Advocacy Toolkit

Media and Publicity

Op Ed

Opinion Editorials or "op-eds" (opposite the editorial page) are submitted to newspapers to express a position on a topic. An op-ed is a good vehicle when you feel that news reporting is missing an important aspect of the story. It is an effective way to explain complicated but integral details that do not require the paper to investigate a story or take a side.

How to Submit an Op-Ed

You should call the op-ed editor before you write the piece to gauge his/herinterest. Explain why you think the issue is important to the paper's readers. Most papers have an op-ed review process that can take anywhere from days to months. Many large daily papers require "exclusivity," therefore they will only consider your piece if they are the sole paper receiving it. Know this before you send the op-ed to other papers. Pay special attention to the "author" of the op-ed; sometimes they are as important as the content of the piece. Often, op-eds are written by one person and signed by another more prominent person or group of people. "Big name" writers or leaders from the community are more likely to get published on the op-ed page. Instructions for submitting an op-ed are usually at the bottom of the page where they appear or on the paper's web site. Some papers like them mailed; others prefer faxes, while others favor e-mails.

Getting it Published

• Be about 700 words long. Check with the paper to determine their standard accepted length, some have more space than others.
• Be succinct and creative.
• Lead with your main point: many op-eds are rejected because the author never gets to the point or clearly states their opinion.
• Always include recommendations for solving the problem.
• If possible, use a news or local angle.
• Include statistics and data to add credibility to the piece, but be careful not to confuse your main point with too many numbers. Always provide sources.
• End with a strong closing statement. What should happen to make change? Who is in a position to make change? What new ideas are you suggesting? A strong sentence that includes answers to these questions will make the piece end with a bang.
• Indicate authorship and group affiliation
• Include contact information at the end, including phone number or email address