ADITI CHAUHAN
Letters to the Editor are found in newspapers. They are written by members of the public, as opposed to newspaper staff, and give somebody’s opinion about a current issue.A letter to the editor (LTE) is a letter sent to a publication about an issue of concern to the reader. Usually, such letters are intended for publication. In many publications, letters to the editor may be sent either through conventional mail or electronic mail.
Letters to the editor are most frequently associated with newspapers and news magazines , however, they are sometimes published in other periodicals such as entertainment and technical magazines and academic journals. Radio and television stations may also receive such letters, which are sometimes read on the air, particularly on news commentary broadcasts or on talk radio. In this presentation form the letter to the editor can also be described as viewer mail or listener mail, depending on the medium.
The subject matter of letters to the editor vary widely. However, the most common topics include:
Supporting or opposing a stance taken by the publication in its editorial or by a columnist , or responding to another writer’s letter to the editor.
Commenting on a current issue being debated by a governing body – local, regional or national depending on the publication’s circulation. Often, the writer will urge elected officials to make their decision based on their viewpoint.
Commenting on material (such as a news story) that has appeared in a previous edition. Such letters may either be critical or praising.
Correcting a perceived error or misrepresentation
The tradition of writing letters to the editor finds its roots in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt around 3400 B.C. with the development of the Sumerian script and hieroglyphic writing, respectively. Both regions utilized local materials like clay for tablets and reeds for styluses in crafting these initial forms of writing3 . Letters, initially in the form of pictographs, evolved into more abstract signs called cuneiform, prepared with wedge-shaped characters derived from a triangular reed stylus3 . The importance of cuneiform scripts expanded beyond administrative purposes to include reflecting facets of daily life and expressing social, religious, and commercial activities.
Letters to the editor are written by readers of a newspaper, magazine, or other source, on topics relevant to the publication’s audience. They address diverse topics, from commentary on local, state, national, and international current events, to responses to opinions and stories previously put forth in the publication. Sometimes they rant; sometimes they rave. Sometimes they read like mini-op-eds. Because editors have limited space to print letters, and because they often try to publish a variety of viewpoints on a range of topics, letters typically must be brief (e.g. 100-200 words). Thus, writing a letter to the editor becomes a useful exercise in creating a succinct but persuasive argument.
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