What is an op-ed?
An op-ed is an opinion article written by someone outside the publication's own staff, traditionally printed opposite the editorial page. It argues one clear position on a current issue, under the author's own name. For organizations, op-eds are a way to claim a subject and build thought leadership.
Written by Timon Hendriks · Last updated on 12 July 2026
How it works in practice
A publishable op-ed takes one sharp position on a live debate and defends it with arguments, examples, and preferably the author's own experience or data. It is not a company story: the reader should learn something about the issue, not about your product. The author's role matters, because the byline is the credential that earns the opinion its place.
Placement runs through the opinion desk or editor, not through reporters. Check the outlet's submission guidelines, pitch the angle briefly before sending the full piece, and offer it to one outlet at a time; opinion pages demand exclusivity. Rejections are normal. Sharpen the angle, connect it to a fresher news peg, and try the next fitting outlet.
Example
The founder of a Baltimore home-care provider is frustrated by a debate about staffing shortages that ignores practical fixes. She writes an op-ed arguing that scrapping one specific administrative rule would free thousands of care hours, drawing on her own rosters as evidence. A regional paper places it. Two days later a radio program invites her to debate the issue.
Common mistake
Submitting a company pitch disguised as opinion. Opinion editors spot promotion instantly; a piece survives only when the argument stands on its own and the author's interest is openly stated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an op-ed and a letter to the editor?
A letter is a short reaction to earlier coverage. An op-ed is a free-standing argument of several hundred words that develops its own position, usually written by someone with demonstrable standing on the subject.
How do you get an op-ed placed?
Pitch the opinion desk a short summary of your angle and credentials first, follow the outlet's submission guidelines, and offer exclusivity. Tie the piece to a current news peg to raise its urgency.