If you have a strong opinion about current events in your community, knowing how to write an editorial essay can help you land more media coverage.
Editorial writing is when someone submits an opinion-based article to a newspaper or other media outlet. Good editorials are measured and fair, but they also persuade readers and raise awareness on issues of mainstream importance. Editorials are usually formatted as first-person essays.
More importantly, editorials are one of the best ways to land a byline or full article with a major media publication. In this article, we’ll touch on what an editorial piece actually is, along with format examples to help you organize your thoughts while brainstorming ideas.
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What Is Editorial Writing?
Every strong editorial has, at its core, a thought-provoking statement or call to action. The opinion-editorial section is sometimes abbreviated as “op-ed.”
Editorials perform very well online. These days, readers don’t always want information alone. They also want interpretation or analysis, whether that be through a newspaper article, a thesis statement, a newsletter, or an opinionated news story. Editorials are powerful, but they are also often biased.
Many media outlets bring in opinion columnists to offer unique perspectives on a regular basis. Here’s a screenshot from The Washington Post’s opinion page; the paper has over 80 opinion columnists, who write regularly about topics like policy, health, and climate change.