Letters to the Editor

Submit a Letter to the Editor – How and Where

Most newspapers publish short "Letters to the Editor" (LTEs) on their opinion page. Some also publish longer "Guest Editorials" (or Op-eds). Below is guidance on writing a LTE or Op-ed, and Section 2 is a list of Colorado newspapers and their submission information.

See the "How you can help" page for ideas on key points related to the Community Electricity Options project to consider in your letter.

1. Guidance on Letters to the Editor

Most papers have information about submitting opinion pieces on their website. Also look at published pieces for guidance.
There will be an online form or an email address for submission (compose letters in an email rather than sending an attachment).
Each paper has a maximum allowed word count. Do not exceed that length. Your word processing software probably has a function for counting words (in Microsoft Word, it's under Tools > Word Count – highlight your letter's text and then select Word Count).
Always include your: Full name, home address, and day and evening phone numbers. They will only print your name and city. Some papers may call you to verify authorship.
If your letter does get published, you will usually have to wait at least 30 days before submitting another one to the same paper.
Be patient. It can take up to a week to see your letter in print.
When your letter does get published, please let us know so we can track progress.

Generic LTE structure:

RE: Letter to the Editor
TITLE (You can suggest a catchy title, but the editor may or may not use it.)
[body of your letter]
Your contact information (full name, full address, day and evening phone numbers)

2. Colorado newspapers

KEY: Newspaper name (approximate circulation) – maximum word count. Where to submit. Notes.

Statewide & Denver:

The Denver Post (400,000) – 250 words (despite website). Submit via online form OR send to openforum@denverpost.com.
- For Op-eds – 650 words. Send to columns@denverpost.com, with a high-resolution photo of the author (if possible) and a short biographical paragraph. Note: "We cannot consider pieces that have already appeared in other publications, either online or in print." To get an op-ed published in the Sunday paper, it must be submitted before Wednesday.
Westword (80,000) WEEKLY – 200 words. Submit via online form.
Aurora Sentinel (36,000) WEEKLY – 250 words. Submit via online form.
METRO 4 WEEKLY PAPERS: Highlands Ranch Herald (25,000); Lakewood Sentinel (15,000); Washington Park Profile (25,000); and Centennial Citizen (13,000) WEEKLY – 250 words. Send to ALL FOUR papers here: letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Mountain - Regional:

High Country News (34,000) BIWEEKLY (based in Paonia, CO) – 250 words. Submit to editor Betsy Marston: betsym@hcn.org (put "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line).

Other cities, alphabetized:

Alamosa Valley Courier (unknown) – 300 words. Submit to Ruth Heide, Managing Editor: rheide@alamosanews.com (719-589-2553, Ext. 109).
Aspen Daily News (15,000) – 250 words. Submit via online form OR send to letters@aspendailynews.com
Aspen Times (11,500) – 300 words. Submit via online form OR send to mail@aspentimes.com.
- For Op-eds – 500 words. Submit via online form.
Boulder papers – Note: You can submit the same letter to all three. Important: Send separate emails to each (no Cc or Bcc).
- Boulder Daily Camera, The (25,000) – 300 words. Send to openforum@prairiemountainmedia.com.
  - For Op-eds – 750 words. Send to openforum@prairiemountainmedia.com.
- Boulder Weekly (25,000) WEEKLY – 300 words. Send to letters@boulderweekly.com.
- Colorado Daily (12,000) – 300 words. Send to letters@coloradodaily.com.
Broomfield Enterprise, The (20,000) – 500 words. Submit to BEeditor@broomfieldenterprise.com.
Colorado Springs papers – Note: You can submit the same letter to both. Important: Send separate emails to each (no Cc or Bcc).
- Colorado Springs Gazette (70,000) – 300 words. Submit to opinion@gazette.com.
  - For Op-eds – 600 words. Contact editorial page editor Wayne Laugesen, wayne.laugesen@gazette.com.
- Colorado Springs Independent (36,000) WEEKLY – 300 words. Submit to letters@csindy.com.
Delta County Independent (Delta, Olathe, Montrose, Paonia, Cedaredge) (7,000) WEEKLY – 300 words. Submit via online form.
Durango papers – Note: You can submit the same letter to both. Important: Send separate emails to each (no Cc or Bcc).
- Durango Herald (5,000) – 250 words. Submit via online form OR send to letters@durangoherald.com.
  - For Op-eds – 750 words. Send columns to letters@durangoherald.com.
- Durango Telegraph (5,500) WEEKLY – 250 words. Send to telegraph@durangotelegraph.com.
Fort Collins Coloradoan (20,000) – 250 words. Submit via online form OR send to opinion@coloradoan.com.
- For Op-eds ("soapboxes") – 550 words. Please include a close-up photo of yourself to run alongside your soapbox. Editor: ericlarsen@coloradoan.com.
Fort Morgan Times (unknown) – 300 words. Submit via online form.
Glenwood Springs Post Independent (9,000) – 350 words. Submit via online form OR send to letters@postindependent.com.
Grand Junction Sentinel (25,000) – 300 words. Submit via online form OR send to letters@gjsentinel.com.
Greeley Tribune (25,000) – 300 words. Submit via online form OR send to letters@greeleytribune.com.
- For Guest Opinions – 600 words. Submit via online form. For both, the deadline is noon, three days prior to publication.
Gunnison County Times (4,000) – 300 words. Submit via online form.
Lafayette – Colorado Hometown Weekly (18,000) WEEKLY – 300 words. Send to CHWeditor@coloradohometownweekly.com.
Longmont Times Call (18,000) – 300 words. Send to opinion@timescall.com. No more than one letter in a 14-day period.
- For Op-eds – 700 words. Send to opinion@times-call.com. Please include a biographical sentence.
Loveland Reporter Herald (15,000) – 300 words. Submit via online form. No more than one letter in a 14-day period.
Montrose Daily Press (5,000) – 150 words. Submit via online form OR send to editor@montrosepress.com.
Pagosa Daily Post. ONLINE. Send to pagosadailypost@gmail.com.
Pueblo Chieftain (41,000) – 250 words. Submit via online form.
- For Op-eds – 700 words. Submit to "Ideas", attention: Blake Fontenay, Editorial Page Editor, bfontenay@chieftain.com.
Rio Blanco Herald Times (unknown) WEEKLY – 250 words (assumed). Submit via online form OR send to editor@theheraldtimes.com (Rio Blanco county, including Meeker, White River City, Rangely).
Sopris Sun (unknown) WEEKLY – 250 words (assumed). Send to news@soprissun.com (Carbondale).
Steamboat Springs, Craig – Note: You can submit the same letter to both, as long as the letter is no longer than 300 words.
- Steamboat Pilot (9,000) – 400 words. Send to lschlichtman@SteamboatPilot.com.
- Craig Daily Press (3,000) – 300 words. Submit via online form OR send to editor@craigdailypress.com.
Summit Daily News (12,000) – 300 words. Submit via online form.
- For Op-eds – 500 words. Submit via online form.
Telluride Daily Planet (5,000) Publishes on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday – 250 words. Send to editor@telluridenews.com.
Vail Daily (15,000) – 500 words. Submit via online form.
- For Op-eds – 700 words. Submit via online form.

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