Op-eds & letters-to-the-editor are two ways for readers to express their opinions on the pages of magazines and newspapers. Each can present a good forum for you to raise awareness about the need to hold corporations accountable for their crimes, the horrific impacts of gas flaring, the importance of the trail against Shell, etc.

The purpose of course is to persuade readers to agree with your viewpoint. In some cases– primarily with smaller outlets– op-eds and letters-to-the-editor may actually compel the editors to shift their positions on the editorial page, or result in more and better coverage of an issue.

Letters-to-the-Editor
Newspapers and magazines print letters to the editor in part to allow others to raise or comment on issues relevant to its readership, and on stories recently appearing in the outlet. Many newspapers and magazines will ONLY print letters in response to a recent news article, column, review, or op-ed, while others will allow readers to use letters-to-the-editor to express an opinion unrelated to anything specific recently appearing in its pages. For obvious reasons, it is often much more difficult to get a letter to the editor printed in large national outlets such as Time Magazine or The Washington Post. Conversely, it can be easier to get your letter printed in a local newspaper or other periodical, or a community or school newspaper.

Your letter has a better chance of being published if it is a reaction to a recent story, column, or op-ed in the paper (and in some cases, as mentioned above, will ONLY be published if it refers to something recently appearing in its pages). Keep an eye out for any stories that are relevant to your issue and see if you can find a “hook.”

Letters are usually 2-3 paragraphs (approximately 150-200 words; some papers like the New York Times set a maximum of 150 words); they are more likely to be printed if they are short and clear. The paper will take the liberty to shorten your letter to suit its format; the more it has to cut, the less control you have of what gets printed. Check the magazine or paper’s guidelines for letters-to-the-editor before you begin.

• Letters should have a clear message, and be concise, to-the-point and original.
• Focus on one main point, lead with your most important information and make a compelling case; think about who reads the paper you’re writing for.
• The tone of the letter should be straightforward, civil and sincere.
• You can write the letter as an indiv­idual or, if appropriate, as a representative of an organization.
• Include your full name, address and phone number at the bottom of the letter. You must include a phone number for verification purposes.

Op-eds
An op-ed is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a writer who is unaffiliated with the newspaper’s editorial board. These are different from editorials, which are written by the newspaper’s editorial board members. Though often believed to be abbreviated from ‘opinion-editorial,’ op-eds actually take their name from the fact that they are generally printed on the page ‘opposite the editorials.’

Many of the same rules that apply to letters-to-the-editor also apply to op-eds. You should be clear, concise, civil, and persuasive. However, you have more space to make your argument, between 300 and 1000 words, depending on the outlet (check the magazine or paper’s guidelines before you begin). Here are a few additional points to keep in mind:

• Op-eds are often published by newspapers and magazines to balance the views of other editorials and columns so carefully consider the outlet’s viewpoint and recent editorials and columns before writing.
• Depending on the size and profile of the outlet, the author of an op-ed may make a big difference in whether it gets printed; consider whether there is an expert, a head of an organization, or relevant high-profile community member that you could help to write and submit an op-ed.
• If you believe you’ll be regarded by the editors as just ‘another community member,’ make your argument persuasive using your personal connection to the issue; speaking personally and from the heart can make up for your lack of perceived ‘expertise.’
• As with letters-to-the-editor, op-eds should have a clear message. Make your point early on and make sure it is clear. The first sentence should reveal exactly what you intend to write about. The rest of the op-ed should support your main message.