Ever have an thought for an op-ed?
In case your thoughts jumps to the old-school newspaper part with editorials, opinion items, and letters to the editor, you’re most likely pondering it’s a waste of time.
However writing op-ed items continues to be a factor. And if you recognize the place to look, the suitable markets pay properly.
Getting paid $300 to $1,500 for opinion items, essays, and editorials continues to be occurring.
Let the concepts start to percolate…
Possibly you’ve realized a number of classes on the Faculty of Exhausting Knocks.
Possibly you’ve bought some perception, views, experience, or opinions about points in your area of interest.
Or perhaps some touch upon social media is so sizzling, you’ve bought to take a stand.
Likelihood is fairly good you’ve bought an opinion piece in you value writing.
Try these 10 op-ed writing markets to share your standpoint and receives a commission for it.
Meet op-ed author and freelance journalist Cat Woods
When Australia-based op-ed author and freelance journalist Cat Woods noticed celeb coach Jillian Michaels mild up the Twittersphere with a body-shaming remark about pop singer Lizzo, the concept for an editorial started to kind.
It was well timed. It was trending on social media. And he or she had her personal tackle the problem.
So she pitched the concept and landed an op-ed task on spec. Then bought paid when The Sydney Morning Herald printed her piece, We have to have a good time feminine artists for his or her work not their our bodies. She’s cashed in on different op-ed writing alternatives, too.
Have you ever learn, seen or heard one thing that you’ve a robust opinion on, and a few credentials to justify your opinion being printed? If that’s the case, there’s alternatives to air your opinion and to be paid for it. Try these 10 publications that pay writers for op-eds.
1. Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera receives an distinctive variety of pitches weekly. Sometimes they function op-eds by consultants and extremely skilled writers. Nadim Asrar is a deputy editor for Al Jazeera and his Twitter is @aqliyat.
Tip: Following the opinion website or the opinions editor of the publication you’re all in favour of writing for on social media is an effective way to get a way of the kind of content material they like and see callouts for pitches or submissions.
Pays: $500 per 600-word piece, in accordance with The Op-Ed Challenge.
2. CNN Opinion
CNN Opinion accepts submissions of authentic, unique op-eds on subjects related to present information and affairs. You’ll discover opinion items on issues just like the presidential primaries, Oscar award speeches, police and neighborhood clashes in New York, and far more.
Tip: Don’t simply submit an thought for an op-ed. Write the entire piece at round 600 to 800 phrases. Embrace a quick bio, and any distinctive particulars about your expertise, credentials, or connection to the topic you’re writing about. FYI, in case your piece will get accepted, CNN will get unique rights.
Pays: $400 per 800-word op-ed piece, in accordance with Who Pays Writers
3. Monetary Instances
Acquired an opinion, private story, or tackle a monetary matter, cash issues, or the worldwide financial system? Pitch an op-ed thought to Monetary Instances editor Brooke Masters (@brookeamasters).
“Readers worth the FT for its brevity. So you will have at most 800 phrases, simply sufficient to make a persuasive case for a centered level. Be a miniaturist, not a panorama painter.”
Brooke Masters
Tip: For those who don’t hear again inside three enterprise days, your pitch didn’t make the lower. Give it an replace and submit your op-ed to a different publication.
Pays: Will depend on task
4. LA Instances
The Los Angeles Instances accepts opinion articles on spec for almost any topic. For instance, they’ve printed trending opinion items about hashish farming in California, state and nationwide political points, elevating insurance coverage charges on dashing drivers to guard pedestrians, and naturally, The Oscars.
Tip: Like a variety of op-ed assignments, pitch the LA Instances by writing your full op-ed on spec. Most op-eds are round 750 to 1,200 phrases. The rules advocate sending your pitch to oped@latimes.com. However right here’s an alternative choice…the Editorial Web page Editor is Nicholas Goldberg.
Pays: Will depend on task
5. New York Instances
The New York Instances accepts opinion editorials for the each day print web page, on-line, the Sunday Overview, the Worldwide version and seasonal sequence. Positive, The NYT has its personal roster of standard columnists. Nevertheless it additionally publishes op-eds from freelancers on a variety of subjects like politics, popular culture, well being, science, way of life, and extra.
Tip: Submit an entire op-ed piece that’s round 400 to 1,200 phrases, as a substitute of simply pitching an thought. Additionally evaluation the remainder of the rules, which advocate sending your pitch to opinion@nytimes.com. FYI…the Editorial Web page Editor for The NYT is Kathleen Kingsbury (@katiekings).
Pays: $600 to $700 for op-eds, in accordance with The Op-Ed Challenge.
6. Slate
Whereas newspapers have been dying a gradual and painful demise for greater than a decade, Slate is one in all a handful of on-line information and opinion websites that’s managed to achieve a world viewers with its personal slant on masking information, occasions, and points.
Tip: Have an op-ed thought for Slate? Examine the rules and pitch your op-ed thought, highlighting your details. Classes embrace tradition, human curiosity, information/politics, expertise, enterprise, well being and science, and sports activities. Select the proper editor from the underside of this listing.
Pays: $300 for a 1,000 to 2,000-word op-ed, in accordance with The Net Author Highlight
7. The Solar
The Solar is a each day print and on-line newspaper printed in the UK and Eire, that publishes a variety of op-eds.
Tip: The warmer the subject, the extra seemingly you’ll get a chunk in your full op-ed. Simply check out examples on the positioning about Gwyneth Paltrow on Netflix, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Kirk Douglas fandom, and every kind of political points. If accepted, count on heavy enhancing earlier than publishing.
And if that’s not sufficient buzz, blogger and journalist Victoria Newton is editor for The Solar.
Pays: $600 for a 2,000 to 4,000 phrase op-ed or private essay, in accordance with Net Writers Highlight
8. Sydney Morning Herald
You don’t should be from Australia to pitch an op-ed for The Sydney Morning Herald. However figuring out a bit of about points, present occasions, and different information from Down Underneath will solely aid you enchantment to editors.
When Cat Woods pitched The Sydney Morning Herald the op-ed concerning the Michaes v. Lizzo incident in 2020, it was a world concern unfolding on social media. However she did point out Australia’s efforts to battle its brushfires.
Tip: If you pitch editors an op-ed thought, pointing to earlier work that demonstrates your skill to put in writing can be to your benefit. Sometimes, op-eds relating on to present information are given precedence. Julie Lewis (@JLewisnthenews) is the opinion editor for The Sydney Morning Information.
Pays: Roughly $0.34/per phrase U.S., as much as 800 phrases
9. TIME
Check out the present opinion web page of TIME, and also you’ll discover a mixture of nationwide and worldwide op-eds about human rights, politics, expertise, historical past, and extra.
Tip: Take the time to put in writing a strong topic line and/or working headline once you pitch an op-ed. And get to the purpose as shortly as potential. And test the listing of TIME editors to pitch the suitable particular person. The overall contact rule is FIRSTNAME_LASTNAME@time.com
Pays: Will depend on task
10. The Washington Publish
The Washington Publish opinion part options native, nationwide, and worldwide op-eds about all kinds of subjects. Check out previous op-eds and also you’ll see opinions and viewpoints concerning the presidential primaries, the coronavirus, faux information frustrations, and lots of different trending subjects.
Tip: The location recommends submitting an op-ed for consideration utilizing the net kind. You’ll want to put in writing the entire op-ed for consideration, and hold it below 750 phrases. However you may as well goal your pitch to a particular particular person from this listing of opinion editors at The Washington Publish.
Pays: As much as $1,500 per op-ed, depends upon task
There isn’t a want for specialty experience or credentials, however skilled writers with a portfolio of printed work will discover it simpler to persuade editors of their skill to ship robust copy on time.
A couple of extra tips on op-ed writing
- Charges: The pay for writing opinion items varies extensively between publications, and a few solely supply a byline credit score. Earlier than you make investments the time to put in writing an op-ed, discover out if there’s a paying market in your piece
- Write on spec. Until in any other case acknowledged in submission tips, most publications count on you to submit a accomplished op-ed on spec, that means you’ll solely receives a commission for the piece if it’s accepted or printed
- Watch out for the black gap. It’s the submission kind or generic editor@ e-mail handle so many pubs level you to submit an op-ed. Normally, you need to be capable of discover a option to contact the opinion editor immediately by e-mail or social media
- Networking alternatives. Getting paid to share your opinion is good. Nonetheless, sharing your opinion isn’t the one purpose to put in writing opinion items. For those who’re making an attempt to make a reputation for your self as the freelancer in your area of interest, take into account writing an op-ed or visitor submit (often without spending a dime), and use it as a networking alternative to attach with prospects
- 16 extra locations to receives a commission to put in writing op-eds. Interested by extra markets that pay for op-ed writing, viewpoints and essays? Try this listing
Op-ed writing isn’t more likely to turn into the bread and butter of your freelance enterprise. However there are many alternatives to receives a commission to put in writing about points and subjects you’re obsessed with.
Cat Woods is a contract journalist primarily based in Melbourne, Australia.
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