How to Write

Getting an Op-Ed Piece Published

"Op-ed" stands for "opposite the editorial page." In larger papers like the New York Times, the op-ed page is the page after the newspaper's editorials and letters to the editor. Smaller papers may combine all three on one page: editorials, op-ed's, and letters to the editor.

Generally, there are two types of op-ed pieces. One is a column by syndicated writers such as George Will, Arianna Huffington or A.M. Rosenthal. Newspapers "subscribe" to wire services which send out these columns. The second type of op-ed, sometimes indistinguishable from a letter to the editor, is from a local writer.

You should ask the op-ed editor (or, in the case of smaller newspapers, the editorial page editor) if you can write an op-ed, sometimes called a "guest editorial." Sometimes people newspaper staff are given this opportunity in lieu of the newspaper running its own editorial. While it varies from paper to paper, an op-ed is usually about 750 words.

The Miami Group would like to thank the Global Renaissance Alliance for allowing us to reprint sections of their Citizen Action Guide.