Letter to the editor
Encyclopedia : L : LE : LET : Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor (sometimes abbreviated LTTE) is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern to its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication.
Usually, letters to the editor are associated with newspapers and newsmagazines. However, they are sometimes sent to other periodicals (such as entertainment and technical magazines), and radio and television stations. In the latter instance, letters are sometimes read on the air (usually, on a news broadcast or on talk radio).
In many publications, letters to the editor may be sent either through conventional mail or electronic mail.
Subject matter
The subject matter of letters to the editor vary widely. However, the most common topics include:
- Supporting or opposing an editorial stance, or responding to another writer's letter to the editor.
- Commenting on a current issue being debated by a governing body – local, regional or national depending on the publication's circulation. Often, the writer will urge elected officials to make their decision based on his/her viewpoint.
- Remarking on materials (such as a news story) that have appeared in a previous edition. Such letters may either be critical or praiseworthy.
- Correcting a perceived error or misrepresentation.
Conditions
Letters are usually short, as they must sometimes fit in a limited space.Many newspapers require that letters to the editor be under a certain number of words, and may attach other conditions, such as prohibiting anonymous letters, letters that contain misinformation or are meant to libel someone, are obscene or in poor taste, or are meant to resolve a personal conflict.
Other frequent conditions include limiting writers to one published letter within a specified time period (often, one per 30 days); limiting the publication of letters on controversial topics after a certain time period, especially if the debate takes an emotional toll on the involved parties; and refusal to publish letters that are almost exclusively biblical citations. Some editors will also decline to publish letters that have also been sent to other newspapers, especially competing newspapers.
See also
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.