A great way to help members of your community learn about efforts to promote tobacco free kids and to support Nebraskans' efforts to quit smoking and quit tobacco use is by writing letters to the editor.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

First off, keep it short: roughly two to three "paragraphs" of one or two sentences each, not any longer than that. If it's possible to specifically reference coverage that the paper has had on the issue that you're  referencing, that's a good thing. For example, you could say something like, "As noted in 'State Helps Nebraskans Quit Smoking' published June 12...."

Submitting your letter by email, as long as that option exists, not only is fine, but is probably preferred by most editors, who won't have to have your letter re-entered in that case. To submit a letter to your local paper, you should be able to find submission information at the opinion section of your paper, either in print or online. We've provided a list of Nebraska newspapers to help you get started.

The paper will want to confirm who you are. You can speed that process by including your first name, last name, and home address with the email or print letter. They won't publish your home address, but including that will help them confirm that you are you. It can help, also, if you include a contact phone number.