I’ve received a couple e-mails about how to get an op-ed published. While I am not an expert as some of my friends, fellow Truman Scholar Yosem received some great advice that I can pass on. The source is a family member of another Truman Scholar who works at Kensington PR, she wrote:
Each paper has an editor specifically for this section and really it just takes a little bit of searching on their website to find where to send it to. Each paper has their own editorial guidelines (word count, etc) that the writer should be aware of before submitting. Most email addresses are similar to the ones below, but each paper is different. It’s really not too hard at all!
Here are a few tips–
- Be bold. Use clear, powerful, direct language. Emphasize active verbs; limit the adjectives and adverbs. Short sentences work best, and paragraphs should usually contain no more than two or three sentences.
- Localize it. Adopt a local angle in your op-ed, even on a national issue. You are competing for space with nationally syndicated columnists, and a local angle can make your article more appealing. Know what your target publication published recently about your topic, especially on the op-ed page, and don’t repeat those arguments.
- Make a unique point. You need to take a stand and come down hard on that side of the issue. Any time an op-ed goes against the conventional wisdom, editors will be more interested. Op-ed editors also prefer submissions that are strong in their viewpoint.
- Be timely. The news cycle is quick. If you want to comment on the news of the day, you will need to submit your essay ideally that day, and definitely within two days. Most newspapers now accept submissions by e-mail, which makes for a quick transmittal.
- Provide examples. Educate your reader without giving a sermon. Make your piece human and memorable. Are there similar matters that support your point that you can refer to?
- Provide solutions. Editorials that criticize current practices and policies, but offer no solutions or new ideas are much less likely to get published.
- Make a single point. In an op-ed article of only about 700 words, you will have a hard time successfully covering more than one topic.
A great resource that I sent to Yosem was the CCMC Resource on Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds, which helped me when I wrote my first op-ed back when I was young and impetuous. Hope this helps folks interested in using op-eds to convince folks about products, issues, or other opinions. For those in industry who don’t think that op-eds matter, check out this LA Times op-ed on Facebook. As they say, being a thought leader matters, so take some time out to blog and if you want to write an op-ed, go ahead.