How can someone write an anonymous letter in a newspaper? What is the process for doing so?

Generally speaking, newspapers have a stated goal of reporting facts. When opinions are quoted, these are generally balanced by opposing but respectful viewpoints. Views are to be attributed to a real person holding those views.

The exception is national-circulation papers like the New York Times, which sometimes allow articles including views described as those of “a senior White House staffer” or something similar; this sort of cop-out is generally only permitted when the newsworthy statement could not otherwise have been obtained and when the journalist is fairly certain that the anonymous news leaker is not attempting to use the journalist’s reputation to spread falsehoods. Even when the newspaper agrees to keep a source anonymous, the newspaper’s senior editors must be apprised of the real identity of the cowardly “source.”

Letters to the editor must be signed by a real person, and they must include contact details, so that the newspaper can assure themselves that the claimed author is a real person. The rare exception might be where the letter originates in a repressive or totalitarian state, where knowledge of the true authorship might put that person or her family at risk of death.

If you are just writing an article or letter for publication in a serious newspaper of general circulation and you do not live in a dictatorship — like Russia, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Iran or Hungary, for example — you should be prepared to own your words. Requesting anonymity would imply that you are not honest in your beliefs or are ashamed of them.