The Chicago Tribune Pimps Alito Confirmation

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601130231jan13,1,5464713.story?coll=chi-news-hed



Blech, why don't they shine his shoes while they are down there? Here is the LTTE I sent them:

If Samuel Alito “appears poised for confirmation”, it is only because traditional media like the Tribune have been pushing that idea. The burden was on Alito to defend his radical record. He failed to make the case for allowing him to replace Sandra Day O’ Connor, a moderate justice. There is no place on the Supreme Court for a man who believes that the president has power to determine the constitutionality of laws, as Alito does. There is no place for a man who refused to declare Roe v. Wade settled law, as Alito did. There is no place for a man who would have allowed the strip-search of a ten-year-old girl without a warrant, as Alito would have. Democrats and pro-choice Republicans can and should filibuster Samuel Alito, and the Tribune should refrain from attempting to create airs of inevitability around events it has nothing to do with.

They probably won't print a letter bashing them, but it felt good to write, and maybe at least one person at the Tribune will feel anger and/or shame because of it.

When i've taken them to task, they've printed the letters. They are, to be fair, willing to print well-written letters that criticize them or their staff. I've had many published over the last 20 years or so. I don't agree with their editorial board, and think Lipinsky and Dold are a couple of idiots, but the board as a whole, appears on the up and up. Remember Steve "Bill of Rights Is Sacrosanct" Chapman, is on the board.
The Professor

How do you get your letters to the Tribune to stand out so that they get published? Admittedly, I have just started seriously writing LTTEs, but so far no success. Maybe I should be faxing or sending them, rather than emailing them?

First, your's is already short so that's no problem. But, one thing to keep in mind is to set your word processor to the width of an LTTE and make sure that it's no more than 2" per separate thought. They will print somewhat lengthy letters, but not if they ramble.

Secondly, write a lot of them. Anytime a topic that flips your whistle comes along, write a letter. Email is perfectly fine. I've never sent them any other way! In fact, i think that works better than the contact form on their website.

Thirdly, always make sure that your Tribune related facts are solid. If you're referencing an article, op-ed, or someone else's letter, have the date, title, author, and section named correctly. They really like that.

The reason i know all this is true, is because Don Wycliff told me so. I specifically asked him why certain writers get published so often, especially since there are a few who consistently make up facts, and pretty much say the same thing in every letter.

The list i gave you comes right from his office, and he's the Public Editor of the Trib.
The Professor

I lived in Chicago for only a brief time, but it seemed like a North Side/South Side split with the newspapers. I lived in Lincoln Park and everyone took the Tribune, and worked on the South Side where everyone took the Sun-Times. I decided to be bold and subscribe to the S-T, and not give the Tribune my money. Why pay my oppressors?

really jumped the couch the last year or two.

Professor GAC is right on the LTTE issue. I've had pretty good luck over the years being precise and reasonably brief.