OpEd Writing Workshops

Write your power!

For more than twenty-five years, The Progressive Media Project has conducted hands-on op-ed writing clinics for nonprofit groups and individuals. Our goal is to empower people with important stories to share with the confidence and tools for writing successful op-eds and communicating their messages effectively.

In the past we have offered up to six op-ed in-person clinics annually. In 2020, we are working on developing an online version so that organizations have an option to provide their members with a remote learning experience if they prefer. Please contact us for details and scheduling options.

Thanks to the support of the Brico Fund, we are able to offer FREE op-ed writing workshops focused on climate change to groups and organizations in Wisconsin.

Why take a clinic?

  • Op-eds are read by both the general public and policy makers;
  • A well-written and strategically placed op-ed can reach millions of American readers simultaneously, in small rural and large urban markets;
  • Op-ed writing is an extremely efficient and productive way to build media competence, strengthen organizational capacity, and promote social change;
  • Op-eds provide visibility for people suffering from mainstream media neglect and help democratize news content for the general public;
  • Op-eds are used as authoritative content by policy-makers, issue analysts, other media, think tanks, educational institutions, advocacy and nonprofit organizations, ethnic and niche media outlets, and foundations.

"I came to Madison to attend a training on writing op-eds. Having my voice distributed through the wire services is also critical. As a black queer mother there are not many avenues in the mainstream media to have my voice heard. PMP provides the avenue and does it well. I am forever in their debt."

—Kiki Monifa- Co-Founder/Co-Publisher and Principle Blogger/Vlogger- ARISE 2.0. Read her OpEds.

What are the clinics like?

We begin with a “lead writing exercise” that teaches participants how to write their crucial first sentence in eighteen words or fewer. From there, we provide instruction on our own typology of four kinds of op-eds. We offer concrete writing tips, including on how to overcome writer's block, how to construct an argument, and how to write conclusions. Then participants are invited to write op-eds for us to  critique.

After each clinic, we stay in contact with participants, try to place op-eds they have written, and offer ongoing editorial and messaging support.

Here’s what participants have to say:

  • Having The Progressive editors give hand-on advice was really appreciated. Succinct and meaningful.
  • The workshop was incredibly helpful and fun.
  • I've attended other communication/writing for news workshops, and didn't learn as much as here. The other programs have much bigger audiences and very little hands-on work. This is much better.
  • I really liked the lead and conclusion exercises.
  • I've been doing op-eds for a long time, although without any formal training. This workshop will be very helpful for my work.

We have provided clinics for:

  • The Chicago Foundation for Women
  • The Argus Foundation
  • The Ford Foundation
  • The Gill Foundation
  • The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
  • The Wisconsin Community Fund
  • The South Central Federation of Labor
  • The Midwest Renewable Energy Fair
  • Cooperative Consortium for Transdisciplinary Social Justice Research, University of Louisville

If you would like to find out more about our writing clinics, please contact Elizabeth Miller at elizabeth@progressive.org or call 608-257-4626.