This is a document in which an individual directs or expresses to another with the purpose of communicating something to him. This is a form of written communication, where data and information can also be transmitted to an individual and an entity or simply several entities. In any case, the letter that is sent is private, in the sense that the sender discloses its content to a specific recipient.
If someone decides to send an open letter to an editor, it is because they want to publicize a situation that they consider to be of interest to society in general. As a general rule, its content addresses a current problem or that is connected with the opinion on an issue by a sector of the population.
One of the important aspects is the identification of the sender, since it may be relevant to know the name of the author and, on the other hand, a newspaper would not admit the publication of an anonymous letter.
From a journalistic point of view, the open letter is a way of allowing the anonymous citizen to have access to traditional media. With the advent of new technologies, the conventional open letter has partially lost its reason for being, since anyone can give their opinion in a forum, in a tweet or on Facebook without having to resort to the written press.
Among the characteristics of an open letter we find:
- It is a letter that is read to a wide and varied audience.
- It can be read by an individual or disseminated through a written means of communication.
- Usually it is sent to an individual, although it is spread massively through the media.
- They usually have the name of the letter to the editor.
- It must have a clear intentionality and the point of view of the undersigned. They reflect the feeling of the people, their opinion on current problems.
