Keeping contact with your local newspaper and up to date with the action of your local representatives are imperative in ensuring that our voices get heard. Sure that might not seem like the most exciting way to vent your frustrations, but they are certainly effective.
An example of a great letter to the editor dealing with the concern's associated with the next election written by MAS Media's Nora Zaki appeared on August 11, 2010 in the St. Petersburg Times. It is as follows:
"I appreciate the St. Petersburg Times recommending people the editorial board feels are the best candidates for political office. At least we, the voters, can pick the lesser of two evils. And I dislike saying it, but that's what I feel elections have become: picking the lesser of two (or more) evils.
I have to admit that I laugh when reading the Times' recommendations, though, because often on the same day that a recommendation is made, an article appears either on the front page or in the Tampa Bay section about an issue, sometimes quite large, involving one of the candidates: fraud, mistrust, and scandal — the list unfortunately goes on.
I'm not even 20 yet, but I'm starting to feel apathetic about politics, and I don't really want to, despite my possibly majoring in political science! I thought that young people were supposed to be the hopeful ones, not the disgusted ones. Perhaps I'm an outlier, although I'm quite sure there are other young folks not so happy with the current political candidate lineup.
All politicians should be required to watch the inspiring movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I believe I would be more enthusiastic and hopeful if political candidates exhibited the same qualities as Mr. Smith: sincere, resistant to corruption, truthful, and persistent in upholding the founding principles of America.
But I think a billboard I recently saw in Atlanta sums up my current views regarding politics: Honest Politician, Oxymoron?"
(To view a complete profile on the writer Nora Zaki, please visit the 'Skimmer' tab)
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
 |
| Image courtesy of Politico.com |
The St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
Go to: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
The St. Petersburg Times welcomes letters from readers for publication. Because of space limitations, letters should be of reasonable length (250-300 words maximum, as a rule). Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. All letters must contain the writer's name, address and telephone number. (Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed.)
The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL
Go to: http://www2.tbo.com/news/opinion/
Letters cannot exceed 150 words
The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL
Keep it short and to the point -- no more than 250 words.
E-mail to: insight@orlandosentinel.com Or mail it to:
Letter to the Editor
Orlando Sentinel
633 N. Orange Ave. MP-218
Orlando, FL 32801
The Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, FL
Go to: http://www.gainesville.com/article/99999999/MISC/69514377?template=art_plain
The Florida Courier, Tampa, FL
Letters to the editor must be brief and confined to a single subject. They must contain your name, address, and phone number, and must not exceed 150 words. Letters to the editor sent via U.S. mail must be typewritten and double-spaced for easy editing and laser scanning. The Florida Courier reserves the right to edit any letter, article, or other submission, and crop any photograph, for style and clarity. Materials will not be returned.
E-mail contacts are as follows:
News, events, press releases: news@flcourier.com
Letters to editor, guest commentaries: editorial@flcourier.com
Pictures: photo@flcourier.com
Florida’s Finest Photos: finest@flcourier.com
Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee, FL
Send your letters to: letters@tallahassee.com or mail them to the following address:
Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 990
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Letters should be 150 to 200 words, and include your full name, address and telephone number for verification purposes; only names will be published, and e-mail addresses, unless requested otherwise. We may condense letters and edit for grammar and clarity.
The Oracle University of South Florida Tampa, FL
Go to: http://www.usforacle.com/letter-to-the-editor
Letters to the Editor guidelines: Letters should not exceed 400 words in length and must include name, major and year in school for verification purposes. All letters are subject to editing for content, grammar, taste and length. All letters are published at the discretion of the editorial board. Only letters sent via e-mail will be considered.
Submit letters to: opinion@usforacle.com or visit the opinion section at usforacle.com.
