If there's an issue that needs to be covered, contact local media outlets. Media coverage is a good way to reach a wider audience, but the media can't cover an event or an issue unless they're kept informed. Many newspapers, radio stations, and television stations list their directory online, making it easier to find contact information. If you get in touch with a specific reporter, determine if the person is aware of the issue and if he or she needs any additional information. If you don't believe the paper has covered a story fairly, contact the editor or a manager. Be sure to list the specific items you took issue with and provide correct facts. Remember that an ongoing relationship with the paper is desirable and that bullying them won't help that relationship. It might even be a good idea to offer to work with them on covering the subject or providing additional information that might be needed.

If you want to see your name in print, write a letter to the editor of the newspaper. Make sure to follow the format required by the newspaper, especially with respect to length and personal information. The letter should be timely and concise, and even though it will go through an editor, make sure to proof it for spelling and grammar. If the letter covers a heated issue, consider how you will feel when it's published in the paper with your name attached. The newspaper may not publish the first letter it gets, but if a topic appears again and again — especially if it's a concern voiced by several writers — it's likely to be recognized.

If you have more to say than can be communicated in a 200-word letter, you can compose a longer piece. Op-ed articles are longer than standard letters to the editor. If it's a topic that's not strictly local, it can be sent to newspapers with wider subscriptions. Larger papers such as the New York Times or the Washington Post don't routinely accept op-ed articles that have been printed elsewhere; it could be more advantageous to have a letter printed in multiple smaller newspapers than in just one large paper. State the controversial point clearly and present any arguments by sticking to the facts. Keep the audience in mind when you offer solutions. If your intent is to persuade the average person on the street of a stance, don't use complicated facts and figures. Write your letter to the readers. It may be to your advantage to give the piece a catchy title. If not, the newspaper will give it a title that may not accurately reflect your intended position.