“ASK A JOURNALIST” OFFICE HOURS
with a journalist who’s rooting for you!
Every Thursday we host a 45-minute working session—open to all—in which a master editor discusses ideas, live edits a few op-ed drafts submitted by participants (like you), offers strategic advice on pitching, and answers questions. You can come with an idea or draft you’re working on, or just to listen.
The focus of office hours alternates between editing and pitching. If you’d like to receive feedback, submit an op-ed draft and/or pitch by Thursday 8:00 am ET to be considered for that day’s session. Whether or not your work is selected for live editing, you’ll get valuable insight into how a professional editor works and thinks that will be immediately applicable. There is a small fee (waived for anyone who needs it) to help estimate attendance.
Upcoming Schedule
April
Editor in Residence: stephanie drenka
Stephanie Drenka is the founder of VISIBLE Magazine and co-founder of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. Stephanie previously served as Communications Director for Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation, part of a national 14-place initiative by The W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Stephanie’s photography and writing have been featured in HuffPost, Newsweek, Washington Post, and USA Today. Stephanie has been a Facilitator and Fellowship Coach with The OpEd Project since 2022.
Work with Stephanie
April 25, 2024 at 5 pm EST - Register here: Edit Like a Pro
May
Editor in Residence: teresa puente
Teresa Puente is a journalism professor at California State University. She has an extensive background in journalism, having worked as a reporter at the Chicago Tribune and as a member of the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board. She has published op-eds in various media outlets, including TIME, The Guardian, and The Daily Beast, and has received the Studs Terkel Award from the Community Media Workshop. Teresa has been a Facilitator and Fellowship Coach with The OpEd Project since 2012.
Work with teresa
May 2, 2024 at 5 pm EST - Register here: Pitch for Success
May 9, 2024 at 5 pm EST - Register here: Edit Like a Pro
May 16, 2024 at 5 pm EST - Register here: Pitch for Success
May 23, 2024 at 5 pm EST - Register here: Edit Like a Pro
May 30, 2024 at 5 pm EST - Register here: Pitch for Success
EDIT LIKE A PRO
Get invaluable feedback on how to make your op-ed drafts extra powerful and persuasive. Our Editor in Residence reviews the structural elements of an op-ed, live edits a few drafts and answers your questions about form, content, and anything else writing-related. Our Editor in Residence also offers strategic thinking on where and how they might pitch each piece.
PITCH FOR SUCCESS
Capture an editor’s attention by crafting an irresistible pitch. Our Editor in Residence live-edits pitches (chosen from among those you submit), makes recommendations about improvements and answers your questions about everything from the best opening line to pitching etiquette.
HOW ARE THESE SESSIONS DIFFERENT FROM WORKSHOPS?
“Ask A Journalist” office hours are short working sessions in which we review ideas and draft op-eds, focus on tactics, and answer live questions. There is no set curriculum and the weekly structure is informal. Our “Write To Change The World” workshops are a deep dive into changing hearts and minds, based on our internationally recognized core curriculum (7-8-hour journey, usually broken up over multiple days). They are designed to lead participants to new understandings of their knowledge, and concrete results—such as a new idea or op-ed draft. Participants can access follow-up support as desired from our “Ask a Journalist” office hours.
Who should attend?
We welcome people of all identities, backgrounds, genders, and positions. We seek to overrepresent the underrepresented, including (but not limited to) women of all backgrounds. Office hours are a chance to expand our thinking as well as hone our ideas and writing at every level, and are designed to meet participants where they are, regardless of publishing experience.