Help spread the word about the 10.2.10 March to Washington! The progressive internet is swimming in news; even some conservative sites are discussing the event. But we need some mainstream media attention. If it's anything like the Beck Rally, the media won't pick up the story until it is too late for most people to make plans. But you can help bridge the gap by writing a letter to your local newspaper.
Won't print it, you say? Maybe not, but we have some tips to make it more likely. And, by the end of the diary, if you haven't seen a letter you can tweak to make your own, you'll have some great ideas on how to write one that you like better. Then you can share it with us in the comments. Worse case scenario, you've made someone at your local paper wonder what in the world is going on and they might start thinking of writing an article/editorial about 10.2.10 for your local paper.
Come join the conversation and help craft a great Letter to the Editor (LTE) that others can use. Then let's see how many we can get published!
Last week, we discussed four simple rules to follow to help get your letter published:
Make the letter personal - As a Texas citizen
Make a simple point - voters deserve to hear from all candidates
Paint a picture with words - disappointing and contemptible
End with a zinger - step up to the plate, join the debate and let's see whatcha got!
The examples came from several LTE's about Republican candidates in Texas failing to step up to the lecturn to debate their opponents. But the rules are the same for any LTE.
We're going to add a new rule today - another simple one that local papers follow pretty closely:
Write in response to an article or another LTE in your local paper.
Most newspapers don't want to publish an LTE unless it relates directly to an article they already published so our goal will be to craft our message as a response to a recent news story. For example, this past Sunday, the NY Times published this article The Number of Families in Shelters Rises. Small town papers usually pick up stories from larger papers, so look for a version of the story in your local paper.
Here is a possible submission to the NY Times:
As the mother of two children, I was dismayed to read Sunday's article, The Number of Families in Shelters Rises. The article only confirms my worst fears - not enough is being done to help American families. I am afraid that midterm elections might make things worse. I am afraid the millions of people who elected President Barack Obama will forget that change takes time and refrain from voting this fall. On October 2, 2010, there will be a large march on Washington DC to remind our politicians, and all those new voters, that the Obama administration has only begun to tackle the large problems faced by our nation. We need an invigorated electorate telling Democrats that we need more change, not less. It is the only way we can hope to dig ourselves out of this recession.
I tried to follow my own rules:
Make the letter personal - As the mother of two children
Make a simple point - On October 2, 2010, there will be a large march on Washington DC
Paint a picture with words - my worst fears... I am afraid... invigorated electorate
End with a zinger - It is the only way we can hope to dig ourselves out of this recession.
See how it works? Let's see if we can come up with one more.
Front page news on the Chicago Tribune site last night: Tea Party candidate wins Delaware GOP contest. I'm sure this is a story that many papers around the nation will share! Chicago also happens to be a city where at least 5 buses will be headed to the 10.2.10 rally.
After reading 'Tea party' candidate wins Delaware GOP contest, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or to cry. On the one hand, these anti-government candidates will provide great political theatre. On the other, the chance that any of these Tea Party candidates will hold sway in our nation's capitol scares me to death. And that will happen unless those who elected President Obama show up at the polls this November. As a former Republican voter, my views have not been welcome in the Republican party for a long time. I would rather join those marching on Washington DC this 10.2.2010 and let Congress know we need more change, not less. I will ride the bus from Chicago and join my fellow progressives to demand more for middle America, less for corporations, and to GET OUT THE VOTE this November!
Make the letter personal - As a former Republican voter (yes, I have voted Republican in the past)
Make a simple point - join those marching on Washington this 10.2.2010
Paint a picture with words - to laugh or to cry... hold sway in our nation's capitol... more change, not less
End with a zinger - more for middle America, less for corporations, and to GET OUT THE VOTE this November!
If you need a few more ideas, here are a few articles that have been published in the last week about the 10.2.10 March. They are far and few between, but if you happen to live in these places, you have the perfect opening for an LTE.
The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro, TN
"We hope to have tens of thousands of people marching on the National Mall," Bouldin said. "We want to come together and bring unity. We need a jobs bill. We are asking for the change we voted for from President (Barack) Obama. We want jobs and educational funding."
The Examiner, Grand Rapids, Michigan
On October 2, 2010 a march on Washington, D.C. will be the continuance of the spirit of the Jobs, Justice and Peace cause, with the One Nation Working Together Rally. Causes promoted at the event include:
Putting America Back to Work
Quality and Affordable Education
Equalities for All-Refocusing on Our Nations Financial Priorities
The Sacramento Observer, Sacramento, CA
“We will be in Washington on 10-2-10 and we will be at the Ballot Box on 11-2-10,” he said. “Breathing new life in to our communities - reviving America again…and truly realizing the promise of one nation, one dream…will require that we continue doing the hard work of breathing new life into the NAACP. Watchmen – What time is it? It’s time to wake up the troops, to warn the people that racism and hate is still alive in America.”
As always, I'll end this week with a list of DKos Diaries about LTE's:
To the Editor of My Local Paper - on 9/11, the "Mosque," and Tolerance
Dear Progressive Blogger
Now, tell me what you think. Get a letter published this week? Have an idea for a new one? Please share below... we could all use some new ideas!