This page is from our friends at Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin. It is full of such helpful advice and links. Take this information and copy & paste it into your favorite note keeper. I love using Evernote to save important stuff. Again, all the accolades go to Grassroots! There is a link to a printable version as well. http://www.grassrootswi.org/printer…

GRASSROOTS TIPS ON WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Writing a letter to the editor is an important way for engaged citizens to support essential legislation, educate your neighbors, correct misinformation of earlier letters, support your favorite candidate and let people know you care about your community.
Here are some rules of thumb:
1) Write from the heart and keep it short and concise. People lose interest if the letter rambles on too long.
2) Be informed and polite. Vitriol turns people away from your message.
3) Always include your name, address and phone. The newspaper will not print your address or phone but some editors call to be sure you submitted the letter yourself and they like to know you are from the local area.
4) Most newspapers prefer receiving the letters by e-mail. (See e-mail addresses for southwest Wisconsin newspapers below.)
5) Send your letter to several newspapers for maximum effect. Area newspapers often print letters from people who are not in their readership area. HOWEVER THEY MUST BE SENT SEPARATELY via e-mail.
6) The deadline for letters to the editor in many weekly newspapers is Monday noon. But try not to wait until the last minute. You have a better chance of getting the letter printed if you submit it a day or two before the deadline.
7) Don’t hesitate to call the editor if your letter doesn’t appear in a week or so. The newspaper can’t print every letter but the editor needs to know you are watching for your letter.
FOR LETTERS TO EDITOR DISTRIBUTION in Southwest Wisconsin

 

LOCAL RADIO and TV INTERVIEW SHOWS
(Click here for a printer-friendly copy of this)
WRCO AM 1450 and FM 100.9 PO Box 529, Richland Center, WI 53581 (608) 647-2111 www.wrco.com Program Director: Phil Nee pnee@wrco.com News Director: Aaron Joyce wrconews@wrco.com Community Calendar: Jo Ann Krulatz jkrulatz@wrco.com Ron Fruit’s Morning Show: He does 10 to 15 minute live interviews on from 9 to 10 a.m. (Can be phone interviews.) Ron is very helpful. Contact him at rfruit@wrco.com or (608) 647-2111. He welcomes ideas on a range of topics. Sometimes they use segments from these interviews on the regular news shows or will tape short things for the regular news shows. Best time to call Ron for setting up an interview is between 8 and 9 a.m. in the morning.
KDTH AM 1370 346 W 8th St., Dubuque, IA 52001 (563) 690-0800 www.kdth.com Voices of Tri-State Program: 12:30 to 1 p.m. weekdays. Does local interviews with newsmakers. Host: Cindy Kohlmann ckohlmann@radiodubuque.com or (563) 690-0840. You can reach her by phone but also try her email and she will call you back. Guest interviews are 25-30 minutes. The interview can be via phone or in a studio. Sometimes accepts calls from listeners for guest. Covers Grant, Lafayette and Iowa Counties and also accepts Community Calendar announcements (Public Service Announcements) on their website.
WGLR AM 1280 and FM 97.7 (Lancaster) 51 Means Dr., Platteville, WI 53818 (608) 349-2000 (M-F 8am to 5pm) www.wglr.com “Guest Spotlight” Talk Program: Does 8 to 10-minute interviews aired after the noon news. Host: Doug Wagen can be contacted at dwagen@queenbradio.com. They also have a community calendar e-mail Patrice Stiner at psteiner@queenbradio.com. Items submitted are reserved for non-profit or civic events. WGLR is a sister station with WPVL AM 1590 and FM 107.1 (Platteville) and currently simulcasts their programming. WSUP FM 90.5 (UW-Platteville) University Radio, 42 Pioneer Tower, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI 53818 (608) 342-1165 www.uwplatt.edu/org/wsup/ Public Affairs Program: Airs from 9 to 10 am. Weekdays. Applications can be filled out online at www.uwplatt.edu/org/wsup/forms/pub_aff_show.html and emails can be sent to publicaffairs@wsup.org. The interview can be via phone. Interviews are often half hour dealing with a wide range of topics: public interest, foreign affairs, community interest, fine arts, community events on and off campus. Will accept press releases and does interviews, live, phone and taped. The station’s General Manager is Dave Meinhardt and can be contacted at meinhard@uwplatt.edu.
KWWL-TV – DUBUQUE – Channel 7 500 East Fourth Street, Waterloo, IA 50703 (319) 291-1200 www.kwwl.com/ News at Noon: They do interviews about 3 minutes with hosts are Jeff Eliasoph or Natasha Chughtai. You can book interviews by calling or emailing: jeliasoph@kwwl.com or nchughtai@kwwl.com or call (319) 291-1200. Submit Events at http://www.kwwl.com/category/132382/community-calendar-submit-event. The station covers Iowa and Grant Counties in Wisconsin.