Seeds of Peace

International Youth Conference Breaking News, Making Headlines

Media Product: Op-Ed

Where Media and Opinion Meet

An editorial written by the Op-Ed Workshop Participants of the Seeds of Peace International Youth Conference We’re not trying to be objective we’re trying to be effective. Where the media and other workshops aim to be fully balanced, opinion and editorial writing conveys a specific perspective, while remaining impartial by providing salient arguments. Learning how to turn an idea into an op-ed is a powerful tool to express oneself effectively. This week, at the Seeds of Peace International Youth Conference,, not only did we deal with the philosophy behind an op-ed article, but also with the pragmatic facets of writing one. For instance, we identified the common ingredients of an engaging, thought-provoking op-ed. We examined issues like balance, the use of an effective structure to make a case, the need for factual information and adding spice to the writing. Additionally, we learned the importance of top-notch standards. That is, being organized, respectful and the need for experience in our work. This is what makes an op-ed article credible, an op-ed section prestigious, and an op-ed writer popular. In addition to working together to write this article, each participant in the workshop wrote an op-ed that strove to meet these high standards of journalism This is highlighted in three specific articles: In an attempt to analyze the social and political factors of suicide bombing, Ahmed Khateeb provided a unique point of view steaming from his personal experience of having been friends with one. Radhika Lalla gave us a perfect example of packaging an idea into a column. She summed up the paradox of ignorance held by educated people through the single phrase: “Literate Minds with Illiterate Ideas.” In a third case, two writers from opposite sides of an issue — and conflict — jointly wrote an article about the different interpretation of the same words by the two sides of the Arab-Israeli dispute. Abdullah (Abe) Damra is Jordanian and Yosi Yeshaya is Israeli. Together, they co-authored a single article, bringing more insight than one could alone. To be sure, spending six days working on a column does not make one the utmost authority on writing op-eds there’s still a lot more to go and experience is an essential ingredient. But it marked a beginning. Knowing what it takes to get our opinions to the public is empowering; it embodies what it means to be a Seed. It makes us able to express ourselves better, and be both appreciative and critical of the media. Instead of being bystanders we now have the tools to better understand media as both a consumer and creator. Ironically, while neutrality is a virtue, inserting one’s opinions into journalism through an op-ed article can be one of the strongest tools we have to contribute to the public discourse.