Writing Op-eds | Communications Toolkit

Op-eds are a valuable way to share your expertise with a broader audience. Besides newspapers, online publications and placement services such as The Conversation publish op-eds and essays on a range of topics. Use the guidance and resources below to get started.

What Is an Op-Ed?

The term "op-ed" means "opposite editorial," referring to its traditional placement in a newspaper opposite the editorial page. Op-eds give individuals — including researchers and academics — an opportunity to share informed opinions on pressing issues with a general audience.

Before submitting, read the guidelines of the publication you are targeting. In almost all cases, op-eds must be submitted exclusively to one publication at a time.

Resources for Writing Op-Eds

The following resources offer guidance on writing and placing op-eds:

Tips for Aspiring Op-Ed Writers — New York Times guidance on what makes a strong op-ed.
Hey Scientist, Are You Ready to Talk to the Media? — Advice from a UC Davis faculty member on communicating with the media.
Why and How I Write Op-Eds — An academic perspective on writing op-eds for a general audience.
The Conversation — UC works regularly with The Conversation, which publishes longer essays by academics. Authors work with editors on pieces rather than submitting finished drafts. Visit their website for submission guidance.

Examples of UC ANR Op-Eds

Why We Need to Treat Wildfire as a Public Health Issue in California — Published in The Conversation, written by Faith Kearns and Max Moritz.

Op-Ed Template

A strong op-ed follows a clear structure: it opens with a hook that establishes relevance, presents a problem, supports it with specific examples, and closes with a clear call to action. Use the annotated example below as a guide.

Set the context — establish timeliness and why readers should care

This week, senior business executives in 17 cities across the country will talk about diversity on corporate boards and how to increase the number of women to 20 percent or more by the year 2020. We applaud these efforts, knowing much more needs to be done to raise the presence of women at the top of corporate America.

Present the problem

The goal for 2020 is set low, but in California, the majority of the largest public companies have a long way to go to reach even that mark.

Give specific examples and lay out the issue logically

Women hold only 12.3 percent of board seats and the highest-paid executive positions at the 400 largest public companies headquartered in California, according to an annual UC Davis Graduate School of Management study. That's a tiny improvement of 0.7 percentage points over last year, even in a state that is one of the most progressive.

In the public sector, efforts to increase the representation of women have made more progress. Nationally, women hold 20 percent of U.S. Senate seats, 19 percent of U.S. House seats, and more than 20 percent of seats in state legislatures.

Acknowledge progress where it exists

On the bright side, progress is being made over the long term. The number of women in key decision-making roles has increased from 9.6 percent in 2010 to 12.3 percent today.

Build toward the call to action

Universities and business schools in particular must lead in helping companies and their leaders adapt to meet the needs of the 21st century workforce.

Call to action — make it clear and direct

We call on business leaders to take a hard look at the diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experience on their teams. If you do not see many women, your firm and your stockholders may not be as well-positioned as possible to keep your company competitive and adequately address the risks, challenges, and opportunities ahead.

Note: Close with a one-line bio identifying yourself and your affiliation.