This is a powerful way to get the word out about a current issue you care about and deliver your message to important audiences – anyone can do it. 

An op-ed is an opinion piece submitted to a publication written by someone not affiliated with the publication's editorial board. A letter to the editor, often referred to as an LTE, is similar but is often a response to a current event or an article recently published in a publication. Both are effective ways to get the word out about a current issue you care about and are powerful ways to deliver messages to important audiences. 

How to Write a Good Op-Ed

• Write a strong opening statement that’s short and to the point – your first sentence should grab the reader.

• Most editors will only read through the first couple of sentences to decide whether a piece is worth putting in the publication.

• Your piece should speak to current events or something happening now. Don’t make it too broad or general.

• Stick to the point (don’t go off on tangents) and defend your position with two main arguments. Make sure these are clearly defined. 

• End on a strong note. Appeal to the readers’ highest values. 

• Do not use rhetorical questions. 

• Keep your op-ed under 400 words or if you write a letter to the editor, keep it under 200 words. 

  • Check the editorial or opinion page in the publication you are submitting to. There you’ll find submission guidelines for the page with word counts.

Sample Letter to the Editor (LTE)

Subject: Wisconsin legislature is attacking our freedom to vote with this package of anti-voter bills

Dear Editor,

The Wisconsin legislature recently proposed a package of bills that would be incredibly damaging to the voting rights of Wisconsin residents. 

Rather than ensuring all residents have fair access to the ballot, a handful of our legislators are writing bills that, among other things, make it harder for individuals to vote (especially voters with disabilities, voters from Black and brown communities, and elderly voters), threaten individuals including volunteers and clerks with prosecution for violating the new barriers outlined in the bills, and forbid workers in residential care facilities and retirement homes from even encouraging residents to vote. 

These legislators are unwilling to work with nonpartisan organizations like those in the Wisconsin Voting Rights Coalition that are proposing solutions that would benefit those on both sides of the aisle. Partner organizations in the coalition are offering tools to implement automatic voter registration, expand access to the Department of Motor Vehicles, protect early voting and other initiatives. 

It is urgent that your readers understand the threats this package of anti-voter bills have on their freedoms to vote. 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Email]

[Your Address]

How to Pitch Your Story to the Editor

• Open your email or phone call with a line that will grab their attention. 

• Make sure your story is relevant to the readers of that specific publication.

• Your submission should be timely. If it is a response to a current event or article, make sure it is submitted within 24-48 hours and give the editor a few days to publish it.

• Check the editorial or opinion page of the publication website and make sure you are submitting your pitch to the right person. 

• Do not attach documents. It is better to copy and paste into the body of the email.