How to Write and Pitch an Op-Ed to Indian Newspapers and Portals

An op-ed is a signed opinion article that argues one clear point on a current issue, and Indian newspapers and portals accept them from founders, professionals and experts who have something specific to say. This guide shows how to choose a topic editors want, structure an 800-1,000 word piece, find the right submission address, write the pitch email, and follow up without burning the relationship. It includes a full example outline you can adapt.

What an op-ed is (and how it differs from other formats)

The term comes from “opposite the editorial page”, where newspapers traditionally printed outside writers’ views. Today it covers signed opinion columns in print and online. It is often confused with other formats:

Format	Who writes it	Purpose	Typical length
Op-ed	Outside expert or practitioner	Argue one point on a current issue	About 700-1,200 words
Letter to the editor	Any reader	React briefly to a published article or news	About 150-250 words
Press release	Company or organisation	Announce news for journalists to report	About 400-600 words
Sponsored or branded content	Brand, often with the publication’s team	Paid promotion, must be labelled	Varies

A press release says “here is our news”. An op-ed says “here is what I think the country, industry or government should do, and why”. If you want to announce a launch, follow our guide on how to write a press release in India instead. Mixing the two is the most common reason founder op-eds get rejected.

What Indian opinion editors look for

Opinion desks at national dailies receive far more submissions than they can print. Pieces that get through usually tick these boxes:

• A news peg. The piece connects to something happening now: a new GST rule, an RBI decision, a Supreme Court order, monsoon data, a state policy.
• A clear argument you can state in one sentence. “The Rs 5 crore e-invoicing threshold should come with a six-month grace period for first-time filers” is an argument. “E-invoicing is important for MSMEs” is not.
• Earned authority. Why are you the person to write this? Ten years running a dyeing unit in Surat, or a practice handling 200 GST audits a year, counts.
• Evidence. Official data, court orders, published reports, and your own first-hand experience, cited properly.
• Originality. A view or angle the paper has not already printed. Read the last month of the paper’s opinion pages before you pitch.
• No promotion. Your company name appears in your byline, not in the argument.

Word limits and formats to plan for

There is no single Indian standard. Publications set their own limits and change them, so treat these as working ranges, not rules:

Outlet type	Working length	Notes
Print edit pages of national dailies	About 700-1,000 words	Space is fixed; overlong drafts are cut or rejected
Business dailies (print and web)	About 700-1,200 words	Data-heavy pieces welcome; jargon is not
Digital news and opinion portals	About 800-1,500 words	Links to sources are expected
Startup and trade media	About 800-1,500 words	Practical, sector-specific views do well
Regional language newspapers	Often shorter	Write natively in the language; do not send a machine translation

Check the exact limit on the publication’s contributor page or ask the desk. Paste your draft into a word counter before you send it, and trim to the limit yourself rather than leaving it to an editor.

A structure that works, with an example outline

Most strong op-eds follow the same shape. Use it as scaffolding, not a formula.

1. Hook (1 paragraph): the news peg, a sharp fact or a short scene from your experience.
2. Thesis (1-2 sentences): your argument, stated plainly, early.
3. Three supporting points (3-5 paragraphs): each with one piece of evidence.
4. The other side (1 paragraph): the strongest counter-argument, answered fairly.
5. What should happen (1-2 paragraphs): specific, practical recommendations.
6. Closing line: return to the hook or end on the cost of doing nothing.

Example outline (illustrative)

Imagine the head of a small-industries association in Rajkot writing after a festive-season payment delay crisis:

• Working headline: “Big buyers are still paying small suppliers late. The 45-day rule needs teeth.”
• Hook: Before Diwali, many member units had to borrow at high rates to pay staff bonuses because large buyers held back payments.
• Thesis: The legal timelines for paying micro and small suppliers work on paper but are weakly enforced; three changes would fix that.
• Point 1: What the law says on payment timelines and what MSMEs actually experience, with official data on delayed-payment cases.
• Point 2: Why small suppliers rarely complain: fear of losing the buyer.
• Point 3: What the existing grievance portals and invoice-discounting platforms can and cannot do.
• Counter-argument: Large buyers say stricter rules will make them avoid small suppliers. Answer with how other mechanisms reduce that risk.
• Recommendations: Three specific, workable fixes.
• Close: Back to the Diwali bonus scene and what next year could look like.

Notice that the association, its members and its services are never promoted. The writer’s position does the credibility work.

Writing tips that editors notice

• Put the argument in the first 100 words. Opinion editors skim. If they cannot find your point quickly, they move on.
• One idea per paragraph, three to four sentences each.
• Use plain words. Write “small factories” instead of “MSME ecosystem stakeholders”.
• Cite precisely. Name the notification, report or dataset, with the date. Online portals will expect links.
• Avoid jargon and acronyms without explanation. A general reader should follow every line.
• Keep it fair. Attacks on named individuals or unverified allegations will be cut, and can create legal problems for you and the paper.
• Write your own piece. Ghostwritten or AI-generated drafts that read like brochures are easy to spot. If someone helps you, the views and experience must still be yours.

Where to pitch and how to find the right address

Match the outlet to your argument and your readers. A broad policy argument suits a national daily; a sector-specific one may work better in a business paper or trade portal; a state issue often lands best in a regional language paper.

Category	Examples	Best fit
National English dailies	The Hindu, The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, Deccan Herald	Policy, governance, social issues with national relevance
Business papers	Mint, The Economic Times, Business Standard, Financial Express	Economy, tax, markets, industry policy
Digital news and opinion sites	ThePrint, Scroll, The Wire, Moneycontrol	Timely analysis with sources linked
Startup and trade media	Sector magazines and startup news portals	Founder and practitioner views on a specific industry
Regional language papers	Leading Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali dailies	State and local issues, in the reader’s language

Finding the submission email

We deliberately do not list email addresses here, because desks change them and lists online go out of date. Instead:

1. Read the publication’s opinion section, for example The Hindu’s op-ed page, The Indian Express opinion section or Hindustan Times opinion, to understand tone, length and topics.
2. Look for a “write for us”, “contribute” or “submissions” page on the site, or the contributor note printed on the edit page of the print edition.
3. If there is no public address, check the “contact us” page for an editorial or opinion desk email.
4. Find the opinion editor’s name from the site or professional networks, but send to the official address unless they have invited direct pitches.

The pitch email: a template

Print edit pages often prefer the full draft pasted in the email body. Many digital outlets prefer a short pitch first. Follow whatever the publication asks. A complete submission email looks like this:

Subject: Op-ed submission: Small suppliers are still paid late. The 45-day rule needs teeth (950 words)

Dear Editor,

I would like to offer the op-ed below for your consideration. With the festive season’s payment delays fresh in the news, it argues that the legal payment timelines for micro and small suppliers are poorly enforced and proposes three practical fixes.

I am president of [association name], which represents [number] small engineering units in Rajkot, and I have run a machining unit for 18 years.

The piece is exclusive to [publication] and has not been published or submitted elsewhere. I can adjust length or angle if needed.

[Full text pasted below, with sources listed at the end]

Regards,

[Name], [Title], [Phone], [City]

Keep the email short. Do not attach company brochures or high-resolution photos unless asked. A two-line bio at the end of the article is enough.

Timing, exclusivity and follow-up

• Exclusivity is expected. Send to one publication at a time. Simultaneous submissions annoy editors and can get you blacklisted.
• Timely pieces move fast. If your piece is tied to a budget, verdict or event, send it the same day or the next. A week later, the moment has passed.
• Follow up once. If you hear nothing in about five to seven working days, send one polite follow-up. If there is still no reply, write to withdraw the piece before pitching it elsewhere.
• Accept edits gracefully. Editors will cut, retitle and sometimes reshape your piece. Push back only on factual errors.
• Disclose conflicts. If you or your company benefit from the policy you argue for, say so to the editor.
• Never pay for an op-ed slot presented as editorial. If a publication offers paid placement, it must be labelled as sponsored content.

If several opinion desks pass on your piece, read the rejection notes, if any, and rework the argument rather than resending the same draft. Many of the reasons overlap with why newsrooms reject submissions: no news value, too promotional, or sent to the wrong desk.

After your op-ed is published

• Share the link on LinkedIn and with your industry association, with one line on why the issue matters.
• Reply to serious responses and letters, even critical ones. Editors notice writers who keep the debate civil.
• Add the piece to the media or press page of your website, linking to the publication rather than copying the text.
• Thank the editor briefly. Do not pitch your next piece in the same email.
• Keep a simple log of what you sent, where, and the outcome. After three or four published pieces, you will have a clear sense of which desks fit your voice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Indian newspapers pay for op-eds?

Some publications pay contributors a fee for published opinion pieces and many do not, especially for first-time writers. Ask about payment terms only after your piece is accepted.

How long should an op-ed be for an Indian newspaper?

Most fall roughly between 700 and 1,200 words, with print edit pages usually at the shorter end. Each publication sets its own limit, so check its contributor guidelines or ask the desk.

Can a startup founder write an op-ed about their own industry?

Yes, and editors value practitioner views. The piece must argue a point that matters to readers beyond your company, and your company should appear only in your byline.

Can I send the same op-ed to several newspapers at once?

No. Send it to one publication at a time. If you do not hear back in about a week, withdraw it politely before sending it elsewhere.

Should I write in English or a regional language?

Write in the language of the readers you want to reach. A state-level issue often gets more attention in a leading regional daily, but write natively in that language rather than translating.

Can I republish my op-ed on my blog or LinkedIn?

Check the publication’s terms. Many allow you to share the link and a short excerpt, but not to republish the full text immediately. Ask the editor if unsure.

Write the argument you can defend

Pick a current issue you know from the inside, state your argument in one sentence, back it with evidence, and send it to one well-chosen publication with a short, clear email. Each publication’s word limits, submission addresses and policies change from time to time, so confirm them on the outlet’s own website before you send.