LTE Resources

1. Successful LTEs for CCL usually follow a basic outline:

• Reference something in the news or a specific part of a news story from the paper.

• Transition into how that news relates to climate change.

• Identify a solution (such as carbon pricing, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, etc).

• Present a call to action (such as call/write your Members of Congress, learn more at CitizensClimateLobby.org, get a home energy audit to reduce your carbon footprint, etc).

2. See Citizens' Climate Lobby's LTE Topics for an updated list of timely topics and additional information. 

3. How to Write Effective Letters to the Editor is a brief training that every CCL volunteer should view.

4. Check to see if your letter was published. If you are not a subscriber, here are some options: 

• Call the paper to ask. 

• Go to the library and check out the most recent edition. 

• If you know someone who subscribes, ask them to monitor the paper for your LTE. 

• Some papers put some content online for everyone, not just subscribers—this often includes the letters section. 

• You can set a Google alert which will send you an email if the letter is printed—not foolproof but often works. 

Visit Minnesota Newspapers Directory  to find a list of  all newspapers in Minnesota. You can sort by city and county. You will find links to all the papers as well as contact information, circulation and other basic details. The Minnesota Newspaper Association Member Directory 2025 is another resource.