Sending Letters to the Editor in Maine

Sending Letters to the Editor in Maine

Use the following e-mail addresses, fax numbers, and addresses to send a letter to the editor of any Maine newspaper in support of Maine Clean Elections. If your local paper is not listed below, you may be able to find their address or website HERE.

See below for tips on writing a good letter to the editor.

RETURN TO THE CLEAN ELECTIONS ACTION CENTER

Portland Press Herald P.O. Box 1460 Portland, ME 04104-1460 Phone: 791-6650 Fax:791-6920 e-mail: letters@pressherald.com	Bangor Daily News PO Box 1329 Bangor, ME 04402-1329 Phone: 990-8000 Fax: 941-9476 e-mail: letters2@bangornews.com
Lewiston Sun-Journal 104 Park Street Lewiston, ME 04240 Phone: 784-5411 Fax: 777-3436 e-mail: sjletters@aol.com	Kennebec Journal 274 Western Avenue Augusta, ME 04331 Phone: 623-3811 Fax: 623-2220 e-mail: kjedit@biddeford.com
The Times Record 6 Industry Road Brunswick, ME 04011-3311 Phone: 729-3311 Fax: 721-3151 e-mail: news@timesrecord.com	Morning Sentinel 25 Silver St. Waterville, ME 04901 Phone: 873-3341 Fax: 861-9191 msedit@centralmaine.com
Biddeford Journal-Tribune PO Box 627 Biddeford, ME 04005 Phone: 282-1535 Fax: 282-3138 e-mail: jtribune@gwi.net	The Forecaster 317 Foreside Road Falmouth, ME 04105 Phone: 781-3661 Fax: 781-2060

NOTE:
Include a daytime phone number so the paper can reach you to verify that you wrote the letter.

Tips for writing a better letter to the editor

Letters to the Editor are one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and reach a large audience. They allow community members to comment on the way issues are being addressed in the media and to influence what topics the local paper covers. Elected officals often monitor this section of the newspaper and take notice of constituents' opinions.

Due to strict space limitations in newspapers, not all letters will be published, but the more letters the newspaper receives on a certain topic, the more likely they are to run at least one letter on the topic. Check the letter guidelines in your local paper and use these tips to write an effective letter to the editor:

Keep it short and focused.
Many newspapers have strict length limits and edit letters for space. A concise, single-issue letter has a better chance of retaining its salient points and keeping the reader's interest.

Make specific references.
While some newspapers will print general commentary letters, most prefer letters that respond to a specific article. Here are some ways to refer to an article:

"I was impressed by the comprehensive logging solution outlined in the May 5^th article, 'Sustainable Logging on a Roll.'"

"I strongly disagree with Senator Baker's position against increased fuel economy standards 'To be or SUV' June 22)."

Be factual and highlight aspects of the issue that haven’t been previously addressed.

Include your contact information.
Many newspapers will only publish a letter to the editor after verifying the author’s contact information. When printed, the letter will usually only include your name and city.

Type your letter and sign it.

Send letters to smaller newspapers.
Small newspapers are more likely to print your letter and the letter can then spark local community action.

RETURN TO THE CLEAN ELECTIONS ACTION CENTER