Write a letter this week about a recent story in a newspaper

Your letter could shape the views of your neighbors and key decision makers and it provides a record that people are speaking out for the values of justice, equal protection of the law, and inclusion. You can increase engagement by sharing the link to your letter on social media. 

If you submit a letter and it is published, send us the link at [email protected] . Here are some stories in recent papers to which you could respond with a letter to the editor. Not every paper will have a relevant story every week. We simply provide some suggested stories for your focus. NOTE:  Beside the name of each paper is information about how to submit your letter.

USA Today (nationwide):   https://static.usatoday.com/submitletter/  .

1. Book sanctuaries popping up in response to book bans.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2024/09/27/book-bans-book-sanctuary/75400509007/?tbref=hp 

The Tennessean (Nashville area):  https://static.tennessean.com/letter-editor/ 

1. Tennessean editorial on book bans in Rutherford County Schools.  https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-plazas/2024/09/27/rutherford-county-school-board-banned-books-week-education/75398636007/ 
2. Anti-trans, anti-health op-ed about the new parents rights law in Tennessee.  https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/contributors/2024/09/27/tennessee-law-parents-rights-children-health-decisions/75091505007/ 

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis area):  https://static.commercialappeal.com/submit-letter/ 

1. A professor’s take on academic freedom.  https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2024/09/17/academic-freedom-vital-to-protect-courses-in-benefits-of-sociology/74061835007/ 

The Daily Memphian (Memphis area):  "The Daily Memphian welcomes a diverse range of views and invites readers to submit Letters to the Editor at [email protected]. Submissions should be fewer than 250 words in length. Preference will be given to letters addressing local issues. Writers must provide their name, city where they reside, email address and phone number. Letters that are published will include the writer’s name and city. Anonymous submissions will not be considered."

1. Federal Court allows Tennessee’s drag restriction law to stand.  https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrostate-government/article/46669/tennessee-drag-ban-lgbtq-community-friends-of-georges 
2. Opinion. The Legislature is scared Memphis might do something about gun violence.  https://dailymemphian.com/section/opiniondan-conaway/article/46486/dan-conaway-memphis-city-council-gun-control-referendum 

The Knoxville News Sentinel (Knoxville area):  https://static.knoxnews.com/submit-letter/ 

1. A professor’s take on academic freedom.  https://www.knoxnews.com/story/opinion/2024/09/17/academic-freedom-vital-to-protect-courses-in-benefits-of-sociology/74061835007/ 

Chattanooga Times Free Press (Chattanooga area):  https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chattanooga-times-free-press/20190217/282926681663332 

1. Rising tensions in the Hamilton County Commission. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/sep/28/eversole-addresses-rising-tension-at-hamilton/ 

Clarksville Leaf Chronicle (Clarksville area):  https://static.theleafchronicle.com/submitletter/ 

1. APSU parts ways with professor over far Right connections.  https://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/clarksville/2024/09/23/apsu-professor-employment-ends-over-alleged-racially-disparaging-posts/74999463007/ 

Daily News Journal (Murfreesboro area):  https://static.dnj.com/submitaletter/ 

1. Free speech scholar says Rutherford County School Board’s book bans violate law. https://www.dnj.com/story/news/2024/09/27/free-speech-scholar-nadine-strossen-says-rutherford-county-school-board-book-banning-violates-law/75391879007/ 

Johnson City Press (Northeast TN):  https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/ 

1. Most recent stories are about flooding.  https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/news/local-news/ . Letters could praise the response of the local governments that are doing a good job of responding and highlighting the need for state and federal investment in disaster preparation. 

The Jackson Sun (West TN):  https://static.jacksonsun.com/submit-letter/ 

1. Gov Lee suspends support for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.  https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/politics/2024/09/23/tennessee-gov-bill-lee-pulls-endorsement-for-mark-robinson-in-nc/75354352007/ 
2. Hispanic Heritage Month in Jackson.  https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2024/09/23/city-hall-honors-jacksons-hispanic-and-latino-community-with-art-dance/75264525007/ 

Cookeville Herald-Citizen (Upper Cumberland):  [email protected] . Read previous letters to get a sense of the typical word count of letters.

The Putnam County Health Council is working on a community health improvement plan of which one of the key components is mental health. https://www.herald-citizen.com/news/local/council-continues-work-on-community-health-improvement-plan/article_3b7ccf82-0a51-5f10-ad01-ddfbb9019d6d.html