The public affairs office sponsored an op-ed seminar, hosted by writer Bill McKibben, a scholar in residence with the environmental studies program at Middlebury. The author of numerous opinion pieces, McKibben offered the following tips and strategies for writing and submitting a successful op-ed piece:
Keep it current: Be sure your topic is relevant to current news.
Be straightforward: There's no room for subtlety in an op-ed piece.
Keep it short: 600-750 words is the limit; also, use short sentences and short paragraphs, each offering evidence to support your point.
Make your point: Preferably in the first paragraph.
Advocate your view: Don't feel the need to summarize other views.
Provide answers: Consider the questions readers are likely to have and answer them.
Offer anecdotes: Personal stories can help make your point.
Present solutions: Wrap up by recommending fixes for the problems you identify.
Get it done while the news is fresh: Give yourself one day only to complete your piece.
You know best: Use your own area of expertise to hook into the current news topic.
Different is good: Humorous asides, unexpected perspectives, quirky approaches are welcome.
Placements to consider: Typically the following news outlets run three to four outsider op-eds a day. Read the opinion pieces regularly to learn what gets published.
The New York Times
Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
Boston Globe
Slate.com
Salon.com
Other Internet outlets
Once you've written a piece — or even considered writing a piece — public affairs is here to help you with:
Editing your final draft.
Submitting your piece to the appropriate paper.
Following up on your submission.
Once you've submitted your piece, if a publication shows interest, you MUST:
Be accessible: Provide contact info — and be available for editing, etc. — for up to 48 hours.