How to write an op-ed. The 3rd of three presentations from the 2016 media relations summer camp presented by the Hamilton Spectator and Mohawk College for nonprofits and community groups.

1. How to Write Op-Eds That People Want to Read
9th Annual Media Relations Summer Camp
June 27, 2016

2. Establish yourself as a thought leader.

3. Get widely read (200,000+ readers).

4. Write about what people are talking about.

5. Make it local.

6. - = +Less is more when writing an op-ed.

7. Know your limit. Stay within it.

8. 3 questions to answer before writing a word.

9. 1. What do you want readers to know?

10. Build your op-ed around ONE big idea. Not 10, six or three.

11. 2. What do you want readers to feel?

12. Excited. Re-energized. Optimistic. Proud. Appreciated.

13. Dissatisfied with the status quo. Itching for change.

14. Hope trumps despair.

15. Spare us a hopeless opus.

16. Problems are a burden. Solutions are a gift.

17. 3. What do you want readers to do?

18. Donate
Volunteer
Join
Speak up
Stand up
Show up

19. Here’s a problem (or opportunity) for our community.
Here’s a solution we’re working on.
Here’s how you can help – call to action.

20. Spend ½ your time writing the lede. Write it last.

21. Keep it simple. Write an op-ed that a six-year-old would understand.

22. Don’t scold or lecture us. We’ll stop reading.

23. Appeal to our head and our heart.

24. Spare us the humblebragging. It’s about us, not you.

25. Tell us an inspiring story about a real person.

26. No lazy writing. Strip out adverbs, adjectives. Active voice only.

27. Banish these from your op-ed.

28. Write. Edit. Write. Edit. Write. Edit.

29. If you don’t have it, we won’t read it.