Dear
Editor: Writing Letters to the Media
by Donna Cardillo, RN, MA
There’s
no question that the media have a big influence on how the
public views nurses. So, providing regular input and feedback,
both positive and negative, to editors and producers is
every nurse’s responsibility. Whether sending a note
to the editor of a magazine or newspaper or an e-mail or
fax to the producer of a TV or radio show, the media feedback
letter can be used to express a viewpoint, correct or applaud
information, inform and teach the media and public about
nursing and health care, suggest topics for future coverage,
promote a more accurate and positive image of nursing, and
make nursing more visible in general.
Here
are a few examples of how and when to use a feedback letter
to the media:
Comment
on nursing’s image
Note
how nurses are portrayed, covered, and spoken about in TV
dramas, sitcoms, news reports, and talk shows. Read magazine
and newspaper articles about nursing and health care. Pay
attention to advertising, both print and broadcast, that
uses nursing characters and images. Respond to favorable
stories and images, as well as inaccurate and damaging images.
Here’s an excerpt from a letter I sent to a popular
mainstream magazine: “Thanks for the great article
by Carol Hardy entitled ‘Where Are the Nurses?’
(2/30/04). It was right on the money about working conditions
and substandard staffing levels. Thanks, too, for portraying
nurses in such a positive light. We’re in the headlines
as soon as we make a mistake but rarely for the good things
we do.”
Correct,
inform, or enlighten
Last
year, a popular weekly news magazine ran a cover story about
hot job opportunities for the future. In spite of a well-publicized
nursing shortage, not one mention was made of nursing. Here’s
an excerpt from a letter I wrote to the editor: “There
was one glaring omission to the ‘Careers to Count
On’ article (2/18/04) — nursing. With an estimated
100,000 current vacancies and an estimated shortage of more
than 400,000 nurses by 2020, it is one of the hottest job
prospects around.” I went on to provide information
about salaries, sign-on bonuses, opportunities, and rewards.
Hints
for writing effective letters
| • |
Letters
should be short and to the point, about 200 to 300 words.
The shorter it is, the more likely it is to be read.
|
| • |
Make
only one point per letter. |
| • |
Include
your name, address, and phone number. This is necessary
for credibility and verification. Anonymous letters
are usually disregarded. If your letter is published,
your name and hometown may be included (unless you ask
that it not be), but your address and phone number wouldn’t.
|
| • |
Include
your nursing credentials after your name, and, if appropriate,
in the body of the letter. For example: “As an
RN with more than 30 years of hospital experience …”
|
| • |
When
writing, faxing, or e-mailing in response to an article,
use the subject line or heading “Letter to the
Editor” so it gets routed correctly. |
| • |
When
responding to a specific article, state the article
title and include the date in parenthesis. |
| • |
Use
a direct but respectful tone. Don’t make personal
attacks. |
Things you should know
| • |
Editors
and producers get hundreds and sometimes thousands of
letters. The more letters received about a news story,
article, or issue, the more attention, not to mention
credibility, the viewpoints expressed will have. Out
of the many letters received, one or two may be published
on a particular topic. Even if your letter isn’t
published, it can still influence future coverage. |
| • |
Your
letter doesn’t have to be worded perfectly to
make a point. If published, your letter will most likely
be edited and shortened. |
| • |
Each
publication and media outlet has a preferred way to
be contacted. Look for information in the publication
or on the program’s/publication’s website.
|
| • |
You
don’t have to be an expert to state your point
of view. |
| • |
If
you wish to comment on the nursing profession as a whole
and need facts and statistics, check with your professional
associations, do an Internet search, or check with nursing
media agencies like the Center for Nursing Advocacy
www.nursingadvocacy.org.
|
Rather than complaining about inaccurate or absent coverage
of nurses in the media, let your presence be known and your
voice be heard. We’ll never change our image or the
public’s understanding of who we are and what we do
if we stay quietly in the background. It’s time to
start making our presence known and setting the record straight.
Copyright
Nursing Spectrum Nurse Wire (www.nursingspectrum.com).
All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Back
to Articles
|
