Editing Letter to the editor (section)

==Considerations==
Editors are a frequent target of letter-writing campaigns, also called "[[astroturfing]]", or "fake grass-roots" operations where sample letters are distributed on the Internet or otherwise, to be copied or rewritten and submitted as personal letters.<ref>[http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/actionguide/how-organize-a-letter-writing-campaign Action Tips: Organize a Letter Writing Campaign] Dosomething.org</ref><ref>[http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=79797 Sample LTE] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120803065007/http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=79797 |date=2012-08-03 }} The Jewish Federations of North America</ref>

Although LTE management gets little attention in trade journals, one organization, the National Conference of Editorial Writers, often includes essays on LTE management in its newsletter, The Masthead, and at its annual meetings. Among the NCEW's strongest champions for LTEs was Ronald D. Clark of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, who wrote, "Consider letters as a barometer of how well (you are) engaging readers or viewers. The more you receive, the more you're connecting. The fewer you receive, the stronger the sign that you're putting the masses to sleep."

On the other hand, many editors will allow the publication of anonymous letters where the details of name and address of the author are not printed, but are disclosed to the editor. This can promote a debate of issues that are personal, contentious or embarrassing, yet are of importance to raise in a public debate.

Sometimes a letter to the editor in a local newspaper, such as the "Dear IRS" letter written by Ed Barnett to the ''[[Wichita Falls Times Record News]]'' in [[Wichita Falls, Texas]], will end up receiving attention from the national media.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090312060241/http://www.suntimes.com/business/1467702,w-dear-irs-texas-barnett-taxes030909.article 'Dear IRS' rant against taxes hits nerve], Chicago Sun-Times, March 9, 2009 [https://www.gmfullsize.com/threads/dear-irs.148602/ Original letter]</ref>