You’re probably familiar with editorials and opinion columns in newspapers such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, or your local newspaper. More often than not, these editorials and columns offer the considered opinion of someone associated with the newspaper, such as an editor, a member of the editorial staff or editorial board, or a regular columnist. In a growing number of cases, however, newspapers have been offering members of the community — typically a member of the community served by the newspaper who has expertise in a particular area or can offer an important perspective on an issue — the opportunity to publish a guest column or editorial.

Guest editorials often offer solutions to problems. The editorial might suggest a solution to a funding shortfall faced by a local school district, for example, or it might offer advice about how to address a change in state laws, such as the 2012 constitutional amendment that legalized marijuana possession and use in Colorado.

When guest editorials offer solutions to problems, readers expect those solutions to be informed by an understanding of the problem. Because readers understand that the space available for editorials is usually limited, they will not expect to see a great deal of evidence supporting the solution. They will, however, expect a reasonable analysis and a clear description of the proposed solution.

Guest editorials — like regular editorials and opinion columns — use a simple design, typically no more than a series of paragraphs. Guest editorials can include tables or charts, but they are rarely used. In some cases, guest editorials might highlight an important point using a pull quote.