Stripers Forever members - now is time for all members everywhere to support our efforts in MA by writing letters to the editor of papers that have written recently about striped bass. Our press consultant worked with Associated Press to get a good national story that was picked up by news outlets throughout the US. Locally, the story ran in the Boston Herald online, Brockton Enterprise, WBZ-TV online, Worcester Telegram and Gazette online, ABC News online, and the Gloucester Daily News. Additionally, tons and tons of news outlets
nationally also ran the story.
Today, the Gloucester Daily News ran a thoughtful piece by Richard Gaines, a veteran Boston-area newsman who writes fulltime on fishery issues.
We also know that the Cape Cod Times will soon release a story on the bill. Given the very hard-line commercial stance of this paper we can’t expect it to be fair, but it still provides a forum for our comments.
Here is a sample letter to the editor and tips on how to write one in your own words from our PR expert. It is written to address the Gloucester Times story:
To the editor:
I read your story "Commercial Fishing for Striped Bass under Fire" (Jan. 20) with interest as I am a keen recreational angler for stripers. However, I must take issue with “so and so”, a recreational and commercial fisherman for stripers identified in the article as "Gloucester's bass man," who says stocks of the fish "are in pretty good shape." I do a lot of fishing and I can tell you this is wishful thinking. Complacent attitudes contributed to the collapse of the striped bass population in the 1980s. We cannot afford to be so cavalier this time around. A ban on commercial fishing for striped bass would protect the largest fish, which are breeding females essential to a healthy population.
Sincerely,
Your Name, Town, State
your e-mail address and phone number
The content of the letter can vary -- each member should write about their own reaction to the piece. But it should be no longer than six sentences. Make ONE POINT and make it well. BE SURE to include your contact information so they can call you to verify the letter prior to printing.
Here are email addresses to keep on hand: IF LINKS DO NOT WORK JUST PASTE THEM IN AS E-MAIL ADDRESSES. THEY ARE CORRECT.
Boston Globe
Gloucester Daily Times (SEND TO BOTH)
Cape Cod Times/Cape Cod Online:
Letters Editor, Cape Cod Times, 319 Main St., Hyannis MA 02601. Letters may be faxed to: (508) 771-3292.
We have more than 16,000 members. If 10 percent write a letter, it will have a big impact.
If you haven't seen any of our press coverage, you can still help. Do a Google search for "Jay Lindsay and Jeffrey Krasner." The search will return dozens of web sites where the Associated Press story ran. Pick you favorite -- ideally a media outlet close to where you live. Click on it. Then write a letter in response to that version of the story. If you cannot find an address for letters to the editor, look for the "Contact" page. A link to it can usually found at the bottom of most web pages. Pick up the phone during business hours and ask the receptionist how to submit a letter to
the editor."
Brad Burns
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