Contents

Tips on making your views on US-India relations heard throughout the United States.

Giving India a Voice in the US

Writing and Publishing an Op-Ed

A Cost-Effective Strategy for Promoting India's Cause in the United States

Airing the plethora of viewpoints on a topic is essential to informed, thoughtful decision making. An informed citizen is the bedrock of our democracy and the guardian of our rights.
- Peter Kent, editorial page editor, Atlanta Journal

What is an Op-ed?

Op-eds -- opinion/editorials -- are articles that appear opposite the editorial page of local, state and national newspapers. They are written by local citizens, experts, leaders of organizations -- people like you. And, they are an extremely powerful and cost-effective way for activists to both educate a large number of people and influence policy makers.

Editors at large newspapers and magazines receive hundreds of submissions each week and must weigh several factors when choosing which to publish. The criteria include the article's quality, timeliness, freshness of viewpoint and the number of articles already published on the topic. Priority is often given to a publication's regular columnists.

If your Op-ed is rejected at one publication, don't be discouraged. You may have success at another publication or with another subject.

Op-Eds versus Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor generally respond to something previously published in the paper. They are much shorter than Op-Eds -- a few paragraphs instead of several hundred words. Writers often express a personal viewpoint and may not be writing as experts.

If what you have to say is short, or offers another view of the newspaper's coverage of an issue, you may consider submitting a letter to the editor.

Increasing Your Chances of Getting Published

1. You are an Expert

Editors select Op-Eds from people who are writing an opinion from an "expert" point of view. An editor has to understand why the author is qualified to present a detailed analysis of an issue to his readers. When writing on India, mention that you are from India. Relate an incident or anecdote (reflective of your point) that has happened to you or those close to you.

2. Choose an Issue that is Current and Appeals to a Broad Audience

Persuasive writing and good credentials are not enough to get an Op-ed published. When you write a piece that shapes the debate on a serious issue, you need to choose an angle that is current and appeals to a broad audience. An original point of view on a much talked about issue will also make your piece stand out.

Sources for ideas include pending legislation, important upcoming events, historical anniversaries, holidays, trends and breaking news.

Hotly debated issues generally produce many submissions and editors will select only the best to print. Editors try to cover a variety of issues, so if you have already seen your topic addressed on the editorial page, you are unlikely to get your piece placed there. Either select another approach to the topic or try another newspaper.

If you choose to write about a popular issue, factors that may help you get published include pertinent credentials or personal experiences that make you uniquely qualified to write on the subject. A point of view contrary to prevailing public opinion or the newspaper's editorial position will also greatly improve your placement chances.

3. Timing is Everything

If you tie your op-ed to a current event, timing is vital. For example, if writing about pending legislation, you must get your piece to the editor before a vote is taken. You need to allow some time for the editor to review and edit the piece (usually 1-2 weeks). You also want to make sure that the ideas in the op-ed have time to resonate with policy makers once the piece is published.

4. Elements of Style

Writing, editing and distributing an op-ed is easier than you think. Keep your text to between 500 and 800 words (about three pages double spaced). Stay focused on one issue. Think creatively and try to be original. Use statistics. Draw historical parallels. Op-eds should be informative and provide practical solutions for the problem you have presented. They should provoke discussion, controversy and response.

Format: Double space your text. Provide a suggested title, the author's name and identification. Include a short 1-2 sentence biographical description of the author, including residence and experience relevant to the topic.

Stay Focused: Op-eds are designed to express an opinion, so you must take a position on an issue. Avoid explaining all sides of the issue. Focus on one idea and include an opening and closing paragraph that clearly states your point.

Be Clear: Avoid clichés, acronyms that you don't explain, jargon, legalese or academese. Op-eds appear in generally circulation publications and are designed for all audiences. Use simple, straightforward language with a reasonable tone. Follow journalistic writing style rules from the Associated Press Stylebook (available in bookstores or at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, etc.).

Be Accurate: Make sure all your facts and names have been verified and that there are no grammatical errors. Mistakes can hurt your credibility. Review the piece to be sure it flows well and does not contain leaps in logic.

Length: Stick to the word length limits set by the publication. Lengths are established based on space constraints and your piece is less likely to be selected if it does not fit the format. Major newspapers generally use op-eds that fall between 750 and 850 words, although some ask for pieces with as few as 300 or as many as 1200.

5. Sending the Op-ed

When submitting op-eds for consideration, be aware that exclusivity is almost always required by national newspapers and preferred by many local newspapers -- although local papers do allow multiple submissions outside their general circulation area. Check individual newspaper guidelines on this issue.

Only send one op-ed at a time. Editors prefer not to be inundated with op-eds from a single source. Do not send query letters or call editors to discuss op-ed ideas.

In most cases, completed op-eds should be sent by regular, first class mail. Some newspapers also accept op-eds by fax or e-mail, especially if the piece is timely and could become dated quickly. Check the newspaper's submission policies.

6. Following Up

Op-ed editors are busy people. Many will call to let you know they plan to use a piece, but very few will contact you if they reject your submission. To encourage a response, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your submission.

You should keep phone calls to editors to a minimum, and definitely not make them near the end of the day when the editor is working hard to meet his deadline. However, you can consider following up with the editor a week or so after submission to ask if the op-ed is under consideration. Think of your follow-up call as an opportunity to educate the editor about the issue -- even if your op-ed is not published. If your rapport is good, suggest a meeting or ask if there is a reporter who should get a copy as background on the issue. The result could be a relationship with the editor, which will prove helpful for the future.

If your op-ed is published, make sure to clip it, make a copy including the name of the paper and date it was published, and send it to the policy makers you hope to influence. Be sure to send a copy to US-India Friendship.net.

Op-ed CheckList

Review this list to make sure your submission has these traits:

• Timely and newsworthy
• Provides insight or understanding and educates the reader
• Written for a general audience
• First paragraph highlights the issue and states your opinion
• Focused, clear editorial viewpoint; doesn't ramble or unfold slowly like an essay
• Reasonable, responsible, informative tone
• Uses powerful, direct language emphasizing small words and vigorous verbs rather than adjectives and adverbs
• Avoids clichés or academic jargon
• Correctly spelled names and accurate statistics and facts
• Typed, double spaced and does not exceed suggested length
• Includes your name, title and phone number at the bottom of the last page
• Includes a cover letter with your name, phone number, address and a brief description of your qualifications and connections to the issue
• Includes a self-addressed stamped envelope for response
  

Cover Letter Checklist

Cover letters should accompany any op-ed submission. A good cover letter should include the writer's:

1. Name
2. Mailing Address
3. Day and evening phone numbers
4. Short biographical sketch highlighting the writer's credentials on the topic
5. Explanation of any ties the writer has to issues or organizations mentioned in the piece
6. Return fax number or e-mail address
7. Request for a tearsheet (a hard copy of the newspaper page containing the op-ed article)
8. Name and phone number of another contact person in case you cannot be reached.