how does that relate to the article that was in the paper? • Write a letter: No Time, but feel free to take as homework! • Letters to the editor typically are 150-200 words. 3 or 4 paragraphs. Short and sweet. • Don’t try to say everything in one letter. There’s no room for it and it muddies the message

  13. Good Luck! Amar Kumar akumar@effensource.com

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