Influencing Political Decisions Through Writing Powerful Letters to the Editor

Action Network Training Writing Powerful Letters to the Editor

2 Our Anti-Oppression Values RESULTS is a movement of passionate, committed everyday people. Together we use our voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. Poverty cannot end as long as oppression exists. We commit to opposing all forms of oppression, including racism, classism, colonialism, white saviorism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, and religious discrimination. At RESULTS we pledge to create space for all voices, including those of us who are currently experiencing poverty. We will address oppressive behavior in our interactions, families, communities, work, and world. Our strength is rooted in our diversity of experiences, not in our assumptions. With unearned privilege comes the responsibility to act so the burden to educate and change doesn t fall solely on those experiencing oppression. When we miss the mark on our values, we will acknowledge our mistake, seek forgiveness, learn, and work together as a community to pursue equity. There are no saviors only partners, advocates, and allies. We agree to help make the RESULTS movement a respectful, inclusive space. Find all our anti-oppression resources at: https://results.org/volunteers/anti-oppression/

3 What does the media landscape feel like these days?

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7 Advocacy Works! If your member of Congress has not already come to a decision on an issue, how much influence do the following advocacy strategies have: RESULTS volunteers have gotten 3,330 media pieces published since 2017! Source: Congressional Management Foundation, 2017

8 Opinion media is simple _____________ should _____________. (person) (action)

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10 Letters to the Editor New Unusual Local Personal Important Know your audience Reader is last Editor is first

11 Letters to the Editor KNOW YOUR WORD COUNT! Easiest way to get rejected Typically 150 250 words Check your paper s website

12 Letters to the Editor Structure How it appears 1. Local & timely hook 2. Why it matters 3. Call to action

13 Joe Manchin can get West Virginia even closer to heaven October 26, 2021 Whether you were born in West Virginia or got here as fast as you could, we all soon learn that poverty, hunger and despair can be as much a part of our landscape as mountains and rivers. In America s Almost Heaven, why is this so? An even better question would be, why does it persist? Though we may never agree on the causes of poverty, we will most certainly be able to mark this moment in our nation s history as either our greatest turning point for health, well-being and economic justice or our costliest missed opportunity. We clearly have the means to make lasting progress against poverty with the Build Back Better Act and its provisions for affordable housing, paid leave and an enhanced child tax credit. Yet proposed cuts and arbitrary limitations stand to diminish its impact, reversing the progress already made in cutting child poverty in half. Rather than being reminded of his profound influence in this process, we would do well to remind Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) that it is entirely within his power to secure prosperity, security and hope in West Virginia and across the nation through a robust Build Back Better Act. Joanna DiStefano Morgantown, W.Va. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/joe-manchin- can-get-west-virginia-even-closer-to-heaven/2021/10/25/9b097e7a-3369-11ec- 8036-7db255bff176_story.html

14 Letters to the Editor Structure How it appears 1. Local & timely hook 2. Why it matters 3. Call to action How you write it 1. Call to action 2. Why it matters 3. Local & timely hook

15 Letters to the Editor Structure How it appears 1. Local & timely hook 2. Why it matters 3. Call to action How you write it 1.CALL TO ACTION 2. Why it matters 3. Local & timely hook

16 Call to Action Be specific Legislation name? Funding number? Person to speak to? Be personal Mention members of Congress by name Be succinct Don t overload letter with multiple topics/requests

17 Call to Action Housing and EITC/CTC Pass the Build Back Better Plan Expand federal rental assistance to all eligible renters Make the 2021 expansions of the EITC and CTC permanent Global Poverty Support robust investments in global vaccine manufacturing OR support global malnutrition legislation

18 Joe Manchin can get West Virginia even closer to heaven October 26, 2021 Whether you were born in West Virginia or got here as fast as you could, we all soon learn that poverty, hunger and despair can be as much a part of our landscape as mountains and rivers. In America s Almost Heaven, why is this so? An even better question would be, why does it persist? Though we may never agree on the causes of poverty, we will most certainly be able to mark this moment in our nation s history as either our greatest turning point for health, well-being and economic justice or our costliest missed opportunity. We clearly have the means to make lasting progress against poverty with the Build Back Better Act and its provisions for affordable housing, paid leave and an enhanced child tax credit. Yet proposed cuts and arbitrary limitations stand to diminish its impact, reversing the progress already made in cutting child poverty in half. Rather than being reminded of his profound influence in this process, we would do well to remind Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) that it is entirely within his power to secure prosperity, security and hope in West Virginia and across the nation through a robust Build Back Better Act. Joanna DiStefano Morgantown, W.Va.

19 Letters to the Editor Structure How it appears 1. Local & timely hook 2. Why it matters 3. Call to action How you write it 1. Call to action 2.WHY IT MATTERS 3. Local & timely hook

20 Why it matters Why do I care about this issue? What makes this compelling now? Why does my member of Congress need to know about it? Use stories and facts to help you Facts make you credible. Stories make you memorable.

21 Joe Manchin can get West Virginia even closer to heaven October 26, 2021 Whether you were born in West Virginia or got here as fast as you could, we all soon learn that poverty, hunger and despair can be as much a part of our landscape as mountains and rivers. In America s Almost Heaven, why is this so? An even better question would be, why does it persist? Though we may never agree on the causes of poverty, we will most certainly be able to mark this moment in our nation s history as either our greatest turning point for health, well-being and economic justice or our costliest missed opportunity. We clearly have the means to make lasting progress against poverty with the Build Back Better Act and its provisions for affordable housing, paid leave and an enhanced child tax credit. Yet proposed cuts and arbitrary limitations stand to diminish its impact, reversing the progress already made in cutting child poverty in half. Rather than being reminded of his profound influence in this process, we would do well to remind Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) that it is entirely within his power to secure prosperity, security and hope in West Virginia and across the nation through a robust Build Back Better Act. Joanna DiStefano Morgantown, W.Va.

22 Letters to the Editor Structure How it appears 1. Local & timely hook 2. Why it matters 3. Call to action How you write it 1. Call to action 2. Why it matters 3.LOCAL & TIMELY HOOK

23 Local Can you connect your issue to something happening in your community?

24 Timely Recent news story COVID-19 Evictions Child poverty Poverty and homelessness Unemployment Public health Vaccines Health disparities Global pandemic news Education Gridlock in DC Local or national budget cuts Infectious diseases (AIDS, TB) Pop culture Hunger

25 Timely

26 Joe Manchin can get West Virginia even closer to heaven October 26, 2021 Whether you were born in West Virginia or got here as fast as you could, we all soon learn that poverty, hunger and despair can be as much a part of our landscape as mountains and rivers. In America s Almost Heaven, why is this so? An even better question would be, why does it persist? Though we may never agree on the causes of poverty, we will most certainly be able to mark this moment in our nation s history as either our greatest turning point for health, well-being and economic justice or our costliest missed opportunity. We clearly have the means to make lasting progress against poverty with the Build Back Better Act and its provisions for affordable housing, paid leave and an enhanced child tax credit. Yet proposed cuts and arbitrary limitations stand to diminish its impact, reversing the progress already made in cutting child poverty in half. Rather than being reminded of his profound influence in this process, we would do well to remind Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) that it is entirely within his power to secure prosperity, security and hope in West Virginia and across the nation through a robust Build Back Better Act. Joanna DiStefano Morgantown, W.Va.

27 SEND IT! 100 percent of unsent letters never get published! Submitting your LTE: E-mail it directly to the paper (e.g. letters@kcstar.com - look on paper s website for address) Submit it through your paper s website (usually an online form) Submit it through the RESULTS website (https://results.org/volunteers/action-center/) Mailing a hard copy to your local paper (takes longer) Important! Most papers require you to include your name and contact info to be published. If you are a new writer, they will sometimes contact you to verify authorship.

28 Maximize your impact Be persistent and patient keep at it! If one paper doesn t publish, try another Work at building relationships with editorial staff and reporters Leverage your media Send copies of your media to relevant congressional aides Share on social media Urge others to respond to your media

29 Media Success Checklist Check for 3 key pieces Write it in reverse Check your word count Hit send ! Send it to Congress Send it RESULTS: www.tinyurl.com/RESULTSMedia Repeat

30 Anyone can do it!

31 Share your skills with others Getting published is empowering and fun Fast and visible Media actions a great way to get people interested in advocacy Invite others to write letters with you Call a friend and ask him/her to write an LTE (support) Collaborate on writing an op-ed Hold an online training (use this PPT it s easy!) Make it a game who can get published first? Always follow up after to celebrate success/try again

32 Resources RESULTS Media Tools: https://results.org/volunteers/media-tools/ (including media generated by RESULTS volunteers) RESULTS Online Media Actions: https://results.org/volunteers/action- center/ Leveraging Media: https://results.org/wp-content/uploads/Leveraging- Media-Chart.pdf RESULTS Media Report Form: www.tinyurl.com/RESULTSMedia RESULTS Advocacy Basics: https://results.org/volunteers/advocacy-basics/ Staff Media Support: Jos Linn, jlinn@results.org RESULTS Training Resources: https://results.org/volunteers/training- webinars/

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