Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter Twelve Editorials, Opinion Pieces, Columns, Blogs and Cartoons 363 publication. When you do take a strong, and perhaps unpopular, stand in your opinion section, you will be able to contrast your balanced and objective coverage of the issue with your clearly labeled and signed opinion. This practice provides some protection against claims that your publication is slanted, biased, overly critical or unfair. How to Write an Op-Ed How to Write an Op-Ed Op-eds should be no longer than necessary to make a signifi cant comment. Opinion pages in professional papers often limit contributions to 1,000 words. Student publications should consider carefully before allowing a writer more space. Broadcast op-eds are shorter, usually fewer than 500 words—about three minutes. Op-eds may be less formal than unsigned staff editorials, but they are usually about serious issues and are presented in a dignifi ed, though sometimes playful, manner. Topics can be varied: the media’s silliness during a political campaign brain damage to professional football players the death of a friend, classmate or family member. An op-ed generally uses relatively formal language. It may address the audience as “you” but will use “I” sparingly. When “I” is used, it is usually to relate what the writer saw or did, not how the writer felt. Personal Reactions Personal Reactions An op-ed often concentrates on the topic and the facts, but it may include the writer’s personal reaction or changes to the writer’s point of view: “But as a fan, I’m fi nding it a little harder to cheer ...” (Figure 12.4). Well-written personal reactions, such as reactions to serious events like a disaster or death, may make a strong op-ed. When your listeners or readers fi nish such an op-ed, they should say, “Oh my gosh. I never thought of it that way” or “I feel the same way, but she said it better than I could” or “I wonder how I would feel if that happened to me?” However, the emotional impact of the story should come from what the writer shows the audience, not from a discussion of the writer’s emotions. Taking a Stance Taking a Stance An op-ed may quote expert sources, statistics and facts. The writer’s reputation for honesty and solid research should stand behind each fact. The op-ed uses from-the-scene reporting only as anecdotes to illustrate or persuade, not to create balance, as in a news story. After looking at both sides, you are reporting your conclusions and your reasons and attempting to persuade or enlighten your audience. Two op-eds may be presented together as point-counterpoint. Another writer with a different, though not necessarily opposite opinion, writes an op-ed that is roughly the same length. An op-ed, like an editorial, may call for a specifi c action, but it may also seek to change attitudes or point out inconsistencies. It may be less direct than a staff editorial, but its message should be clear to the audience. The writer should be able to tell an editor, “The point of this op-ed is that ...” even if such a statement never appears in the op-ed.