Research your topic with a fresh eye. However, just as it's important to take extra steps to educate our subscribers on issues less familiar to them, it's also important to go an extra step in educating the editorial board on why our issues are so important. Know Your audience. Check the masthead or call the newspaper you are considering approaching to make sure that the editorials are locally written. The papers where all editorials are locally written by one person will be the most receptive to your suggestions.
All news is local.
Strongly consider compiling extra data for your research on local implications. Read the paper you are approaching. Asking for an editorial when one has already been published will waste your time and hurt your credibility. Build your coalition. Be creative and build a coalition of individuals and representatives of organizations who don't normally work together.