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Op-Eds can run several hundred words. That's not a tremendous amount of space, but it's enough to present a point of view, provide supporting information, relevant statistics, examples, and, where applicable, a well chosen anecdote.

Selecting an Outlet Regional and Trade Newspapers are Good Bets Ready to Write? Know the Publication Guidelines Remember Your Audience Be Timely Questions Your OpEd Should Answer The Importance of Anecdotes Get a Second Opinion Getting the Attention of Policymakers Mention him/her by name

Key Messages Title VII Geriatric Health Professions Training Sample AGS Member Andrea Fox on "Seniors Need to Be Careful in Using Walk-in Clinics" Health Care for Elderly Threatened by Budget Cuts Letter to the Editor reprinted with permission of The Post and Courier Newspaper Geriatric Health Profession Title VII Funding Op Ed AGS Member Victor Hirth on "Being Ready to Care for Seniors" Useful Resources Submit Your Published Op-Eds to Us Let us know if your Op Ed is published by sending it to Erin Weller at eweller@americangeriatrics.org. Please include the publication name and date of publication.

SELECTING AN OUTLET

Regional and Trade Newspapers are Good Bets
National newspapers like The New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal reach millions of readers daily. But the competition for Op-Ed page space in these publications is fierce. Consider a range of alternatives, including state and local dailies and weeklies, and trade publications.

READY TO WRITE?

Know Publication Guidelines
Before you start writing, familiarize yourself with the Op-Ed policy at the paper where you plan to send your piece. You can often find this on the paper's Op-Ed page, or its Web site (click on "Opinion" or "Op-Ed.") Policies usually cover:

Length: Some publications will limit you to 600 words, others might allow 800 or more.

Exclusivity: The Times, Washington Post, and others will consider your Op-Ed only if you send the piece to them and no one else. If they turn you down, though, you can send the piece elsewhere.

How to send: Often, you can email, fax, or mail your submission.

When you'll hear back: Many publications will contact you within a week if they plan to print your Op-Ed. If you haven't heard in the specified time frame, this usually means they've declined.

Remember Your Audience
You can use medical terms if you're writing for a trade publication, but be sure to translate them for a general-circulation newspaper. Likewise, nationwide statistics are fine for national papers like The New York Times, but it's better to include local and state statistics for regional or state papers. For national statistics on aging, visit our resources page. For state or local statistics, your state or local department or agency on the aging, or its Web pages, are good places to start.

Be Timely!
Op-Eds that touch on something timely or newsworthy are more likely to get published. If your piece isn't about something obviously newsy (like a recent study, for instance) try to link it to something current. Possibilities include: a related event that's making headlines; an ongoing controversy; an upcoming vote in the legislature; the release of a new report; the publication of a related article, book, documentary, or film; a holiday, or anniversary, e.g., the 60th anniversary of the start of the Baby Boom (1946).

Questions Your Op-Ed Should Answer
While working on a first draft, it may help to jot down answers to the following questions, which your Op-Ed should address:

1. What's my basic argument or message - what do I want to tell the reader?
2. What does the reader need to know to understand why this is important? (If your piece is about the severe and growing shortage of geriatricians, for example, you'll need to explain why we need geriatricians, i.e., because they're the experts in caring for older adults with multiple medical problems.)
3. What points do I need to make to support my argument?
4. What should be done - how should this issue/problem be handled/remedied?

The Importance of Anecdotes
The right anecdote can make an abstract concept concrete. And it often makes a good introduction. An anecdote from your own practice can be particularly compelling.

If you're having trouble coming up with an actual anecdote, a hypothetical example may work. Let's say you're trying to explain how current Federal health care policy results in fragmented and expensive care for the elderly. You could, for instance, offer a hypothetical example of an elderly woman who breaks her hip, recovers enough to leave the hospital and return home- but can't get Medicare to cover the tab for physical therapy unless she goes to a nursing home instead.

Get a Second Opinion
Even the best writers need editing. Have someone read and edit your Op-Ed. Ask him or her to explain what your message is. That'll give you a good sense of whether you've been sufficiently clear.

Getting the Attention of Policymakers
When relevant, mentioning key policymakers (e.g, your Governor, state representative, or US senators) is an effective way to get his/her attention.