Dear [Publication Name] editor:
Please consider printing the article below in an upcoming publication of your newspaper.
To obtain high-resolution images of the American Journalists stamps, e-mail michael.p.woods@usps.gov.
Thank you.
Postmaster
www.usps.gov.
(426 words)
Free Press, Postal Service Bind the Nation Together
The recently issued American Journalists stamps recognize the contributions of journalists to the betterment of American society, exposing and exploring the people, processes, challenges and accomplishments of a country, its people and its role in the world.
With this sheet of stamps, the U.S. Postal Service® honors five distinguished journalists who reported — often at great personal sacrifice — some of the most important stories of the 20th century. Working in radio, television or print, the distinguished members of this group did their part to keep citizens informed about the world around them. They were drawn to hot spots, and their description of conflicts and issues helped people respond more intelligently to events: Ruben Salazar, Martha Gellhorn, John Hersey, George Polk and Eric Sevareid.
These stamps also serve to remind us of the important role a free press has played throughout our nation’s history — a role that flourished through a partnership forged between community newspapers and the Post Office™.
When the founding fathers gathered in 1775 to create our national government, one of the first acts of the Continental Congress was to establish the Post Office. Why start with the mail? One important reason was to “bind the nation together” by delivering free, uncensored news about our fledgling country and the freedom and democracy on which it was built.
A free press remains one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Individual small town publishers and the delivery of the news and other information by the Postal Service™ are important reasons why the United States is a beacon of freedom to the world.
Today, creating and delivering the news is no small endeavor. In 2006, the Postal Service processed and delivered more than 9 billion copies of newspapers and publications — everything from community newspapers like [this one, or insert publication name] to Time, Newsweek and the Washington Post.
After more than two centuries, employees of the Postal Service and journalists at community newspapers still help Americans communicate with each other. Our partnership in binding the nation together has never been more important —delivering news, opinions and information that keeps us informed, and helps to keep us free.
The American Journalists stamps will be used as postage to mail thousands (millions?) of letters containing correspondence and greetings, each one carrying with it an enduring (implicit) message of freedom to express news, ideas and opinions.
I invite you to come by the [Anytown] Post Office and see the American Journalists stamps, or learn more about them by visiting www.usps.com.
[Postmaster]
[Anytown, USA]
