Want to submit a letter to the editor or op-ed to The Tennessean? Here are the steps.
The Tennessean encourages readers to send letters to the editor and guest opinion columns (aka op-eds) to comment on relevant topics of the day.
The people's voice is an important part of strengthening our democracy and contributing to the public debate on important matters.
Our focus is on Tennessee issues or commentary written by residents of Tennessee or those who have a connection with the Volunteer State.
We are fortunate to have a healthy flow of correspondence, and we do our best to publish letters and guest opinion columns in a timely manner.
The letters and op-eds we agree to publish all appear on Tennessean.com/opinion. Many letters typically go in the print product and in the e-edition, as appropriate, but occasionally timely, relevant letters packages will appear on the website too.
Here are the guidelines for submitting letters or op-eds:
Letters give a free forum for the people's voice, the vox populi, and should feel like watching a speaker at the soapbox at London's Hyde Park.
Maximum length is 250 words and writers should include their full name, address and phone numbers for verification. Only your name, city and ZIP code will be published.
Go to this link (https://gannett-nxuao.formstack.com/forms/letter_editor) to fill out the letters form.
We reserve the right to edit for length and libel, and we do not allow vulgarities to appear in letters.
This is our basic criteria for guest opinion columns/op-eds:
600 words
Insert 2-3 hyperlinks in the text for reference
High-resolution headshot (1 to 5 megabytes) and please provide credit for the photo
One-sentence author bio
The subject should be something the author or authors know well. This is more of an expertise column.
Send these op-eds to opinions@tennessean.com. Our team will be in contact with you. They fact check each op-ed and may contact you to ask for clarification, as necessary.
Given the volume of content we receive, we may not be able to publish all submissions in a timely manner or at all. Please make sure to specify if the topic is time-sensitive.
Compiled from contributions by opinion editors of the USA TODAY Network. First presented at TEDx Nashville on Jan. 29, 2025, event and sent out to prospective op-ed writers.
Try to persuade, don't degrade
Support opinions with facts
Acknowledge and address opposing viewpoints
Make your point within the first two paragraphs
Do not be boring !!!
Offer something more than your opinion. Offer ideas and options for improving a situation or solving a problem.
It's always helpful to ask: "Would you read this?"
Write with passion. Facts matter, but passion adds tone and texture to produce pieces that are not boring.
Make your point early and with authority. If you can't make your argument in 500 words or less, it's likely a weak argument.
It's vital to read after you write. If you don't see the headline soon, write again.
The Tennessean opinion team.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Submit letter to the editor or guest opinion column to The Tennessean
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