MENTOR-EDITOR SUPPORT

Receive feedback on your op-ed draft from an experienced journalist

Our Mentor-Editor community supports recent participants of OpEd Project workshops and Fellowships, who have produced a draft op-ed and want to receive expert feedback. Mentor-Editors are highly experienced and deeply committed journalists, editors, and columnists who volunteer their time because they believe in our mission and the broader need for inclusive voice and leadership. A list of OpEd Project Mentor-Editors is here. Support revolves around feedback on a single op-ed draft, and while the amount of time is typically brief, Mentor-Editors on average double your odds of success in publication. Our Mentor-Editor support is for members of The OpEd Project community who have completed an OpEd Project workshop (either “Write To Change The World” or “Connection: Accelerating Ideas”) or a Public Voices Fellowship in the previous month (or three months for fellows). If you want to join our “Write To Change The World” workshop (or wish to re-experience it), you may register here.

Guidelines

  1. Eligibility: Recent OpEd Project graduates who have completed an OpEd Project workshop (either “Write To Change The World” or “Connection: Accelerating Ideas”) in the previous month, or a Public Voices Fellowship in the prior three months, may request a Mentor-Editor match by submitting this form. Workshop graduates have access to our Mentor-Editors for one month after the final date of your workshop. For example, if your workshop ended on January 1, your access will expire on February 1. We know this support is highly effective and we really want you to use it! To encourage you: if you complete a match within the month, we will extend your access to our Mentor-Editors for two additional months (three months in total). If you are a Public Voices fellow, you have access to the Mentor-Editor program for three months after the active coaching period of the fellowship ends.

  2. Criteria: To initiate the match, you must submit a draft op-ed that meets the following criteria: a timely, evidence-based argument of public value that is between 500-1000 words. If you submit a draft that is fewer than 500 words or more than 1000 words, we will not initiate a match. Please proof-read and fact check your draft prior to submitting, in order to have the best experience with your Mentor. We also encourage you to follow the structure discussed in the workshop.

  3. Timing: We do our best to make matches happen within a week, and often much faster. However, there are occasional variances due to our Mentors’ unpredictable schedules. In the event that you do not hear from us within one week (7 days) of submitting your match request, you may contact us at mentoreditormatches@theopedproject.org. If you are on a tight deadline, or if your op-ed is very time-sensitive, we also suggest that you join our Ask A Journalist office hours (every Thursday at 5 pm ET), where one of our editors in residence will provide live feedback on op-ed drafts and answer questions.

  4. The Mentor-Editor policy is "one match at a time." This means we will only match you with one Mentor on one op-ed at a time. Only when that match is complete you can submit another request. Completion of the match is defined as: when the Mentor has provided feedback and the exchange is over—and ideally, you have pitched your op-ed.

  5. Mentor-Editors commit to providing positive critical feedback in a tone that encourages and inspires. We ask Mentor-Editors to do everything they possibly can—in the manner they feel most appropriate—to support and empower you. They may comment on broad ideas, suggest copy edits, or both. In most cases, this involves providing feedback on your op-ed draft, and a few back-and-forths to answer questions.

  6. The Mentor-Editor will provide feedback and encouragement in a one-time, one-op-ed interaction (unless the Mentor-Editor and the alum both wish to continue the dialogue). On average, Mentors spend 1-2 hours on a match, although on occasion they form longer relationships.

  7. If you want help with your pitch, you must include it with your submission and specifically request feedback on it. Mentor-Editors will not pitch for you, but they will give you feedback on your pitch. Pitching happens fast—be sure to follow up! For guidance on how to pitch, where to submit, and when to follow up please visit our website.

  8. Although Mentor-Editors may occasionally share personal contacts, you should never expect this.

  9. This program was founded to support your voice—please do not use it for ghostwriting, and do not turn in drafts by anyone other than yourself.

  10. Remember to THANK your mentor! Our Mentor-Editors are volunteering their time to help you. Some of them are pulling time out of their workdays in between deadlines, or reporting from the front lines. So please thank them. Even if you don't use their edits. And if you get published, or if their support has been in any other way helpful to you, please tell them so (CC us, if you'd like!). What goes around comes around, and gratitude is powerful juju.