A Tale of Two Letter Writers

[AuntShecky]

This beautifully-written article:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090615/margolick

tells the story of two friends who, over the course of several decades, built up an amiable rivalry about getting letters to the editor published in The New York Times.

Without making specific political comments (a definite no-no here on the Lit-Net), please give me your take on this article and about the two different letter-writing styles of the two men.

The conclusions we can draw from this saga will not only help us when writing letters, but also writing in general, don't you think?

Looking forward to a good discussion.

[Jozanny]

I'm more ambitious. I want an NYT op-ed, but seriously, TNR showcased this anecdote, and it is an out-moded art, especially as the gap between subscriber and contributor is, increasingly, closing. I subscribed to TNR in 97, and the staff were my high priests to my role as diligent disciple.

These days, I just go to The Plank and let them have it, not so awe-struck by them anymore, though granted, I probably put my own chances of one day having a TNR byline as nil.

[AuntShecky]

Is TNR "The New Republic"?
Thanks for your reply, Jozanny, and I hope we get some more responses from LitNutters.

Maybe you could tell us what you think of the article itself or in general, about the mystique of writing letters to the editor.

As well as telling a wonderful true story, I found it interesting how there was a distinct difference in writing styles between the two letter-writers, as well as the great irony that the more ostensibly "successful" man became a wheel in the music business but has yet to achieve his goal of seeing one of his letters in the NYT.

Also, the moral of that article is never sacrifice "reasonableness" for the sake of sensationalism. Not only that, "ad hominum" arguments are seldom successful.

There are a couple of other things you might want to share with us:

1. Have you ever had one of your own letters published in a national paper or magazine (such as the NYT, TNR, Time, Newsweek, or even the USA Today) or in your hometown newspaper?

2. Is having a letter published almost as good as having an article or a poem or a piece of fiction published (even though there's no payment?)

3. Can published letters to the editor lead to a bona fide writing gig? (Say some editor saw your letters in the East Hogwash Pennysaver and invited you to submit an article -- has that ever happened? Could it ever happen?)

4. Do you know of any instances in which letters to the editor has actually changed a law or had a positive impact on the community?

5. Without naming names, what's the best and worst letter to the editor you've ever read?

[Jozanny]

Is TNR "The New Republic"?
Thanks for your reply, Jozanny, and I hope we get some more responses from LitNutters.

Yes.:)

I only skimmed the rest of your post Aunt, because I am procrastinating in a hurry, and I will leave the sense of that to others. I will think about your questions, however.

My opinion on the story doesn't amount to much, as I am a reactionary myself when it comes to commentary, though it does point to corporate conformity pressures on free speech, even though American liberalism tends to see First Amendment rights as virtually absolute. In practical terms this simply isn't the case. Angry speech is censored through a variety of pressures, and the MSM prefers pragmatic critique. This is what the article illustrates.

The art of the letter itself? On a personal level, letter writing was the way I talked in the 80's. I ranted to my editors, other writers, poets. Maybe a kind of outcry. I did not write letters about issues for publications, though doing it well is a useful counter-argument tool, and still is. How instant communication adapts this, kills it, or retools the form, I cannot say.

[AuntShecky]

In the article itself, I was impressed, Jozanny, at the contrast between the respective styles of the two letter writers. To be blunt, the author had me at "reasonableness."

I have to admit that the notion of "corporate conformity" had never occurred to me, but now that you mention it, I think your point is valid -- in general, if not applied to The New York Times itself. (I have nothing against that particular publication, but it's so pricey that I haven't bought an issue in years, but I did buy it on an occasional Sunday for a couple of decades after the first and only letter I'd written to their op-ed page was published when I'd been an extremely young student. I don't even remember the topic!)

It is absolutely true that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. But we have to keep in mind that the right doesn't necessarily mean that the things we write will automatically find themselves in print.

Even though newspapers are in financial trouble these days, they are in business chiefly to make a profit. For instance, I always wondered if a local newspaper would ever print anything derogatory about a supermarket who purchases a great deal of advertising space.

One of the Supreme Court Justices once said, "Freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns the printing press."