Our lives are filled with opinions, from lukewarm hot takes — pineapple on pizza is fine, actually — to nuanced arguments about the best way to live our lives and structure our society. So, how can you share your views with the world?
Look no further than The Hatchet’s opinions section. Each week, we publish new perspectives and commentary from members of the GW community — that’s you. As The Hatchet embarks upon its 120th volume, here’s a guide to how the opinions section works and the role you can play in it this year:
How does the opinions section work?
Contributing Opinions Editor Riley Goodfellow and I run the opinions section together. Our work begins when we receive ideas from our writers and columnists — a group of students with different backgrounds, majors and points of view — as well as students from outside The Hatchet along with staff, faculty, alumni, University officials and off-campus neighbors.
Once we approve a piece for publication, writers work with Goodfellow, myself and Zach Blackburn, The Hatchet’s editor in chief, to make their article as impactful as possible. We also edit each piece for grammar, style and clarity. This process of pitching, approving, researching, writing and editing an article takes slightly over a week from start to finish.
What does the opinions section publish?
Here’s our rule of thumb for approving opinion pieces: they should be timely, and they should be relevant to GW. We also look at trending regional or national issues, then localize them to our University community.
Whatever the scale, most opinions pieces fall into one of two categories: columns and perspectives. Columns are hard-hitting, data-driven articles that identify problems on campus or in D.C., provide context on what’s happening and propose solutions. Perspectives highlight the experience of an individual writer, true-to-life tales that range from the serious to the humorous.
With the help of Editorials Assistant Paige Baratta, Goodfellow and I also write a weekly staff editorial during the academic year. Staff editorials allow us to amplify ongoing issues or focus on areas that aren’t receiving attention from students and officials.
How is the opinions section separate from The Hatchet’s newsroom?
The opinions section is editorially independent from The Hatchet’s news section and vice versa. The news section covers what’s happening on and around campus. We opine on it.
Make no mistake, though — we have just as much of an obligation to factual accuracy and truth-telling as any reporter but with the added freedom of including ourselves in the story. What our writers believe and who they are is at the core of what they do, and their expertise and experience make their work better.
I disagree with something you published. What now?
It’s your right to disagree with or dislike the content of an article we’ve published. It also means that we’ve done our job of presenting new, even unpopular perspectives.
Opinions pieces can’t tell you what to think, but they can help inform how you think. So, when you’re ready to turn the page or close the tab, I would encourage you to keep reading. As a result, you may be able to articulate your beliefs better — or even write your own response.
How can I get involved in the opinions section?
If you’d like to share your own perspective but aren’t sure about contributing regularly, consider writing an op-ed or letter to the editor. Like columns and perspectives, op-eds are your chance to express your views or detail your own unique experiences. In lieu of a comments section, letters to the editor allow you to give feedback on The Hatchet’s work.
The opinions section belongs to you, and we want our writers and coverage to reflect GW as much as possible. If you feel that The Hatchet is missing you, your background or your perspective, reach out to us. And if you’re especially passionate about the issues facing GW and D.C., then consider writing for the opinions section regularly — we’ll be happy to have you.
For more information, email [email protected].
Ethan Benn, a senior majoring in journalism and communication, is the opinions editor.
