Whether you’re writing about social issues, environmental pollution or even a product troubleshooting article, addressing an issue requires you to consider how your audience feels about the topic and to address it from their perspective. The goal is to make the reader care about what you have to say, and you must be clear about why your ideas are important.
1. Write about an issue that interests you and your readers
In addition to your own personal opinions, op-ed editors look for a good angle in your writing. The best ways to do that are by tracking the news and jumping at opportunities. You may want to look for a war, stock market panic or controversial TV show that’s currently in the spotlight.
2. Create a list of issues you want to explore
Once you have your list, choose one issue that you’re most interested in researching. Start by gathering articles, facts, statistics and names of key players in the issue.
3. Develop an op-ed piece around the issue
The most effective op-ed pieces are those that link directly to a current event, a major political debate or a celebrity’s death. These stories are the most likely to get picked up by op-ed editors.
4. Use storytelling to explain the problem
An effective environmental piece tells a story about a natural or human-made disaster and illustrates how it impacts the environment. It also tells why it’s so important to do something about the problem. It’s crucial to make the story engaging and accessible so that your readers understand why the issue is so important.