Letters to the Editor

One of the most effective ways to communicate with the public is by sharing our healthcare stories and our vision for guaranteed, universal healthcare in Letters to the Editor of our local daily media. Newspapers and websites appreciate getting letters from community members though they are unable to print all letters. Letters allow us to reach a wide audience and persuade them. Your letter can help activate others to get involved and take action for universal healthcare. We also know that elected officials watch closely when their name is in print. With letters, we can let them know what we want them to do. 

List of New York State newspapers and sites that accept letters
Don’t see a local paper? Contact [email protected] to update the list.

Volunteers with the Campaign for NY Health are available to help you with drafting and editing your letter. 

To craft an effective letter that is likely to get printed:

  1. Follow all guidelines for the letter to be printed, which are often found on the media web site. There is often a word limit. Include your name, address, and phone number so they can confirm you are the writer. 
  2. Share how the issue impacts you personally (your healthcare story).
  3. Refer to something that is in the news or a recent article. These days this isn't hard with healthcare and the elections in the news so often.
  4. Be sure to include a piece of education about single-payer healthcare (the New York Health Act and Medicare for All).   
  5. Conclude with an ask, typically to activate someone to do something: a politician to support single-payer legislation (the New York Health Act and Medicare for All) or for people to get involved in an upcoming event.

Don't get discouraged if your first submission does not get printed. You can edit, change, and submit your letter as many times you like and eventually, it’s likely to be printed. Like with all revolutions, persistence wins out.  Finally, have fun! It's nice to see your name in print.

Letters to the Editor from New Yorkers supporting New York Health (list in progress! Email a link of your published letter to [email protected])
  • Health care for all, Barbara Nimri Aziz, Walton Reporter, October 25, 2017 (national focus, screenshot)
  • Klein is not helping Democrats, Jacqueline Gold, Annemarie Golden, Sarah Hughes, Judith Minkoff-Grey, Ruth Mullen, Dale Wolff, Sue Dodell, Riverdale Press, October 20, 2017

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