Words That Matter: Writing for Climate and Policy Change
Raise Your Voice: Why Public Comments Matter
When agencies and lawmakers open public comment periods, they’re not just checking boxes—they’re inviting real input from the communities most affected by their decisions. Submitting a well-crafted public comment during legislative sessions is one of the most direct and impactful forms of civic engagement. These comments influence rulemaking, shape policy direction, and provide a crucial counterbalance to industry lobbying. By participating, you help ensure that climate and environmental justice priorities are heard—loudly and clearly.
The Power of the Pen: Op-Eds That Move Minds
Writing for public audiences—whether in local newspapers, regional media, or online platforms—is an essential part of climate advocacy. Op-eds, letters to the editor, and thought pieces aren’t just opinion; they are strategy. These forms of persuasive writing allow advocates to frame the narrative, spotlight urgent issues, and mobilize public will. Effective public writing transforms passive readers into informed participants and brings visibility to grassroots action.
Crafting Climate Communication for Change
Good climate writing isn’t just about facts—it’s about resonance. In a world saturated with information, the most effective messages are clear, accessible, and grounded in shared values. Whether you’re drafting testimony, an editorial, or a social media post, your words can build bridges and shift perspectives. We equip advocates with tools and training to elevate their writing—because when communication is strategic, it becomes a catalyst for climate solutions.
Local and Oregon Newspaper LTE and Op-ed Guidelines
LTEs are Letters to the Editor (General rule one per month);
Op-Eds are Guest Opinion columns (Frequency dependent on editor judgment).
The Writing Corps helps individual interested in writing Letters to the Editor or Guest Columns to the local print media. We help individuals by providing information source and data upon request if we are aware of such, and reviewing drafts to offer suggestions on focus, content accuracy, organization, and clarity.
Some Letter Tips
- Do not exceed the word limit by even one word. Reviewing editors can and do count! While long submissions might be returned for editing, the possibility also is that such submissions will get lost.
- While writing is a little different from speaking, the difference is not that vast. If you can talk to someone about your point, you can probably write a letter to the editor. If you are not sure how to start or compose a letter to the editor, try simply talking to a friend about the subject and trying to make your point to that person. Make a note of how you did it, and convert that into the written letter. Sometimes this simply involves checking the grammar and sequence for logic.
- Try to confine the content to one or maximally two related ideas. Letters that ramble over several unconnected topics will probably not maintain reader attention or elicit comprehension.
- Try to start with some interesting personal ‘hook’ or other reference that will grab reader attention.
- Don’t feel you have to write a complete thesis totally substantiating your point to justify your conclusion (you won’t be able to do it in 200 words, anyway), focus on one or two arguments / opinions.
- Identifying personal stories is always helpful – evidence and data based arguments are valuable but not always the most persuasive; personal accounts and testimonials are more compelling for some readers.
- Responses to other articles in a paper are valuable, but should be sent just to the source publishing the original article or letter. However, if the argument can be generalized for other targets, such an effort is worthwhile because readers of other papers might share the opinion that you are countering.
- Letters countering a previous letter that is vitriolic or nonsense will probably not convert that author. However such letters, if calmly and logically written, can persuade others reading the original and your response that you make a better case.
Notes from Rosebud Media that can be taken as general advice: All letters must include the writer’s name, address and a phone number for verification of the source although only the name and town are published. Do not send duplicates of letters to the same target. Do not send poetry, “open letters” sent to multiple addressees, or letters copied from websites or chain emails – editors generally will not publish them. Avoid generalizations, gratuitous insults and personal gripes. All letters are subject to editing.
Letters – Print / Electronic news Media Addresses
Always include your name, address, and telephone number so the editors can contact you if they wish to confirm you as the source. These will not appear in print.
- The Rogue Valley Times (initially, as the RV-Tribune, promoted itself on the bannerhead with the statement “Not affiliated with Rosebud Media of Medford or its former publication The Mail Tribune.” Apparently, the RVTimes management want everyone to understand this publication has no connection with the mismanaged and now thankfully defunct Medford Mail Tribune. Website rvtrib.com/site/forms/letter_to_the_editor. or email letters@rv-times.com or rv-times.com Letters Guidelines: limited to a single issue, contain no more than 250 words, and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. Guest Columns can be submitted to the same addresses and can run between 550 and 650 words.
- Grants Pass Daily Currier: letters@thedailycourier.com limit 250 words; once per month. This paper seems to have a policy of publishing letters only from residents in their perceived circulation area that includes the Applegate Valley though this may have expanded since their effort to fill the Medford Mail Tribune market.
- Ashland Chronicle: Letters have a maximum word count 150 – 200 words (excluding particles “a” “the”); Quality: short and precise or pithy. Submit via website.
- The Applegater: gater@applegater.org Limit for letters is 400 words, for opinion columns is 700. To be accepted, letters must contain explicit reference to the Applegate Valley or an issue important to residents of the valley.
- Douglas County News & Review: website. Letters limit at 300 words, once every 30 days.
- Rogue River Press: editor@rogueriverpress.com. Letters limit 300 words; Thirty day frequency limit
- Upper Rogue Independent [serving Eagle Point, White City, Prospect, Trail, Butte Falls]: dan@illinois-valley-news.com or editor@urindependent.com Limit unknown, suggest assuming 200.
- Illinois Valley News (Cave Junction – weekly) dan@illinois-valley-news.com. Limitunstated – but suggest 200 until / unless we learn it’s different; frequency limit unknown but suspect monthly.
- Klamath Falls News and Herald: news@heraldandnews.com limit 250 words; frequency limit unknown but suspect monthly.
- Curry Coastal Pilot Harbor – Brookings (twice weekly- Wednesday & Saturday) Submit letters via website; Letter limit 300 words; must be original, one every 30 days; opinion columns 300 – 450, though occasional longer pieces may be accepted.
- Curry County Reporter – Gold Beachcurrycountyreporter@gmail.com No information; confines letters to those submitted by area residents.
- The Coos Bay World and the Bandon Western World (The Bandon Newspaper) seem to be the same paper, via website limit 400 words. Also, The Umpqua Post: https://theworldlink.com/forms/contact/letter_to_the_editor/
- Del Norte Triplicate – Crescent City, CA; limit 300 words, https://www.triplicate.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/. Assume once per month.
- Rogue Valley Messenger: info@roguevalleymessenger.com Seem no longer to be publishing letters to the editor website
- Sneak Previews Letters: Ashland – ashland@sneakpre.com ; Grants Pass – grantspass@sneakpre.com; Medford –medford@sneakpre.com; Talent – talent@sneakpre.com;
- Eugene Register Guard Letters: rgletters@registerguard.com. Letter length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month. Because of the volume of mail, not all letters can be printed. Letters must be signed with the writers full name. An address and daytime telephone number are needed for verification purposes; this information will not be published or released. Guest viewpoints are between 600 and 800 words in length, with 700 being ideal. Opinion Columns: 500 – 700 words (optimally 600) –aglavash@registerguard.com.
- The Astorian – Letters must be exclusive to The Daily Astorian, and fewer than 250 words. Opinion columns are limited to 800 – 1,000 words, submit to website
- The Oregonian: letters@oregonian.com limit 250 words – ‘In My Opinion’ columns are limited to 500 words commentary@oregonian.com
- The Salem Statesman Journal webpage submission or letters@StatesmanJournal.com Letters 200 words or fewer.
- Douglas County (Roseburg) News Review webpage submission Letters 250 word limit
- Bend Bulletin letters@bendbulletin.com Letters 250 word limit, once per 30 days. Requires that submissions are original and uniquely submitted to the Bend Bulletin. This does not require a complete rewrite but may take a little reworking of the text to make it unique.
- Corvallis Gazette Times webpage submission Letters 250 word limit.
- Albany Democrat Herald webpage submissions Letters 250 word limit.
- East Oregonian webpage submission Fewer than 400 words. Requires that submissions are original and uniquely submitted to the East Oregonian. This does not require a complete rewrite but may take a little reworking of the text to make it unique.
- Baker City Herald news@bakercityherald.com No limit identified
- La Grande Observer news@lagrandeobserver.com No limit identified
- Burns Times Herald editor@btimesherald.com No limit identified
- Tillamook Headlight Herald website 500 words
Local Op-Ed / Guest Opinion Column Guidelines:
LTEs are Letters to the Editor (General rule one per month);
Op-Eds are Guest Opinion columns (Frequency dependent on editor judgment).
The Writing Corps helps individual interested in writing Letters to the Editor or Guest Columns to the local print media. We help individuals by providing information source and data upon request if we are aware of such, and reviewing drafts to offer suggestions on focus, content accuracy, organization, and clarity.
As can be seen, the limit for Letters to the Editor is between 150 and 30 words, often being shorter during an election cycle for letters endorsing or opposing a particular candidate. Op Ed columns, sometimes called Guest Columns or the like are longer, varying from 500 to 700/750 words; check the specific target for exact word limits and don’t exceed them.
If you are interested in guidance with writing or wish more information contact Alan Journet.
Bend Bulletin Guest Columns must be exclusive to that paper and between 550 and 650 words. Submit to editorial page editor Richard Coe: rcoe@bendbulletin.com
Oregonian Guest Columns are limited to 500 words (see address above).
Eugene Register Guard Guest Viewpoints are 600 – 800 words, optimally 700), (see above).