Submitting an opinion column or letter to the Montreal Gazette

Here’s what you need to know about increasing your chances of posting, along with some basic information.

Author of the article:

Edie austin • Montreal Gazette

Publication date:

03 Dec 2021 • 53 minutes ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation

We welcome submissions of opinion pieces and letters to the editor. Photo by ANDREW KELLY. /REUTERS

We welcome submissions of opinion pieces and letters to the editor.

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Here’s what you need to know about increasing your chances of posting, along with some basic information.

Oped Items:

Also known as opinion columns, opinion pieces, or comments.

Some fundamentals:

We have a strong preference for operators who are experts on local issues (current affairs in Quebec and especially in Montreal).
We generally don’t run open documents that have already been published elsewhere (although we sometimes share content with other Postmedia articles). “Published elsewhere” includes in French and on the Internet in any form.
If you are submitting your comments to more than one post simultaneously, this must be transparent. We prioritize unique presentations.
The required length is 630 to 650 words. While we can cut back a bit, please do not submit anything longer than 700 words and please do not submit anything shorter than 630. Our count includes a short sentence at the end that describes the author.
Headlines are our prerogative, however if an author wishes to suggest one, it will be considered.
We do not conduct open trades in the format of an open letter addressed to a third party, such as the prime minister.
Opeds is intended as a platform for the views of the community, including academics and organizations. Freelance Writers Please Note: We do not pay a fee for our guests’ opinion pieces.
If you have a personal involvement with the topic you are writing about, we hope this will be revealed. It is not necessarily a problem if you are transparent.
We can include a maximum of two names on one line. If a comment has multiple signatories, we would indicate at the bottom that there are X number of other signatories or, if the number is small, their names may appear at the bottom of the article as co-authors, although in this case, they must be included in the count of words.
The name of a person (or two people) must appear in the signature, not the name of an organization.
We do not publish pieces anonymously or under a pseudonym.
The accuracy of the facts is essential.
Everything we publish can be republished by other Postmedia articles.
Send your text in the body of your email, not an attachment.
Unfortunately, we are unable to personally respond to all shipments or explain why a shipment was not selected. If we are potentially interested, you will likely hear from us within two business days.

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Send open communications to [email protected]

What makes a good oped:

Moment: You may have some good ideas to share, but there must be a “peg.” It should be obvious why we are discussing the issue now, rather than next month or next year. A peg is usually some kind of recent development or it can be an anticipated event.

Originality: The author has something new to bring to the conversation.

Opinion: A clear opinion is expressed, beyond mere analysis. The author is defending something and / or criticizing something.

Authority: The author has relevant experience or more than an average level of familiarity with the topic.

Voice: The style is similar to a personal essay. You are writing in your own voice (though preferably without using the first person) and not citing other people’s points of view.

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Structure: It starts off attractive and quickly tells the reader where the piece is going. The plot unfolds, and then the piece ends on a clear and definitive note on what the point is. Stick the landing, like a gymnast.

Writing style: Attractive and clear.

Tone: Strong arguments are welcome, but nastiness or name calling is not. Avoid attribution of motives and sarcasm.

Letters to the editor:

These appear in print only.

We give priority to letters that respond to or are inspired by something published in our print edition. If you are responding to a specific article, please let us know which one.
Letters must be sent exclusively to us.
Ideally, your letters should be less than 200 words long, and the shorter they are, the greater the chances of publication.
Timing, clarity, factual accuracy, and tone are all important, as is whether the writer has something new to add to the conversation.
We reserve the right to edit and condense all lyrics. Care is taken to preserve the core of the writer’s argument.
Our policy is not to post anonymous or pseudonymous letters.
Include a phone number and address to help verify identity. These will not be published, only the name of your city or neighborhood / municipality.
Send the letter in the body of an email, not as an attachment.
We will not tell you if your letter will be published. If it hasn’t been published within a week, it probably won’t be.

Send letters to [email protected]