Opinion

A guide to submitting opinion pieces for Mumbrella

We welcome interesting comment pieces from anyone. But our readers have pretty high standards. This may offer a few clues on what they enjoy reading.

1. Make your piece stack up around a single point.

The best pieces take a single point, and explore it fully, rather than trying to cover too much ground. The most interesting pieces challenge established thinking. If most people would already agree, there may not be a great deal of point in writing the article.

2. Explain.

Why should the reader care about what you’re writing about? What difference will it make to our readers working lives or careers? What impact will it have on marketing/creative/production industries?

3. Don’t sell.

When you have a point to make, don’t make it in a salesy fashion. If you’re a mobile expert talk about mobile, great, but don’t tell us about the new product you have out which does whatever widget you happen to be talking about. If you want an advert for your company, we have an excellent sales team who are more than happy to help you.

A piece that argues that what the industry lacks is the product you happen to sell will not get up.

4. Don’t bang on about how amazing the conference/event/junket is.

If you’re writing a piece inspired by the conference you’re currently visiting – be it Cannes, SXSW or otherwise – there’s no need to draw us a word picture of your surroundings. We’ll take it as read that the sky is blue and the water is warm. The readers are not interested in the buzz and excitement you feel at the event. They are interested in the new thinking that has been inspired.

5. Make it snappy.

Don’t labour the point. Make sure you have a snappy, to the point introductory paragraph, that’s all you have to hook the reader in with. Write it tightly, aim for 6-700 words, and when you’re bored of writing it the reader will have been bored a long time before.

6. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind.

You’re writing thought-leadership pieces – do feel free to offer some thought leadership. Explore that theme fully, if you have something controversial to say, say it bravely and honestly, the audience will respect you more because of it.

7. Relevance.

Bear in mind Mumbrella speaks to marketing and media professionals predominantly, from a diverse range of disciplines. Think about how what you’re saying, or trying to say, impacts their day-to-day working lives – is it something they’ve heard a lot before? If so, is it worth repeating?

8. Avoid high falutin polysyllabic lexus

In other words – keep it simple. Don’t speak in jargon, simplify concepts to be readily understandable and explain your arguments in terminology everyone understands. The best writers are able to convey tremendously difficult concepts in language a child can understand.

9. After publication do join in on the comment thread

Some people will probably disagree with whatever you write and say so in the comment thread. But if you engage in the conversation, they’ll respect your views.

If you want more clarification on these guidelines, or to submit an opinion piece, please contact the Mumbrella Asia editor Ravi Balakrishnan on ravi@mumbrella.asia or the general manager Dean Carroll on dean@mumbrella.asia
ADVERTISEMENT

Get the latest media and marketing industry news (and views) direct to your inbox.

Sign up to the free Mumbrella Asia newsletter now.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing