How to Sell an Op-Ed piece

We all have opinions. Op-Ed (or opinion editorial) columns are an effective way to express your fact-substantiated thoughts to a widespread audience. The process, though, isn’t easy. Even if you master timeliness and a strong argument, two key components of an effective op-ed piece, the battle isn’t over: you still need to sell your piece. Read below for tips on how to make your voice heard.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

1. Using the Internet or your local library’s resources, research nationwide op-ed columns. Websites such as Library Spot and Communications Consortium Media Center (see links in Resources) offer easy-to-access lists of top newspaper columns.
2. Determine your selling point.
3. Identify five newspapers you see as a good fit for your piece based on geographic location, suggested word length, audience and topic. This information can be found on the paper's website.
4. Read example columns to make sure yours matches the tone of the paper.
5. Follow guidelines as stated in the newspaper or on its website for submission.

Tips & Warnings

• Editors are so inundated with submissions that even good pieces get passed by. A rejection isn’t necessarily a value of your work; it may be an indication of a saturated market.
• Allow an editor ten days to consider your piece. If you don’t hear from them within that time frame, feel free to submit it elsewhere.
• Do not send your piece to more than one paper at a time. Most op-ed editors frown upon simultaneous submissions.

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