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Op-Ed Writing

Write opinion columns for magazines, newspapers, and online

Course is closed.
Op-Ed Writing

WHEN 8 weeks, June 3 - July 22
Online chats: Tuesdays, 9-10 pm EST

WHERE Online. Click here for detials.

LEVEL Intro

PRICE
$499 ($475 for )
more info

Course Details

Op-Ed page essays are written by both the well-known and the everyday citizen. A good Op-Ed piece in the right paper can get you instantly recognized as a premier voice on a myriad of topics. The Op-Ed page is the most sought-after real estate in any publication and offers an opportunity for authors to showcase their writing abilities while laying out forceful arguments.

This class covers the basics of writing Op-Ed essays. Students will use powerful examples of the form taken from the nation's leading publications and will write and submit four pieces of standard length, each about 700 words.

In this class, you will learn:

  • The history of the Op-Ed page
  • What sets the Op-Ed page apart from other sections of a newspaper
  • How to organize your thoughts and stay focused to present the best argument possible
  • How to decide which topics have the most impact
  • How to use the first-person technique to write an engaging essay
  • The importance of knowing your target audience
  • How to find the right market for your essays
  • How to make the kind of pitch that editors will notice

By the end of this class, you will have:
Four pieces up to 700 words, one salable piece, and suggestions on where to pitch it.

To apply:
Please submit a letter of interest including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).


The online classroom has several interactive components:

  • Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
  • Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
  • Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
  • Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.

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Instructor Bio

Lionel Beehner's Courses

Op-Ed Writing – (Class starts September 9)

Lionel Beehner
Lionel Beehner is formerly a senior writer for the Council on Foreign Relations. His writing has appeared in the op-ed pages of The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Newsday, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, The New Republic, Foreign Policy, Russia Journal, Kiev Post, Seed, and Worth magazine. He writes a weekly blog on foreign affairs at the Huffington Post. His commentary has appeared on CNN International, BBC Radio, CNBC's Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo, C-SPAN's Washington Journal, CBC, Bloomberg TV, and Voice of America, as well as The New York Times Magazine, Washington Times, Newsweek International, and Weekly Standard. He was the 2006 recipient of a German Marshall Fund journalism fellowship for a research project on post-Soviet youth movements in Ukraine and Belarus. He holds a master's degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

Testimonials


Describing the maddening process of political writing so that it doesn't make students run for the hills is an impressive feat and one which Lionel Beehner managed to do quite well. His experience in the field both here and abroad definitely informs his discussion and the pointers he gives. -- Heather Chin

"Lionel Beenher knows exactly what he's talking about and has an impressive roster of published pieces. I trust him completely as an instructor and, because of his advice and spot-on editing, I got an op-ed published in The Los Angeles Times and syndicated as far away as Australia! I already have several assignments that spawned from that one piece and now I have the confidence to keep putting myself out there." -- Mary Kolesnikova

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