What Is an Op-Ed?
An op-ed is a short opinion article, written by someone outside a publication's editorial staff, that argues a position on a topic of public interest.
It differs from a news story, which reports, and from a press release, which promotes. The SPJ code asks journalists to “distinguish news from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two” and to label sponsored content (SPJ), which is why outlets reject op-eds that read as marketing. Contributed articles that you pay for are a different product; see the comparison of Forbes Councils and earned coverage. An op-ed has to earn its place on an editor's judgement.
How to Write and Place an Op-Ed at a Glance
| Step | Action | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pick an outlet and read its guidelines | A shortlist with length, format and contact route |
| 2 | Define one argument and a news hook | A one-sentence thesis |
| 3 | Write the pitch | A 3 to 5 sentence summary with links |
| 4 | Draft the piece to the outlet's length | A 600 to 800 word draft (varies by outlet) |
| 5 | Disclose interests and check facts | A disclosure line and a source list |
| 6 | Submit once and wait | A logged submission with the outlet's deadline noted |
| 7 | Follow up, then publish or move on | A placement or a revised pitch elsewhere |
Time: a pitch in an hour; a draft in half a day (our estimate). Tools: a word processor and your sources. Cost: none if you write it yourself. Skill level: intermediate.
What You Need Before Starting
- A position that is arguable, not a description of your company.
- A reason you are qualified: role, research, experience.
- Evidence you can cite: public data, studies, documents.
- Your employer's approval if you write in a professional capacity.
- A list of any financial or professional interests in the topic.
Step 1: Pick an Outlet and Read Its Guidelines
Choose two or three outlets where your topic fits and read each one's published submission page before you write anything. Each decides length, geography and format.
Examples: Guardian US welcomes ideas but says the section “focuses on American issues” and asks you to check what it has already published (Guardian US); the Baltimore Sun prefers “local topics and authors” (Baltimore Sun); HBR wants a central message that is “new, important, or counterintuitive” for senior leaders (HBR). Expected result: a table of outlets with word count, contact route and fit. Common mistake: sending the same piece to a national outlet and a local one without adapting it.
Step 2: Define One Argument and a News Hook
Write your thesis in one sentence, then name what in the news makes it timely. Our advice: a clear news hook gives an editor a reason to run the piece now.
Guardian US describes its target as “traditional persuasive pieces” with “a thesis, supporting evidence and conclusion” or a first-person story tied to a news topic (Guardian US). Expected result: a sentence of the form “X should do Y because Z”. Common mistake: choosing a topic only your company cares about.
Step 3: Write the Pitch to Match the Outlet
If the outlet asks for pitches, send a short summary, not a finished article. If it accepts completed submissions, follow that route.
Guardian US asks for a pitch of about “3-5 sentences”, with links, the topic in the subject line and a line on why you have the expertise; it asks you not to send completed pieces (Guardian US). The Baltimore Sun takes finished op-eds through a form or by email (Baltimore Sun). HBR accepts a pitch, outline or draft through Submittable if you have no editor contact, and says there is no standard process (HBR). Our journalist pitch guide covers email basics. Expected result: a pitch that fits on one screen. Common mistake: a full CV instead of a reason you are qualified.
Step 4: Draft the Piece to the Outlet's Length
Open with the argument, support it with two or three pieces of evidence, address the strongest objection, and end with what the reader should do or think.
Keep inside the stated range: 600 to 800 words for Guardian US, 650 to 750 for the Baltimore Sun. Cite sources in the text so an editor can check them. Outlets state that editing is theirs: HBR retains decision rights on headlines and art (HBR), and Guardian US says all pieces are subject to editing and review (Guardian US). Expected result: a draft that stands without your company name. Common mistake: burying the thesis in paragraph four.
Upper end of the stated word range, from each outlet's submission page, read October 10, 2026
Sources: The Guardian, Guardian US opinion pitch guidelines; Baltimore Sun, Submit an op-ed; Harvard Business Review, Guidelines for Authors.
Bars show the top of each range; the lower bound is in the label. HBR says it publishes articles of varying lengths and gives no word count. The Guardian page was last modified January 17, 2018.
Step 5: Disclose Interests and Check Every Fact
State any financial or professional interest in the topic in your first message, and verify each number against its source.
Guardian US says: “If any individual or group with an interest in the topic you are pitching has compensated you, tell us” (Guardian US). HBR asks authors to sign a copyright form and disclose financial relationships with companies cited, and says it does not publish pieces that do not properly credit ideas or that have appeared elsewhere (HBR). HBR also asks contributors to say whether and how they used AI tools. Expected result: a one-line disclosure and a source list. Common mistake: leaving the disclosure for the editor to discover.
Step 6: Submit Once and Respect the Outlet's Timing
Our advice is to submit to one outlet at a time unless its guidelines permit more, and to note when you sent it.
Guardian US says that if you have not heard within four business days, “take your idea elsewhere”; HBR says it cannot respond to every unsolicited proposal (Guardian US, HBR). Check each outlet's stance on pieces published elsewhere; HBR does not accept them. Expected result: a log entry with date and outlet. Common mistake: sending the same draft to five outlets and then having to withdraw it.
Step 7: Follow Up Once, Then Publish or Move On
Send at most one short follow-up (our suggestion), respect any interval the outlet states, then move to the next outlet with a revised pitch if there is no answer.
When a piece runs, add it to your online newsroom, link it from your author page, and track what follows with placement measurement. If the published text contains a factual error you did not introduce, use the correction route. Expected result: a published piece or a documented decline. Common mistake: asking the editor to add a promotional link.
How to Verify It Worked
- Published: the piece appears on the outlet's site with your byline, and any disclosure the editor added.
- Correct: your name, title and affiliation are accurate; if not, ask for a correction.
- Indexed: a search for the headline returns the page; see how to check indexing.
- Logged: the submission log shows outcome and date.
How to Choose an Outlet
| Situation | Recommended outlet type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Local issue and you live there | Regional newspaper opinion page | The Baltimore Sun prefers local topics and authors |
| National or international issue with an American angle | Outlet with a US opinion desk that takes pitches | Guardian US asks for pitches on American issues |
| Management insight from experience or research | Business publication with author guidelines | HBR asks for a new, important idea with evidence |
| You are a researcher explaining evidence | Outlets for scholars, not opinion | The Conversation US does not take opinion but takes explanatory pieces from academics |
| You want guaranteed placement | Paid contributor programs | Those are not op-eds; see the Forbes Councils comparison |
Common Problems and Fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No response | High volume or poor fit | Wait the stated interval; send a sharper pitch elsewhere |
| Told it reads like promotion | Company-centred argument | Remove product references; argue a public question |
| Piece too long | Draft not cut to range | Cut to the stated range before sending |
| Editor asks about conflicts | No disclosure made | Disclose fully and promptly |
| Headline changed | Outlet controls headlines | Accept; ask only for factual fixes |
What Not to Do
- Do not write about your product. Consequence: rejection; HBR, for example, says it does not publish pieces that promote products or services. Correction: argue a public question where your experience is evidence.
- Do not hide a financial interest. Consequence: you breach rules such as Guardian US's requirement to disclose any conflict of interest. Correction: disclose up front.
- Do not send a finished piece where the outlet wants a pitch. Consequence: it may not be read. Correction: follow the stated route.
- Do not simultaneously submit unless allowed. Consequence: withdrawn pieces. Correction: read each outlet's rules on pieces published elsewhere.
- Do not ask for backlinks or approval of edits. Consequence: editors refuse. Correction: accept editing as the outlet's right.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an op-ed be?
Follow the target outlet. Guardian US usually looks for 600 to 800 words; the Baltimore Sun accepts 650 to 750. Outlets without a stated length should be checked by reading recent op-eds. Staying within the stated range makes the editor's decision easier.
Should I send a pitch or the whole op-ed?
It depends on the outlet. Guardian US asks for a short pitch and prefers not to receive finished pieces; the Baltimore Sun asks for the finished op-ed. Read the guidelines page first and follow it exactly.
Can a company executive write an op-ed?
Yes, if the argument is a public question and the piece does not promote the company. Disclose the affiliation. HBR says it does not publish pieces that promote products or services.
Can I submit the same op-ed to several publications?
Only if each outlet allows it. HBR says it does not publish pieces that have appeared elsewhere. Without a stated rule, submit to one outlet at a time and ask before sending elsewhere.
Can I use AI to write my op-ed?
HBR asks contributors to tell its editors whether and how they used AI tools and holds authors accountable for accuracy and originality. Check the outlet's stated policy; The Conversation US, for example, says it publishes only work not written by generative AI.
Does an op-ed need an author bio?
Include a one- or two-line bio with role and any interest. Editors use it to judge qualification and conflict. Our guide to executive bios for media shows a format.
Sources and Methodology
This guide is built from the submission pages and ethics code listed below, read on October 9, 2026. The Guardian US guidelines were first published June 24, 2014 and last modified January 17, 2018, so some details may have changed. We could not load the submission pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post or USA Today, so they are not used. We did not submit an op-ed to any outlet for this guide, and we did not measure acceptance rates. Outlet rules change; check the current page.
- publisher The Guardian, Guardian US opinion pitch guidelines, published June 24, 2014, last modified January 17, 2018. Read October 9, 2026.
- publisher Baltimore Sun, Submit an op-ed. Read October 9, 2026.
- publisher Harvard Business Review, Guidelines for Authors, last updated September 2026. Read October 9, 2026.
- publisher The Conversation US, Pitch an article idea. Read October 9, 2026.
- standards Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ Code of Ethics. Read October 9, 2026.