Opinion Article

Guidelines to help you get your op-ed published:

Be concise. Your piece should be clear, succinct, and to the point. State a strong argument both in the introduction and in the conclusion to keep the reader focused on the issue you are discussing.

Be specific. Write about one specific policy issue at a time. Make sure to explain why your argument is relevant to a recent issue or event raised.

Provide a recommendation. Your opinion should also consist of suggestions of possible solutions to the problem at hand.

Use facts. Support your opinion with well-documented and well-researched facts, statistics, and examples related to the issue.

Get local. When writing about global issues think about how your local community is tied to and affected by the issue you are raising.

Format. Consider mixing long and short sentences to maintain the reader’s attention. At the end of your piece, mark –End- and provide a word count to present the editor with an accurate length of your piece; try not to exceed 750 words.

Proofread. Make sure your piece is organized in a logical manner. Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. The terms used should be familiar to the average reader. Avoid personal attacks or clichéd language.