Writing an Op-Ed

Getting an op-ed published can be difficult; however, if you follow the tips below, your op-ed is likely to stand out in the hundreds of op-eds that newspapers receive daily.

• Op-eds are timely. If you want to share your viewpoint with others in an op-ed, make sure that it is relevant at the time to the general public. For instance, if a study was released about the increase in poverty of children receiving welfare, an op-ed on children who are recipients of welfare in a program that you run could bring continued exposure for the issue. Give the op-ed a local angle, which increases the chances of placement. If you have two competing newspapers in the area, only submit to one of them; they usually have non-compete clauses. However, if the first newspaper turns you down, you can then send your op-ed to the other newspaper.
• Op-eds are not advertisements. Do not use your op-ed to highlight the work that your organization does in a particular area; use it to describe how your organization, or you individually, are combating the national trends that are a result of the PRWORA. For instance, 44 percent of current TANF recipients have two or more barriers to self-sufficiency. Describe how your organization is working to alleviate these barriers.
• Op-eds should use history. Demonstrate trend lines. For instance, talk about the difference between the types of jobs that welfare leavers found when they were able to receive job education or training before PRWORA of 1996 versus now.
• Op-eds should have a call to action. A good op-ed articulates actions needed on the issue.
• Op-eds should be concise. Your op-ed should be no longer than two pages, or from 500 to 750 words.

General op-ed focused on overall reauthorization

Op-ed focused on workforce structure in the welfare system

Media Search Outlets

Fact Sheets