PHAware Home
Contribute an Op-ed
I am so proud of being part
of the PHA and being able
to
help someone else, that
sometimes I forget that I
have this disease. I focus
on other members and their
well-being and thanks to the
PHA and their abundant
information with brochures,
action kits and CD's I am
well equipped to take on the
media and make the public
aware of this disease.
-- Sharon Chetty |
Submitting an op-ed piece to your local paper is another way to get PH media coverage. These pieces are longer and more substantial than letters to the editor. They are often formatted as an argument for or against an idea. You can argue for PH causes in an op-ed and gain a wide audience and increased awareness.
Steps:
- Target a media outlet
Choose a local paper to which you would like to submit your op-ed. The best strategy is to select a paper that you are familiar with. If you do not have a regular paper, you can choose one from a list of local ones. There are three ways you can find a list of local papers:
- If you have Internet access, you can go to PHA's media search page. Type your zip code in the box and click on 'Go'. The next page will show a list of all the media outlets in your area. You can click on their underlined names to get more information about each one.
- If you do not have Internet access, you can use your local telephone book to look up media outlets and get their contact information.
- If neither of these options are available to you, you can call us at 301-565-3004 x109. We will help you get the information you need to compile your media list.
- Get guidelines from each paper
Each paper generally has their own rules about how long an op-ed can be – usually from 600 to 750 words. Also ask how the piece should be submitted and about any deadlines.
- Write the op-ed
Remember to stay within the guidelines presented by the paper. Feel free to use our sample op-ed, personalizing it with your own story or the story of your loved one. See Sample Op-Ed
- Submit the op-ed
Send your op-ed to the editorial page editor well in advance of the deadline. Be sure to include your contact information in case the newspaper wants to contact you and verify the story.
- Stay Active
If the editor chooses not to run your piece, you can submit it to another local paper for consideration. Do not submit it to more than one paper at a time, as most newspapers require exclusivity in op-ed submissions.
- Tell PHA
Send a copy of your op-ed, media evaluation form and a sample of any media coverage generated to PHA. Upon receipt, PHA will send you a certificate of recognition and offer you the opportunity to connect with other active members of the PH community.
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