Perhaps a recent City Council decision set your teeth on edge, or there is a local issue that you feel compelled to voice a complaint or opinion about. There are several ways you can go about it.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: 60 minutes

1. Write a letter to the editor of the Edmonton Journal (letters@thejournal.southam.ca) or Edmonton Sun (sun.letters@ccinet.ab.ca)
2. Send an email to Mayor Smith (bill.smoth@gov.edmonton.ab.ca) or call your member of City Council -- or both! (496-8110 Wards 2 and 4; 496-8111 Wards 1 and 3; and 496-8112 Wards 5 and 6).
3. Phone in to the Dave Rutherford open-line radio on 630 CHED or television talk show on ITV (check Web sites below under News Media for schedules and contact information).
4. Run for City Council when election time rolls around.
5. Get behind the candidates you support and work on their campaigns.
6. Hang out in a Second Cup or West Edmonton Mall and whine to your friends (just kidding!).
   

1. If you write a letter to the editor, shorter is better or else the paper will end up editing for length.
2. If you call a phone-in show, don't babble -- make your point clearly and succinctly. No one listens to someone who appears to be incoherent.
3. Make sure you are up on the current issues by reading newspapers and magazines.
   

Related Features:

• News Media
• Government