Strategies for Crafting and Sending an Editorial Article
Syracuse University's media relations team is dedicated to helping faculty members share their expertise and thought leadership through op-eds. With a strong focus on strategic guidance and pitching, the team assists in crafting compelling pitches and facilitating placements in media outlets.
The university's commitment to public scholarship and policy communication is evident, particularly through its Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC). This focus on connecting faculty expertise with media platforms underscores the importance of framing academic knowledge in ways that resonate with journalists and policymakers.
To write a successful op-ed, follow these tips:
- Start with a strong hook that grabs readers' attention immediately.
- Focus on one clear, timely idea or argument that reflects your expertise and contributes to current public debates.
- Write in a concise, accessible style, avoiding jargon to engage a broad audience.
- Use evidence and examples to support your points while maintaining a persuasive tone.
- Include a call to action or clear takeaway to make the piece impactful.
- Follow media outlet guidelines for word count and submission format.
- Pitch the op-ed with a customized, concise email explaining why your piece is timely and relevant to the outlet's audience.
Remember, proper processing time must be taken into consideration when submitting an op-ed. Some media outlets respond well to direct pitching from academics, such as The Conversation, Truthout, and Project Syndicate.
Syracuse University's media relations team can help faculty members pitch their thought leadership to news media related to their scholarship or research interests. Contact Daryl Lovell ([email protected]), Chris Munoz ([email protected]), Ellen James Mbuqe ([email protected]), Keith Kobland ([email protected]), or Vanessa Marquette ([email protected]) for assistance.
For those seeking reach, here's a listing of the top newspaper publications (listed by circulation) for which to target your op-ed:
- The Wall Street Journal - 1,011,200
- The New York Times - 483,701
- USA Today - 1,621,091
- The Los Angeles Times - 417,936
- The Chicago Tribune - 238,103
- The New York Post - 426,129
- The Boston Globe - 230,756
- The Washington Post - 254,379
- Newsday - 251,473
- The Star Tribune (Minneapolis) - 251,822
The Op-Ed Project offers a site for access to regional and national publications, with email addresses and pertinent information to submit your piece.
An op-ed is an opinion piece, ideally written on a topic that is in the news (or should be). It's a great opportunity for faculty members to share their insights and contribute to public discourse.
Education and self-development can be leveraged by faculty members at Syracuse University through strategic partnerships with media outlets. Faculty can seek assistance from the university's media relations team in pitching their thought leadership to relevant news media, aiming to share their insights and expertise on timely topics with a broader audience.
