Op-Eds Talk 2015
26
Op-Eds 10 Friday October 23, 20
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Transcript of Op-Eds Talk 2015
• Good and Bad News• What’s an Op-Ed?• How can I do this?• Some ABCs (and an H)• SDG Op-Ed Challenge
Today’s Agenda:
• Professional development is not always something that you pick up in a class.
• You are investing in your degree. You need to invest in skills as well.
• You will need professional experiences in addition to your degree to get noticed.
The Bad News:
• Civil Society has an important role in the Post-2015 agenda, but we should be modest about its potential. • Only 1 in 4 Americans can name the
current UNSG; 2 in 5 didn’t know enough about him to evaluate his job performance
• Information deficits are a serious barrier to collective action and lobbying
The Bad News:
• In the US, even soft forms of governance like Agenda 21 have been portrayed as threats to American sovereignty.
• Some parts of the country are not going to like the SDGs. How do we fix this?
More Bad News:
• The blogosphere has now created a huge opportunity for students to get their writing out into the world
• It’s imperative that we create new voices to take part in the global conversation
• Can’t create the world we want without better informed citizens!
• …
The Good News:
• Simple writing sample for employers.
• Helps you practice writing clearly.
• Helps get your ideas into the public sphere.
Why do this?
• Originally comes from a column that newspaper editors would commission. It would run opposite of the editorial column.
• The editorial column is the newspaper’s own space.
• But the term does not only apply to newspapers anymore…
The Term:
• Pitch Letter• “Selling” summary of the
submission• Tells the editor what you are
writing about and why you are qualified to write it
• Op-ed• Actual text of the submission
Two elements in every submission
• A = Argument• B = Brevity• C = Current Events
• H = Humility
Some ABCs (and an H)
• The “Op” is for OPINION.• So you need an argument!• And you need to put it
simply in a sentence.
• “I argue that….”• Make sure this is in your
pitch letter. Make life easy for an editor.
A is for ARGUMENT
• “We should do something about Syria/ISIS/Ebola” is NOT a compelling argument!
• We should create a no-fly zone and deploy troops to guard new refugee settlements east of Damascus IS an argument!
To be clear:
• Aim for an informed, but not expert audience.
• Keep in mind it’s your job to persuade, and you need to educate first!
• Need to explain your argument simply. There is NO SHAME in this.
On “Voice”
• Get to the point. Immediately.
• Review the writer’s guidelines for the publication. You probably have 800-1000 words maximum.
• Make certain your argument is in the FIRST paragraph. Not the last!
B is for BREVITY:
• It had better be about them!• Think about this broadly: • How much has been
written on the 100th anniversary of WWI?
• Think about an “angle:” • What hasn’t been said
about Ebola?
C is for Current Events:
• Remember that you are learning to do this.
• Accept rejection gracefully.
• Editors will make edits. Learn from them.
• Follow the rules about multiple submissions.
H is for Humility:
• Use the pitch letter to SELL your argument.
• Think about your target publications CAREFULLY!
• Read the submission guidelines.• Read other columns/posts in the
publication.• Read this good overview:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/writers_guidelines
Things to do
• Writing an op-ed about the SDGs can be a bit of a challenge.
• A simple idea is to structure the op-ed around 5 key points.• Washington Post 5 Myths Column• Edwards US-UN column• Edwards and Kotlow
2015 UN Preview column
• You could use the theme “Five reasons why the SDGs are important”
So How Can I Do This?
• Allows you to organize your thoughts
• Makes sure that you have an argument (“I argue that…”)
• Allows you to address potential objections
• Also keeps the total document short!
Why does 5 points work?
• The rationale for us having this event was simple:• These goals matter• We need to tell everyone about
them!
• How many people would learn about the goals if 20 students in this room published op-eds in their home town newspapers?
SDG Op-Ed Challenge
• The next step is up to YOU.
• Start thinking and start writing!
• If you want to talk about your op-ed, please feel free to email me!
• Email me your successes. I’ll report back this time next year on how we did!
SDG Op-Ed Challenge
• Check out this post by Michael Curtin: http://blogs.shu.edu/unstudies/2014/06/19/it-all-begins-with-an-idea-the-keys-to-writing-a-quality-op-ed-piece/
• Or these examples from Diplo grad students: http://reforminginternationalorganizations.wordpress.com/
For more advice
• You could focus on the UN at 70: “Five ways the UN has made a difference”
• Regardless, the challenge for us is to use our knowledge effectively to make complicated things seem more simple.
• It’s time to go to work!
Alternatively…
Thanks to the following!
• Presenters:• James Daly • Nalin Johri• Alyson Neel• Joseph O’Mahoney• Catherine Tinker
• Students: Sajedeh Goudarzi, UNA-SHU E-board, External Affairs volunteers
• DIPL Staff: Gwen, Susan, Diana, Dean Smith
• University PR&M, Media Relations, Setonian, UC staff
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!
