Image credit: D Sewell, Lock the Gate Alliance
If you need inspiration you can use your handy guide with examples below; or take a look at some more generic information on letter writing.
The #Time2Choose team have also prepared a pro forma media advisory that you can download and adapt to sent to your own local media.
We have three examples below illustrating how you can structure your own letter to the editor…
Example 1
Step 1. Find a recent news story in your target media outlet about coal or coal seam gas, renewable energy, climate change, or other related topic.
E.g. A search of the Sydney Morning Herald with the word “coal” in the past week, found this story from 28 February 2018: AGL to invest $200m in coal-fired power station Bayswater.
Step 2. Briefly summarise and reference the story by its date.
E.g. “AGL has announced its coal-fired Bayswater power station will get a $200m upgrade (SMH, 28/2) to ensure it can carry the load when the crumbling Liddell Power station is shut in 2022.”
Step 3. Provide an opinion/analysis of the story, ideally with personal context. Use some of the #Time2Choose messaging. If you live locally in the area the story or the outlet covers, mention that too.
E.g. “As a Hunter Valley resident, I have benefited from using the electricity generated by coal in plants like Bayswater and Liddell all my life, but their time has come. The sooner we close these old, dirty coal-fired power stations and replace them with clean, renewable energy, the better for our climate, for our health and for our community. Why should we spend $200m to upgrade Bayswater, when it will close in 2035? The world’s largest solar park, which opened last week in India, was built in only two years. Renewables are becoming more efficient, cheaper and reliable. They don’t pollute our environment. We should be investing in these to protect our land and water.”
Step 4. Explain that’s why you’re attending the Time2Choose rally OR simply call on the state government to make a choice for the future.
E.g. “It’s time the NSW government made a choice about what kind of future we will have. I’m standing up for a clean energy future. That’s why I’m going to the #Time2Choose rally in Sydney on March 24. Join me.”
Step 5. Sign your letter, and email it off to your target outlet.
Include your phone number, so they can verify you — but don’t worry, they won’t publish it. There will be a specific email address for letters to the editor.
E.g. Signed Jo Blow, Newcastle Ph 0400 000 000.
Example 2
Step 1. Find a recent news story in your target media outlet about coal or coal seam gas, renewable energy, climate change, or other related topic.
E.g. Snowy Hydro sale funding kicks off regional spending debate.
Step 2. Briefly summarise and reference the story by its date.
E.g. “Funds raised from the sale of the Snowy Hydro scheme (Newcastle Herald, 23/3) have triggered a debate over how the money should be spent, including the suggestion by Upper Hunter National Party MP Michael Johnsen that it should be used to build a new coal-fired power station.”
Step 3. Provide an opinion/analysis of the story, ideally with personal context. Use some of the #Time2Choose messaging.
E.g. “While new power generation in NSW would not go astray, why tie ourselves to dirty 19th coal, even if it is dressed up as “high efficiency, low emissions” tech? Taking money from the sale of the Snowy Hydro to pump into greenhouse polluting coal power would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. Just because there is coal in the ground in the Hunter doesn’t mean we should continue to dig it up and burn it. Globally, the price of solar and wind is rapidly falling as efficiencies increase. We can’t afford to keep polluting our land and water with dirty coal and coal seam gas mining.”
Step 4. Explain that’s why you’re attending the #Time2Choose rally OR simply call on the Government to make a choice for the future.
E.g. “It’s time to choose what kind of energy we want our children to be using. Making the transition to a clean energy future needs to start now. Signed Jo Blow, Newcastle, Ph 0400 000 000.”
Example 3
Step 1. Find a recent news story in your target media outlet about coal or coal seam gas, renewable energy, climate change, or other related topic.
E.g. Coal mining in Sydney’s water catchment to be scrutinised by new panel.
Step 2. Briefly summarise and reference the story by its date.
E.g. “The state government has announced a new expert panel to analyse the impact of mining on Sydney’s water catchment (SMH 2/3).”
Step 3. Provide an opinion/analysis of the story, ideally with personal context. Use some of the #Time2Choose messaging.
E.g. “This is a step in the right direction. If the government is serious about protecting the city’s water supply, it should issue a moratorium on any mining expansions until the panel has had a chance to conduct its study and make its recommendations.
“But we’ve been here before.
“Too many times already the government has requested and then ignored the advice of experts, most recently in 2014 when the NSW Chief Scientist’s recommendations that the government set up a central database for information relating to the impact of mining on the catchment was not acted on.”
Step 4. Explain that’s why you’re attending the Time2Choose rally OR simply call on the Government to make a choice for the future.
E.g. “As a resident of Western Sydney, I’m worried about the future of our water. If we want to ensure Sydney’s precious water supply remains drinkable, we need to choose to protect it now, with long-term planning that puts the interests of people ahead of those of the mining industry. This is one of the many issues that the people of NSW will be bringing to Macquarie Street in March for the Time 2 Choose rally. Politicians take note. The state election is less than 12 months away. Signed Josie Blosie, Camden, Ph 0411 111 111.”