10 Tips for Researchers to Write a Better OpEd
By Carolyn Shimmin; updated April 2021 by Noralou Roos & Eileen Boriskewich
Academic researchers tackle important health policy issues, and journalists communicate with the public about these issues. Unfortunately, there is often a gap between what the media report and what researchers have found.
In the policy environment, the news media plays a powerful and influential role: deciding which issues are on the broad policy agenda, and how the public and politicians perceive these issues. The media also shapes healthcare consumer expectations, interpretations of health interventions, perceived healthcare needs, and sustainability of the system.
Too often, researchers count on passive uptake by mainstream media through published academic articles. But journalists, working under tight deadlines, rarely have the time or the resources delve into academic journals. A much more effective knowledge translation strategy is for researchers to regularly engage with trusted media sources, and enter public debates through the provision of evidence-based health information.
Enter the OpEd
One way researchers can engage with media and the public is through an OpEd (an acronym for opposite the editorial page) — an opinion piece of 650 words or less that presents an informed view on a newsworthy topic, emphasizing the author’s insight and unique expertise. OpEds are short, concise compilations of facts and evidence with concrete action-oriented recommendations.
OpEds can be responsive or reactive, responding to news stories in a clarifying capacity. But they can also push important health policy research subjects that may never have otherwise been the topic of news coverage, and grab the public’s (and policy-makers’) attention.
So how do you write an OpEd? Check out our tips below to get started.
10 Tips to Write an OpEd
1. Words Count (Literally)
No matter how amazing an OpEd is, it must be 650 words or less. Content is first fitted for print publication ― meaning a limited amount of space is available ― before it goes online. Even if you are a few words over the limit, an editor may refuse your article, or if they do accept it, they will trim out whatever is necessary to fit their word count (and not necessarily with your input).
2. Isolate a Single Problem
What central focus will your OpEd take? Is it topical? Does it provide a new angle? Is there new research? It can be difficult for researchers to focus on one single topic, as we tend to see many problems and complications within a research domain. It is much better to commit to doing a series of OpEds than to attempt to say it all in one article.
3. Work Backwards
One of the most important things to remember is that it is not just about getting the word out — or getting published in The Globe and Mail. Start with a purpose — what consequence should this OpEd have? Is it a behaviour change? A policy change? What do you want to accomplish? What change do you want to see?
4. Scientific vs. Public Debate
Researchers often rely on scientific rather than public debate as criteria for selection of their primary focus, but the issue at hand needs to fit into the current state of public discourse (not the other way around). Researchers often feel apprehensive about entering public debates that extend beyond their obvious expertise. Consider your role not just as an expert, but as a member of the public as well — give yourself the right to have an opinion on issues that extend beyond your body of expertise, and connect the dots between professional work and the policy world.
5. Lead with Your Thesis
An OpEd is kind of like an upside-down essay ― remember to start with your “right hook.” This is the Who? What? When? Where? Is it a new research study? Is it something that has been talked about recently? What’s your hook?
6. Find Your Type
There are different styles of OpEds ― you can choose to frame it around your own personal experience, a new research study or even the top five things you think people should know around an issue.
7. Keep it Simple
For the content supporting your bold lead paragraph (i.e. the middle section or ‘body’ of your OpEd), pretend you are talking to a next door neighbour or friend. This means keeping stats to a limit, and absolutely no citations, end notes, acronyms, or jargon. You are a storyteller ― bring in a personal side to the work or use a helpful metaphor to make your argument compelling as well as convincing. You want the reader to connect with the article. Research on its own rarely changes minds.
8. A Snappy Headline is a Must
Whatever you do, avoid an open-ended question as your headline (such as “what can gingko biloba do for you?”). It is much better to have either a bold statement or even an accusation ― this will catch your readers’ attention. According to several marketing firms, the average reader will spend about 15 seconds or read 50 words before deciding if they will keep on reading or not, so the headline and first paragraph need to give the main point right up front.
9. In Conclusion
Your final paragraph should include a recommendation. Leave the reader with a solution, or steps toward a solution (never end with ‘more research needed’), highlight who the players are (individuals? levels of government?), what specifically needs to be done next, and who needs to do it.
10. Get Help
Writing OpEds can be challenging. Fortunately many universities including the University of Manitoba are members of organizations such as The Conversation and faculty members are encouraged to seek their assistance in editing and publishing their OpEd.
For more information about writing an OpEd visit: Challenges in Writing an OpEd and The OpEd Project.
About the Authors
Carolyn Shimmin (@CarolynShimmin) is the Public and Engagement Lead at the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI). Her experience includes stakeholder engagement, research, writing and reporting on various health policy issues including mental health, addictions, trauma and the sexual exploitation of children and youth. Areas of interest include patient engagement, lived experience research, knowledge translation, trauma-informed approaches, intersectional analysis, and poststructuralist queer theory.
Dr. Noralou Roos is the Co-Director of the Get Your Benefits! project, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Professor Emerita in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. Find her on Twitter at @nlroos.
Eileen Boriskewich is the Project Manager and Outreach Officer on the Get Your Benefits! project in the Department of Community Health Sciences, at the University of Manitoba. Find her on Twitter at @eboriskewich.
