Writing an opinion editorial, or op-ed, seems pretty straight forward. You simply sound off on a...
The most important starting point for an op-ed is finding a topic that you are passionate about. "I'm looking for op-eds that give me insight into a writer's worldview," says Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Guest Judge for our Op-Ed Competition. "By the end of the essay, I want to feel like I have a good understanding of how they think." Read on for his expert insights on editing, pitching, and the op-ed form.
What’s your favorite thing about being an editor?
The collaborative writer/editor dynamic is what I most enjoy. In writing, we spend a lot of time in our heads, bouncing ideas around to find the best way to communicate them. And, as anyone who has ever written anything will let you know, sometimes sorting through ideas and organizing them can be really hard! As an editor, I enjoy being a sounding board for writers to help them shape their most ambitious takes, bring out the best in their voices, and ensure they communicate these ideas clearly to their target audience.
You edit op-eds written by scientists. But science is fact, not opinion… right? How do science and op-ed go together?
Yes, definitely. Science is focused on empirical facts, no one can dispute that. But there are always controversies and issues surrounding science that lend themselves to the op-ed genre. Among many things, scientist-written op-eds can communicate scientific concepts to the public and seek to change narratives. Take, for example, Fonna Forman's piece about how we need to reconsider the ways that we educate the population about climate change or Nicole Rust's essay about the need for scientists to focus on public outreach and advocacy. Scientist op-eds can also be beautiful personal essays that highlight how their work shapes their life experiences, like Ida Momennejad's piece about how being a neuroscientist influenced how she navigated her mother's death. Now more than ever, scientists are using op-eds to talk about big issues within their fields, communicate to the public at large why science matters, and show the deepest depths of their humanity.
Why is op-ed such an important genre, and how can the genre be used to encourage change-making?
Op-ed writing is important because it is an accessible way of communicating ideas. Good op-eds are brief, direct, and unwavering in their convictions. It is this directness that makes them appealing to a large portion of readers. And as a genre, its usefulness in making change has actually been quantified. A 2018 study showed that op-eds are effective in changing people's minds across political party lines.
Youth voices need to be heard, so we encourage young writers to pitch their op-eds to publications. Do you have any tips for a young person new to pitching?
I have three! 1) Make sure you read the editorial guidelines of the publication you're pitching to. Most publications have their guidelines on their website. These will give you clear directions regarding what they are looking for in a pitch. 2) Make sure you are very familiar with what they publish. A lot of pitches fail not because they are bad, but because they are simply not right for that specific publication. So, before pitching, make sure you immerse yourself in the publication's writing. 3) Advocate for yourself! Your pitch needs to be well-researched and have a solid premise. But you should also tell editors why you are the right person to write your piece. Be confident and communicate why your life experiences make you uniquely equipped to write about a particular topic.
Finally, back to the competition: what are you looking for in a winning entry? Any other advice for the writers, especially those who are new to writing op-eds?
I'm looking for op-eds that give me insight into a writer's worldview. By the end of the essay, I want to feel like I have a good understanding of how they think and what they are passionate about.
About the Guest Judge: Francisco J. Rivera Rosario is an associate editor for The Transmitter, a neuroscience news publication. He edits scientist-written op-eds and perspectives for the site. Before joining The Transmitter, he spent his career in science communications and health writing, including time working as an editor for a science communications agency and freelancing for TED Conferences and Health. Prior to moving into science communication, Francisco worked in a research lab, studying the genetic basis of rare forms of autism.
