And Now a Word From Op-Ed Blog Response

1) According to the article, how does The New York Times define Op-Ed?

Op-Ed was created for writers who had “no institutional connects…” with The New York Times. It gave writers the ability to vocalize their opinions that wouldn’t coincide with the opinions representative of the newspaper.

2) How does the newspaper decide what to publish?

There are many different criteria for being published. The optimal length for your article should be about 750 words but that is just a reference point. The language of the piece should be representative of the author. Do not use “big words” or ”textbook” level wording that could confuse some readers. Be original. The newspaper doesn’t print anything that has been published or advertised before. Be ready for a long publication process. Editors and artists will be evaluating your work. Numerous people will be reviewing your opinion, though they will not change your opinion, they will check your factual accuracy. That process may take weeks or months but be patient. The monetary reward is worth the wait.

3) Do celebrities or well-known experts get preferential treatment over other contributors?

 All opinion articles are read. All opinion articles are evaluated. All opinion articles have had a final decision chosen for specific reasons. Some articles are even debated over by editors and other staff members before a decision. There is no time for sorting through thousands of articles based upon social popularity and preferences.

4) Identify three things that the editorial board wants you to know as a contributor about your submission.

·      The newspaper has all rights to your article. It can not be published previous to The New York Times.

·      The illustrators chose the art that accompanies your article.

·      Contributors write your headlines, even for their profession staff writers.

5) What happens when an article is accepted for publication?

A phone call or e-mail will be sent by your specific editor. Questions will be asked and validity will be checked.

6) What advice did you find most helpful if you were to write an Op-Ed piece?

Write in a language that is easy to write, without sounding ignorant. Don’t use big words but casual language.