The Deseret News welcomes letters to the editor and guest opinions (op-eds) on a variety of topics from people with varying opinions. We are committed to elevating public discourse by providing a space for our readers to engage with others’ viewpoints in the pursuit of light and truth.
General policies for letters to the editor and guest opinions
- All submissions should be exclusive to the Deseret News.
- We do not publish anonymous opinions.
- All submissions become the property of the Deseret News and are subject to editing for length, accuracy, clarity and civility.
- Publication is at the sole discretion of the editors.
- We do not compensate authors for unsolicited articles.
How will you know if your submission will be published?
Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we will do our best to let you know within a week if your op-ed or letter has been selected for publication. If you do not hear from us within that time, you can assume we will be unable to use your submission.
Letters to the editor
Our purpose is to promote commentary and discussion among our readers. Some letters are light-hearted or funny; others are critiques of news articles; some advocate for an issue or cause.
Requirements
- Keep letters to 200 words or fewer.
- They should be written to a general audience, not in an “open letter” format.
- We typically only publish one letter per writer every 30 days.
- Letters written in response to a Deseret News article should include the full title and date of the article referenced.
- We do not accept submissions that have been published elsewhere.
How to submit a letter to the editor for consideration
Send an email to letters@deseretnews.com. Please paste the text into the body of the email rather than sending an attachment.
Submissions must include the writer’s:
- Full name
- Contact information
- City and state of residence
Guest opinions (op-eds)
New York Times columnist and seasoned editor Bret Stephens defined the value of an op-ed this way: “The purpose of an op-ed is to offer an opinion. It is not a news analysis or a weighing up of alternative views. It requires a clear thesis, backed by rigorously marshaled evidence, in the service of a persuasive argument.”
Requirements
- Guest opinions should be on a relevant topic of interest (potential op-ed writers should read our opinion section frequently to familiarize themselves with common topics or themes).
- Guest opinions should not exceed 700 words in length. Please include a brief author’s bio at the conclusion.
- We typically only publish one letter per writer every 30 days.
- Expertise in a specific subject matter is not necessary; however, authors without “name recognition” or extensive experience in an area are best suited by following the “80-20 rule”: 80% fact or new information, 20% opinion.
How to submit a guest opinion for consideration
Send an email to letters@deseretnews.com. Please paste the text into the body of the email rather than sending an attachment.
Submissions must include the writer’s:
- Full name
- Contact information
- City and state of residence