Writing an Effective Opinion-Editorial Piece or Letter to the Editor

Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Submissions

Op-ed submissions can be an effective way to communicate your research or professional opinions while initiating or adding to an existing debate. The following guidelines are common to most publications:

• 800 words or less
• credentials should be clearly stated -- include full name, contact information, and daytime phone number
• no e-mail attachments -- send content within the body of an e-mail
• specify “Op-ed Submission” in subject line
• submissions should be as argumentative as possible
• op-eds that anticipate news developments such as conferences and court decisions are especially valuable
• media reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution
• submissions need to be exclusive to one media outlet, so don’t approach a second publication until you’ve been declined at the first one
• writers whose submissions are considered for publication are generally notified within 1-2 weeks

Op-Ed Contacts

National Media

Globe and Mail
E-mail: pmartin@globeandmail.com
Fax: 416.585.5085
Tel: 416.585.5528

National Post
E-mail: jkay@nationalpost.com
Fax: 416.442.2209
Tel: 416.383.2300

Local Media

Vancouver Sun
E-mail: sunopinion@png.canwest.com
Fax: 604.605.2522
Tel: 604.605.2184

Georgia Straight
E-mail: contact@straight.com
Fax: 604.730.7010
Tel: 604.730.7000

Tyee
E-mail: editor@thetyee.ca
Tel: 604.689.7489

International Media

New York Times
E-mail: oped@nytimes.com
Fax: 212.556.4100
Tel: 212.556.1831

The Washington Post
Email: oped@washpost.com
Fax: 202.334.5269
Tel: 202.334.7471

Los Angeles Times
E-mail: op-ed@latimes.com
Fax: 213.237.7968
Tel: 213.237.2121

San Francisco Chronicle
E-mail: forum@sfchronicle.com
Fax: 415.543.7708
Tel: 415.777.1111

San Jose Mercury Times
E-mail: opinions@mercurynews.com
Fax: 408.271.3792
Tel: 408.920.5235

Seattle Times
E-mail: opinion@seattletimes.com
Fax: 206.382.6760
Tel: 206.464.2132

Oregonian
E-mail: oped@news.oregonian.com
Fax: 503.294.4193
Tel: 503.221.8389

South China Morning Post
E-mail: luisa.tam@scmp.com
Fax: 852.2516.7478
Tel: 852.2565.2222

Straits Times (Singapore)
E-mail: stforum@sph.com.sg
Fax: 65.6319.8289
Tel: 65.6319.5397

Daily Telegraph (UK)
E-mail: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk

Sunday Telegraph (UK)
E-mail: stletters@telegraph.co.uk

Guardian (UK)
E-mail: letters@guardian.co.uk
Blog: comment.is.free@guardian.co.uk

Letters to the Editor

A letter to the editor is your opportunity to comment on news or opinions expressed within a particular newspaper. The following guidelines are common to most publications:

• be as brief as possible (250 words or less)
• credentials should be clearly stated. Include full name, contact information, and daytime phone number
• no e-mail attachments -- send content within the body of an e-mail
• specify “Letter to the Editor” in subject line
• media reserve the right to edit, condense or reject contributions
• letters need to be exclusive to one media outlet, so don’t approach a second publication until you’ve been declined at the first one
• writers are usually only contacted if their submission is being considered for publication
• open letters addressed to third parties are typically not published

Letter to the Editor Contacts

National Media

Globe and Mail
E-mail: letters@globeandmail.com
Fax: 416.585.5085

National Post
E-mail: letters@nationalpost.com
Fax: 416.442.2209
Tel: 416.383.2300

Local Media

Vancouver Sun
E-mail: sunletters@png.canwest.com
Fax: 604.605.2522
Tel: 604.605.2184

Vancouver Province
E-mail: provletters@png.canwest.com
Fax: 604.605.2099
Tel: 604.605.2029

Georgia Straight
E-mail: letters@straight.com
Fax: 604.730.7010

Other Canadian Media

Toronto Star
E-mail: lettertoed@thestar.ca
Fax: 416.869.4322

Montreal Gazette
E-mail: letters@thegazette.canwest.com
Fax: 514.987.2639
Tel: 514.987.2579

Ottawa Citizen
E-mail: letters@thecitizen.canwest.com