Submit an Op-Ed

Add your voice to the conversation

Vineyard is better when more neighbors are heard. The Vineyard Observer welcomes thoughtful, well-argued op-eds from residents, business owners, students, educators, and community leaders. Bring your perspective—backed by facts—and help our city think clearly and act wisely.

What we’re looking for

• Original commentary on local issues (policy, growth, budgeting, schools, public safety, parks, elections, community life).
• Clear point of view with a practical takeaway or solution.
• Civility. Challenge ideas, not people. No personal attacks, doxxing, or harassment.
• Evidence. Link to sources where appropriate (official docs, agendas, data, previous reporting).

Length & format

• Ideal length: 600–900 words (shorter or longer pieces considered if tight and compelling).
• Headline & 1–2 sentence summary at the top.
• Plain text is perfect. If you include links, paste full URLs in parentheses.

Transparency & disclosures

Please disclose any relevant affiliations or conflicts of interest (committees, campaigns, contracts, financial interests, family ties). If your piece references data or claims, include citations or links so readers can verify.

Pen name or anonymity

We allow publication under a pen name or anonymously when there’s a credible risk of harassment or retaliation. Editors may still privately verify your identity. We’ll work with you to protect your privacy while maintaining accuracy and fairness.

Editing policy

• Submissions may be edited for clarity, length, style, and fact-checking.
• We may add editor’s notes for context or link to relevant background.
• We won’t change your argument; if substantial edits are needed, we’ll send a proof for approval.

Rights & republication

• By submitting, you grant The Vineyard Observer the right to publish and archive your piece on our platforms.
• You retain your copyright. If you later republish elsewhere, please credit The Vineyard Observer as first publisher and link the original.

Timelines

• We usually respond within 3–5 business days. Time-sensitive topics may be prioritized.
• If your op-ed is tied to an agenda item or deadline, note that at the top.

How to structure your op-ed (simple outline)

1. Headline: Clear, specific, local.
2. Deck (1–2 sentences): What’s your thesis and why now?
3. Context: What’s happening? Who’s affected?
4. Argument: Your case, with evidence and examples.
5. Solutions: Practical steps, trade-offs, and what success looks like.
6. Call to action: What should readers or officials do?

Community standards (non-negotiables)

• No hate speech, threats, or personal attacks.
• No misinformation. We fact-check; unverifiable claims may be declined.
• No plagiarized or AI-generated content passed off as original without disclosure. (Editing tools are fine; the ideas should be yours.)

What to include when you submit

• Full name (required—can be kept private if publishing under pen name)
• Preferred byline: Full name, pen name, or anonymous
• Email (private, for editor contact)
• Headline and 1–2 sentence summary
• Your op-ed text (600–900 words suggested)
• Links/citations (if any)
• Disclosures (if any)
• Short bio (1–2 sentences, optional)
• Headshot (optional)

After you submit

• You’ll receive a confirmation. An editor may contact you with questions or edits.
• If accepted, we’ll provide a target publish window and a preview link when possible.
• If declined, we’ll let you know and share brief feedback when feasible.

Questions?

Have a topic you’re unsure about, or want guidance before writing? Get in touch—our editors are happy to help shape a strong, fair, and useful submission for Vineyard readers.