The Berkeley Beacon’s opinion team, led by Merritt Hughes and Ella Duggan, aims to uplift diverse voices in the Emerson community.
Content in The Beacon’s opinion section includes op-eds from columnists and contributors, letters, and editorials that represent the viewpoints of The Beacon editorial board.
The Beacon’s editorial team operates separately from The Berkeley Beacon’s newsroom. Beacon reporters may write op-eds but not on topics that they report on (I.e. SGA reporters cannot write op-eds about SGA policies or politics reporters cannot write op-eds about politics). Letters and unsigned editorials are not produced by newsroom editors or reporters. Viewpoints highlighted in the opinion section do not influence how the newsroom covers news at Emerson, in Boston, and beyond. This is to maintain and protect the integrity of the newsroom and opinion section.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the editor represent readers’ thoughts and opinions. Letters should be in response to articles or opinion pieces in The Beacon. Other types of submissions may fall under op-eds.
Opinions expressed are not necessarily reflective of the editorial staff.
To ensure your letter gets published, readers should make submissions timely, original, and brief. The Beacon reserves the right to edit letters for clarity or content.
Letters should be sent exclusively to The Beacon and must include the sender’s full name and email for verification. Anonymous letters will not get published. Send your letters (200 words or less) to [email protected].
We will not respond to all submissions unless we are going to publish them. If you have not been contacted within 7 days, your piece was not selected for publication.
OP-ED
Opinion or commentary pieces are often referred to as op-eds, short for “opposite the editorial,” which references their traditional placement in print newspapers.
Op-eds represent the individual views of Beacon columnists and contributing writers. They reflect the diverse viewpoints of people in the Emerson community. Opinions expressed are not necessarily reflective of the editorial staff.
The Berkeley Beacon accepts op-ed submissions that are original, fact-based, and well-written. Topics where you have firsthand expertise and/or experience are more likely to be published. The Beacon mainly looks for timely pieces, but we also publish reflections and personal essays.
Unlike news articles that are driven by facts, opinion pieces combine facts and persuasive writing to advocate for, critique, and argue about various topics.
Submissions are reviewed and edited by opinion editors.
Please keep the piece between 800-1,000 words.
To submit an op-ed, send a Google Doc to [email protected] with editing access.
Tips for pitching opinion pieces to The Beacon:
The Beacon strives to present a diverse range of views. Our goal is to elevate civil discourse.
When reviewing submissions, editors focus on both the author and the content of the piece. We prioritize fact-based arguments and welcome writers of all experience levels.
General tips:
- Between 800-1,000 words: Good arguments are succinct. We offer some wiggle room but not a ton.
- Include hyperlinks to sourcing: This makes it easier for us to fact-check. It also helps online search engines identify your piece, increasing its chances of reaching more readers.
- Include 1-2 lines of bio for the author(s).
- Send the whole draft instead of just the pitch.
After submitting a draft to be considered for publication, please allow editors 7 days to review it. If you don’t hear from one of our editors within that timeframe, you’re welcome to submit the article elsewhere.
Other things to know:
- Make your op-ed relevant to the news. Evergreen topics are acceptable, but newsier pieces are preferred.
- We do not accept: open letters, poetry, petitions, public service announcements, and press releases.
An editorial is an opinion on matters at Emerson and beyond that is researched and written by our editorial board. The board consists of opinion editors who meet regularly to discuss and debate issues. News reporters and editors do not participate in these discussions. Editorials reflect the views of The Beacon’s Editorial Board.
The Beacon’s editorial board is led by opinion editors Merritt Hughes and Ella Duggan.
