Speak out in newspapers
Letter pages
From time to time there are news stories or articles that relate to the use of measurement.
The letter pages of newspapers can be good places to get your points across. Key
points to make when writing to a newspaper are:
- Focus on one main point and try to get that across well
- Be aware of the typical letter length of your target paper
- Be polite and calm
- Use humour if appropriate
- Be specific and factual
- Sum up with a clear punchy sentence
- Carefully check before submission
- Remember to include your contact details (telephone and postal address)
- If the e-mail address you are using is not just for letters make sure you label
your message "letter for publication".
- If writing to more than one newspaper, do not use identical wording (Some papers,
e.g. The Times, insist on exclusive use of any letter).
Many letters are not considered because of length, emotionalism or lack of contact
details.
Feedback on style
Newspapers are often a reflection on society and hence measurement unit usage is
frequently as confused as anywhere else. It is worth giving positive feedback on
good usage as negative feedback on poor usage.
Feedback can sometimes be through the letter pages. A few newspapers have a Reader's
Editor who can be addressed directly on style. Some newspapers and magazines publish
their own style guide - you can comment on the guide itself and if good whether
it is being followed.
Letter contacts and websites for major daily ,
evening , Sunday and current affairs
magazines are given below:
Daily newspaper contacts
Evening newspaper contacts
Sunday newspaper contacts
Current affairs magazine contacts
Comprehensive listing
If you do not find your daily newspaper on the above list please go to the Media
UK website that provides a comprehensive listing.
If you find that any of the above links do not work please use our feedback form
to let us know
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