Your Opinion Essay Was Accepted for Publication; What Happens Now?
Opinion essays are a fantastic way of sharing thought leadership, furthering an argument, and adding to an existing debate. To be clear, opinion essays are guest columns that run opposite the editorial page in print papers or in digital outlets’ opinion sections. You increase the likelihood of getting your essay published if you submit it as soon as there is breaking news. This means within 24 hours of an issue breaking or appearing in the news cycle.
In an era of media contractions, opinion essays are also a viable option for elevating a leader, brand, or organization. While we know they have merit, we don’t always know what to do after a publication has agreed to publish an opinion piece.
Here are seven tips to keep in mind once you learn that your opinion essay will be published.
Many outlets require exclusivity.
Once a publication decides to publish your essay, it may require exclusivity, meaning it wants sole rights to publish your piece.
You may not submit your essay to another publication or publish it on our website, blog or newsletter.
You may not email it out or otherwise share it before it is published. Once you share an unpublished piece, it cannot run in other platforms because, as noted in No. 1, many publications require exclusive rights to your essay once they accept it – and you agree – for publication.
You may be asked to sign a copyright agreement.
The agreement give the publication permission to publish your piece, run it exclusively and have certain rights to the piece, such as publishing it in other outlets.
The publication date can change.
If there is breaking news, the publication may need to publish unanticipated opinion essays on the breaking news. So, the date provided for when your piece will appear online is a target, but not etched in stone.
The publication can change the title of your essay, and it does not need your permission to do so.
Publications, like everyone else, want their content to be viewed. They, in fact, need it for advertising and revenue purposes. They also write titles all day long and know what is likely to attract readers and what titles people will skip right over. As such, they often change headlines. If the headline they select is a nonstarter, you can always request a change, but know that there are no guarantees.
The opinion essay may not be online first thing in the morning.
You know how your bank updates your account balances first thing in the morning, sometimes before dawn? Publications have no obligation to do that. Just because your essay isn’t online first thing in the morning doesn’t mean the publication doesn’t intend to use it. I’ve seen publications update their websites around 10 a.m., first thing in the morning or as late as 2 p.m. It all depends on internal policies, whether the digital editor is working that day or others are filling in, etc. So, do not panic if your piece is not published early. It’s OK.
You must amplify your opinion piece.
When you speak or communicate, you want to be heard. You want as many people to hear or read your comments as the publication. Getting an opinion piece placed is the first step. The next is to amplify your work by sending your essay link to your email list, family and friends. Be sure to also send it to journalists with whom you have a relationship or are cultivating a relationship. That not only helps you, but it helps the publication.
Now that you’ve received confirmation that your opinion essay will be published, these tips will help ensure you know what to expect. They will keep you from making mistakes that could thwart publication of your piece.
Jennifer R. Farmer, aka The PR Whisperer,® is the principal of Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.