Beware the Frankenstein op-ed
Too many people involved can create a monster.
Hi, I’m Jake Meth. I’m founder of Opinioned, an op-ed consulting firm that helps thought leaders publish columns in top media. Previously, I built and edited Fortune’s opinion section.
This newsletter has two parts: opening thoughts related to op-eds/thought leadership and headlines of hypothetical opinion articles I’d love to read. You can read more about Heds here.
“It’s alive. … It’s alive!”
So exclaims Dr. Frankenstein when he first sees movement in the monster he created.
He is initially exuberant, but he shouldn’t be. His monster is about to wreak havoc.
The same often happens with an op-ed draft. Those involved are happy it’s finished. But they should be worried about what they’ve created.
I call these Frankenstein op-eds. They come about when an op-ed transforms from one person’s pure idea into a confusing tangle of too much input and too many edits. They resemble Frankenstein’s monster, a hideous creature assembled from a collection of body parts.
Like Dr. Frankenstein, most op-ed authors start out with good intentions. But often, they quickly lose control of the article once others become involved. When too many people have input on the draft and it goes through too many iterations, the result can be grotesque.
Of course, executives are busy and often need help drafting an op-ed. There’s nothing wrong with enlisting one or two communications pros to do so. The problem emerges when people from other areas of the company start to peek in.
This can make it take longer to complete the draft, and during that time the news hook may disappear. But even if it doesn’t, there are other complications. Maybe marketing wants the byline author to include a reference to a new company initiative, even if it’s not relevant. Or an executive from another department tries to alter the conclusion so it better aligns with their own narrative.
The end result is a piece that looks quite different from what was originally conceived.
The best op-eds feature a strong opinion from someone who is passionate about a topic. Frankenstein op-eds, on the other hand, read more like marketing copy. That’s fine for a company-owned blog; it’s not fine for an op-ed section!
This isn’t only a question of quality. In most cases, Frankenstein op-eds are so bad that they won’t even earn an editor’s second glance.
My advice: Keep it simple. Only bring in people absolutely necessary for the drafting and approval of the article. Make sure that the perspective coming through is truly your own.
Otherwise, what’s the point of writing an opinion piece?
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Pitches Get Stitches
If you have an op-ed pitch you’d like me to evaluate, either reply here or email it to jake@getopinioned.com. Tell me which parts you need to keep anonymous (author’s name, job title, etc.). I’ll evaluate it at no cost to you by publishing my feedback in this newsletter.
Heds
If you’re inspired to write an op-ed based on one of the headlines you read below, please reach out so we can work on it together.
Before continuing, please see my note on how to read the below headlines. Ideal writers are in italics.
How to force yourself to take vacation days
Most people are leaving money on the table. Here are some ways to fix the psychological hurdles many of us face. (HR leader; behavioral psychologist)
The Israel-Hamas war could impact X industry. Are you prepared?
If you’re in a vulnerable industry, you need an action plan. (leader of a company vulnerable to the war’s impact; analyst of such an industry)
Consumer unions should be legal entities like labor unions
The UAW has had massive success for its members—but it needed the legal protections unions possess. Why can’t similar entities exist for consumers? (labor expert; legal expert; consumer union leader)
No more prodigies. I'm only investing in older founders.
I’m tired of hearing about 25-year-old-led startups flaming out. Most younger people aren’t ready for such responsibilities. We pay too much attention to their successes and too little to their failures. (VC or private equity investor)
Why does no one listen to the UN?
Israel and Hamas aren’t listening to the secretary general. Does he even have power? An explainer. (UN or international law expert; international relations professor)
You might become a cult leader CEO. Here’s how to avoid it.
If you’re charismatic and successful, there’s a decent chance your employees will idolize you. You should do everything you can to stop this. (company leader who’s experienced this themselves and fixed it)
I’m a college professor. I’m failing my students who don’t use AI.
If you’re not keeping up with the latest technology, you’re not adequately preparing yourself for the modern workforce.
Covid changed in-person conferences. Here’s how to make the most of them.
You have to take a different approach than before. (someone who’s gone to a lot of post-Covid conferences and benefited)
What happens if Trump goes broke during the campaign?
Can he be funded by donations alone? How would it affect his campaign? (campaign finance expert)
You might want to sue your employer
In certain situations—like being mistreated at work, or layoffs—you could make life-changing money. (employment law expert)