Make Your Voice Heard Through Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor
If you are a subject matter expert with an interesting opinion on a timely issue, you may want to consider writing an op-ed or a letter to the editor. Op-eds and letters to the editor can influence public debate and affect policy on the local, state, national, and international levels. Op-eds and letters to the editor sometimes result in significant publicity for the author.
Here are some tips for writing and submitting op-eds and letters to the editor from the ASA Office of Public Affairs and Public Information:
Op-Ed
- Make a focused, educated argument
- It is important to hook the reader early
- Your main point should be in your first paragraph
- Tell readers why they should care what you are writing about
- Offer specific recommendations
- Make sure your opinion is based on solid research
- Restate your main point and issue a call to action at the end of your op-ed
- Your conclusion and your first paragraph are particularly important
- Appeal to the average reader
- Remember, the reader is probably not an expert in your topic
- Writing style is important
- Use short sentences and paragraphs
- Sentences should generally be declarative
- Avoid jargon and clichés
- Use the active voice
- Do not “preach”
- Do not be afraid to use the personal voice
- Use short sentences and paragraphs
- Be timely
- Make sure your op-ed is linked to current events
- Limit op-eds to 750 words or fewer
- Newspapers and other publications have space constraints
- You won’t be able to solve all the world’s problems in your op-ed
- Submitting your op-ed
- Most op-eds are submitted via email
- You can generally find submission information in the online and print versions of a media outlet’s opinion section
- Include a brief bio, along with your phone number, email address, and mailing address at the bottom of the op-ed
- Most op-eds are submitted via email
- Following up
- Most op-ed editors will respond to you within a week
- If you haven't received a response by then or if your piece is particularly time-sensitive, you can follow up with an email or a call to ensure the editor received your op-ed and to check on its status
- Most op-ed editors will respond to you within a week
Letters to the Editor
- Typically written in response to a recent article in a previous edition of the publication
- Make one clear argument—criticizing or supporting the article
- Cite the article (title and publication date) in your letter
- Limit your letter to 150-200 words
- Submitting your letter
- Most letters are submitted via email
- You can generally find submission information in the online and print versions of a media outlet’s opinion section
- Include your phone number, email address, mailing address, and title, if relevant, at the bottom of the letter
- Most letters are submitted via email
- Following up
- Most op-ed editors will respond to you within a week
- If you haven't received a response by then or if your piece is particularly time-sensitive, you can follow up with an email or a call to ensure the editor received your letter and to check on its status
- Most op-ed editors will respond to you within a week
If you have any questions, please email Bradley Smith at pubinfo@asanet.org