According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, an op-ed is "An essay in a newspaper or magazine that gives the opinion of the writer and that is written by someone who is not employed by the newspaper or magazine" and stands for opposite editorial. Op-Eds are sometimes referred to as Opinions and/or Commentary.
Historically, op-eds were written and published by newspapers, but over time other print and online media outlets such as magazines, journals, blogs, wikis, etc. began including these types of editorials.
Not all opinion pieces are called "op-eds" and are often labeled "Opinion", "Current Opinion", "Opinion Essay", "Guest Editorials", "Commentary", etc. Editorials and Letters to the Editor are not true opinion editorial pieces, as the former is usually written by an editorial board and the latter is a response to an item and doesn't follow op-ed guidelines.
For more information about op-eds or opinion pieces see
Add site:.org to your Google search to find organizations that take controversial stands on issues (ex: abortion site:.org)
Reading the opinion pages and submission requirements of leading newspapers can provide a great background for understanding how to write powerful and successful opinion editorials (op-eds). If you’re ready to try submitting to one of these papers, submission information is provided below.
Check a list of current newspapers in the Database Finder.
Use the search form in Nexis Uni to screen for editorials and opinions. Follow these steps:
In Factiva, follow these steps:
Watch the steps on how to find op-eds in Proquest databases.
Writing and Submitting Op-EdsRegional or local newspapers are great choices for submitting op-eds. The Op-Ed Project provides information for over 100 top online and print publications in the country. Columbia University’s Earth Institute has a section, Writing and Submitting an Opinion Piece with guidance, tips, and tricks on how to write and submit an opinion piece. |
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