step-by-step instructions for writing an LTE
Our #StopTheDeadlyDivide campaign focuses on the urgent need to work together to find ways to prevent the widening gaps of inequality, and stop the world’s progress from backsliding during the COVID-19 crisis.
The ask: Canada must protect the health of women and children during the pandemic by investing CAD $250 million over 3 years in the Global Financing Facility (GFF).
letter to the editor \ (LTE)
: a letter written to a newspaper, magazine or other periodical about issues of concern to readers, usually intended to be published in the paper/periodical
Write a letter to the editor (LTE) in time for International Development Week (February 7-13) and outline the widening gaps in health and nutrition services due to COVID-19, particularly for women, children and adolescents. Talk about the expected poverty rates for women, the looming famines and countless disruptions and repercussions of the pandemic which is creating a deadly divide especially for those already marginalized because of poverty or gender.
Explain how the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF), its strategy for 2021-2025, and their proven solutions is well positioned to deliver on Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, and mitigate the devastating secondary effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Mention that Canada’s leadership and investment in GFF will protect the health of women and children during the pandemic.
Use our step-by-step instructions below and get your LTE published in the media.
Keep it short - around 3 paragraphs or 150 words. You want your LTE to be concise and succinct to increase your chances of grabbing the reader's attention, getting published, and getting your message out.
COVID-19: A salutary tale?
Dear Editor,
The pandemic is not yet over but we are beginning to see some light through the cracks in our world. I am proud to say that Canada has taken a leadership role and contributed ever-increasing amounts to end COVID everywhere. More Canadians should be made aware that the experts estimate a return of $5.60 for every $1 of aid we invest. Indeed, it means the pandemic world-wide will end sooner which is good for our economy.
My greater hope is that we learn from our pandemic experience that contributing to better public health abroad is also the right thing to do. The best example is the TB epidemic which continues to ravage many countries and regions, including Canada’s North. TB is both preventable and curable yet has been the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. In 2019, it resulted in the deaths of 1.4 million people. COVID deaths will be higher in 2020 as we are already over 1.6 million deaths. But the COVID vaccines were not available until this month.
We have seen how quickly governments and communities react when disease hits richer nations such as our own. Many people have been working for a very long time to combat TB in the Global South. Let’s make sure that the community health workers or “front-line heroes” in those nations have the resources they need post-COVID to wipe out epidemics like TB.
Sherry Moran, Publication date: Dec 15, 2020, Oshawa Express
Don’t give up. If your letter hasn’t been published, email the editors and ask them for feedback.
Track your letter by doing an internet search of your name and following up with the publication to find out if/when it is getting published.
See all our resources to help you write your LTE, along with key dates, hashtags, tags and keywords found on our campaigns page here.
