Activist Toolkit: Engage the Media

Engaging the media around the TPP is a great way to put the spotlight on this deal. Increased media coverage of the environmental impacts of the TPP ensures some public resistance against the deal. Below you can find a key way to engage the media on the TPP.
 
A. Write a letter to the editor: Increasing coverage of the often under-reported TPP in the media is a great way to educate members of the public and influence policy makers. By writing a letter to the editor, you can engage your local media and raise awareness about the impacts of trade on the environment.
 
Because many people read letters to the editor (LTEs), they are a quick, effective, and continuing means of communicating your campaign message to a wide audience. They can be used to correct and clarify facts in a news story, editorial, or opinion piece, oppose or support actions of an official agency, direct attention to a problem, spur news editors to cover an issue that is being overlooked, and urge readers to support your cause. Here are some tips as to how to write an effective letter to the editor.
 

  • Pick a Timely Topic — Newspapers rarely publish letters about topics that are not being covered in the news. Referring to a previously published article or column will increase your letter’s chances of being published.

 

  • Research the Guidelines — Most papers’ length limit on LTEs is around 250 words. Stick to this so that an editor does not cut out the important points of your letter. Some papers require a typed letter. Others may want it sent via e-mail. Often newspapers want your address and phone number so they can verify that you wrote the letter. You can usually find a paper’s guidelines on the letters page. If not, call the paper directly or visit its website.

 

  • Assume Nothing — Do not assume that your readers are informed on your topic. Give a concise but informative background before plunging into the main issue. Refer to any newspaper article or editorial by date and title. Also include any relevant credentials that prove you are informed about your topic

 

  • Be Brief — State your position as succinctly as possible without eliminating necessary detail. Keep your paragraphs short. Long, rambling sentences and digressions will cause people to lose interest quickly. Stick to one subject.

 

  • Maintain Composure — It is okay to express outrage, but it should be kept under control. Avoid personal attacks and focus instead on criticizing specific policies or ideas.

 

  • Find a Local Angle — Readers are more interested in an issue when they see how it affects their lives and communities. Find a way to show how budget cuts or environmental policies will affect this particular readership.

 

  • Involve Your Volunteers — You can generate a lot of letters by distributing outlines of sample letters to your campaign volunteers. Stagger mailings a few days apart for a current topic or weeks apart to spur general interest. Be sure letter writers have their facts straight. Letters by Sierra Club members that argue for competing interests or include inconsistent facts do not reflect well on the organization.

 

  • Avoid Form Letters — Do not send the same letter to two competing papers in the same circulation area. A form letter sent to papers in different markets should look like an original, and all letters should be signed individually.



V. Conclusion
Thank you for your engagement in this work, as it comes at such a pivotal moment in the fight against the TPP. We hope that you found the information in our activist toolkit helpful. Again, if you have any questions or need any help with our toolkit, please reach out to our Responsible Trade Campaign Representative - Anthony Torres anthony.torres@sierraclub.org. Good luck!