what is an op ed

An op-ed, short for "opposite the editorial page," is a short newspaper column that represents the strong, informed, and focused opinion of a writer on an issue of relevance to a targeted audience. It is a written prose piece which expresses the opinion of an author or entity with no affiliation with the publications editorial board. Op-eds are sometimes referred to as opinions and/or commentary. They are most commonly published in daily newspapers, but can also appear in magazines and online outlets. Op-eds can raise awareness about a particular topic or aim to persuade others, and can substantiate the writer as an expert on a subject. Effective op-eds clearly express an opinion, cite evidence to prove the point, and mention specific people in examples. They should begin with a powerful introductory statement that captures the readers interest by connecting the writers thoughts to recent events. Op-eds are typically 600-800 words, but can be shorter.