uw writing with voice and op-eds
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
HOW TO WRITE AND PITCH POWERFUL OP-EDS
UW Writing with Voice, March 10, 2015
![Page 2: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
WHAT IS AN OP-ED?
![Page 3: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
![Page 4: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
An op-ed is…
•A knowledgeable argument
![Page 5: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
An op-ed is not…
•Community news
•A progress report
•A news release
•A rant
•A response to a previously published article
![Page 6: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
You are already an expert
•You are uniquely authorized to write a guest column about something
•Example: Are you a college student? You have a unique opinion about MOOCs, tuition costs, state support for higher ed, fraternities, social media, public safety on the Ave, STEM, the job market, cost of housing…
![Page 7: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Seattle Times op-ed: Dating
![Page 8: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Seattle Times op-ed: Study abroad
![Page 9: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Seattle Times op-ed: Waitressing
![Page 10: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
WHO PUBLISHES OP-EDS
Easier
• Local print publications: NW Asian Weekly, Seattle Medium, UW Daily
• Local websites: Crosscut.com
• Business journals: Puget Sound Business Journal
• National websites: Huffington Post
Harder
• Daily metropolitan newspapers: Seattle Times
• National newspapers
![Page 11: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Op-ed structure
Short lede, ~100 words
Main argument
Research supporting your argument
Propose solutions
Ending, kicker or call to action
![Page 12: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
PITCHING AN OP-ED
![Page 13: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Pitching: Stand out from the crowd
•Read the submission guidelines (http://seati.ms/submitoped)
•Have an opinion and state it forcefully.
•Be pleasantly persistent
•Explain why you are the best person to write this, in 200 words or fewer
•Include your headshot
![Page 14: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Make an op-ed editor happy
•Don’t submit to multiple newspapers at once
•Don’t demand to hear back the same day
•Don’t expect a commitment to publish on spec
•Don’t expect multiple rounds of editing and multiple last-minute changes
![Page 15: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Social media countsEmail excerpt from op-ed writer Arsalan Iftikhar @TheMuslimGuy:
“Please let me know when the article goes live and I will send out to my 30,000+ Facebook/Twitter followers…
Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity...Hope to do it again soon :)
Yours,Arsalan”
![Page 16: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
No does not mean never. No means not right now.
![Page 17: UW Writing with Voice and Op-eds](https://reader030.vdocuments.mx/reader030/viewer/2022032421/55a640691a28ab3e3a8b468a/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
SCREW IT. PUBLISH IT YOURSELF.
Recommended reading: “Show Your Work” by Austin Kleonhttp://austinkleon.com/show-your-work/