I had an interesting email from a communications consultant wanting feedback on letters to the editor. He wrote:
I’m currently engaged on research into the effectiveness of “letters to the editor” published in national and local newspapers in Australia. I am particularly interested in the readership of letters to the editor, the extent to which letters raise awareness, whether they are a source of copy or leads for reporters and journalists, and whether elected officials and senior government bureaucrats take notice of and respond to matters raised in “letters to the editor”.
My response:
Interesting questions. We don’t have any research data, but these are my personal observations:
Letters to the editor in a country paper are widely read, probably by +90 per cent of readers. That’s because country people have a strong sense of community and like to know what other people think about local issues.
Letters are a real mixed bag. Sometimes they are used for political or PR purposes, but in my experience they are mostly genuine expressions of opinion. There are generally a few regulars, some of whom are nutters but usually they write interesting stuff.
I think elected officials take notice of letters if they consider them genuine (ie not written by someone who has a party affiliation or campaign to run).
We adapt letters into news leads occasionally, perhaps one letter in 20.
I agree that "Letters to the editor in a country paper are widely read" …… but over here it's usually because there's not much else worth reading. Our paper also has a habit of publishing abusive and/or insulting letters that are clearly from fictitious authors and I think that's apalling. Some of them are good for a laugh though. Generally they're pretty illogical.