Open letter

An open letter ( formerly missive or epistle ) is a document which will be published as a pamphlet, in the press or other media. Due to the shape of the open letter, the receiver is often invited to a public opinion on the subject of the letter. An open letter is sometimes used in conjunction with a petition or a press release and can be used as a tool of public relations. An open letter can also be sent directly to the recipient or recipients.

The open letter in his best-known form is often used to confront people in the public interest, clubs or companies with controversial statements, broken promises or falsehoods or to provoke a necessary view of the author of the letter action of the addressee.

In fact, his game forms, however, are much more numerous, such as open letters Birthday ( Anna Seghers Christa Wolf to the 50th ), as literary criticism ( Marcel Reich -Ranicki Günter Grass in the mirror ), a satire, and above all as a " Sign the Book of Complaints of history " (B. Dückerstieg ) prove.

One of the most famous open letter ( J'accuse ) comes from Émile Zola and themed 1898 Dreyfus affair.