Contacting the Media
Letters to the Editor
- Be Factual - The facts are our best weapon in the war of the printed word. Including a fact, statistic or quote strengthens the credibility of a letter and educates readers.
- Be timely - A letter should be written and mailed immediately after the publication of a problematic news story or editorial.
- Be Focused - Confine letter to a single issue; too many issues may detract from making one point very forcefully and convincingly.
- Be Concise - Delete unnecessary phrases or words. A short letter has a better chance of being published. Better you should edit it than an editor who might dilute or distort your main point.
- Be Rational - Keep message factual and discussion logical. Expressing hostility or bitterness will undermine your credibility.
- Be Original - Do not repeat all the charges in the story to which you are replying. Not everyone will have seen the original and you don’t want to give it extra mileage.
- Be Aware of Eye Appeal - Keep paragraphs short. Narrow newspaper columns make long paragraphs seem longer and uninviting.
- Be Interesting - Spark the reader’s interest with the opening sentence. Close it with a sentence that leaves the reader thinking.
Things to Remember When Writing to a Newspaper
- Keep it simple. Don’t give long convoluted historical explanations (even if they’re correct!)
- Be brief.
- Use images, analogies and involve emotions.
- Be authentic, “I was in Israel, and I …”
- Be authoritative, quote objective sources (but see #1!)
- Consider your audience. Try to couch your statement in line with their politics, style, etc.
- Support and reinforce pro-Israel statements.
- In an ongoing correspondence, remember that the readers will not have the original piece that you are replying to before them. Make sure your contribution makes sense as a “stand alone” piece.
- Don’t be insulting!
Things to Remember When Calling a Talk Radio Program
- Think out your contribution in advance.
- Keep it simple. Don’t give long convoluted historical explanations (even if they’re correct!) Stick to one basic message.
- Use images and analogies to involve emotions.
- Be authentic, “I was in Israel, and I …”
- Be authoritative, quote objective sources (but see #2!)
- Make the presenter your friend if possible. Try to couch your statement in line with their politics, style, etc.
- Be inventive. Don’t just call the shows that deal with Mid-East issues. Think of pro-Israel things to say for all kinds of shows.
- Support and reinforce pro-Israel statements.
- Try to predict possible objections. Have counter statements prepared.
- Stay on topic. “The real issue here is …”
For more information, contact the Federation at info@jf-gmc.org or call 732-588-1800.