People who berate, belittle and attack over the telephone are not going to find a receptive person on the other end of the call. In addition to leaving a name and telephone number, Creamer says readers should be sure to leave some indication of what they want to talk about. One ombudsman's view Based on dealing with several thousand readers who have something to say about The Bee, I know that reader feedback can be a valuable asset. Many of the best ideas, and some of the very best stories in the paper, were initiated by one reader making a phone call or dropping someone a note. Don't hesitate to write a real letter, those artifacts of communication from place to place.
Handwritten letters reflect more time and caring.
If you don't need a call back, say so. That saves time. Brevity and clarity always help. Don't be rude, crude or cute. That doesn't go over well with normal human beings, or with journalists either.