Write Compelling Commentary with Former Columnist Shari Graydon (Online) – ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!

Date: May 6 and 8, 2024
Time: 12:00-2:00 Eastern

Homework will be assigned and due for the second session.

Our workshops are open to women and gender-diverse individuals only

Do you have important research or knowledge the public should know about?
 
Do you work for a non-profit and have a cause to advocate for?
 
Join our workshop to learn and apply proven strategies to enhance your ability to engage and persuade the public through written commentary.
 
We’ll walk you through the entire process from writing an op-ed (commentary) to submitting it to a publication. Get concrete feedback on an idea you’d like to develop into a publishable op-ed, and the elements we know make a difference.
 
You’ll leave this workshop with: 
 
✔️ The ability to own and articulate your authority as an expert (through recognizing and addressing the entrenched undervaluing of women’s expertise by both society and women themselves);

✔️ An understanding of the essential elements and format of newspaper commentaries, including how to build a concise, persuasive and accessible argument that is likely to engage a lay audience;

✔️ The knowledge of how to increase your publication prospects by linking your expertise to the news and enhancing the relevancy and timeliness of your knowledge.

 

Facilitator Shari Graydon has spent more than 30 years engaging media to draw attention to issues she knows and cares about. Now she motivates and trains others to do the same, developing and delivering highly-rated conference keynotes and practical workshops across the country. The Catalyst of Informed Opinions, she’s an award-winning author and women’s advocate. Since 2010, she has helped amplify the voices of thousands of women across Canada, supporting them in sharing their insights with a broader public.

 

Here’s what past participants have said: 

“Informed Opinions’ workshop was informative and highly productive. My op-ed was translated into multiple languages and was the most-read story across all Vice networks worldwide for a full day. The feedback has been phenomenal and exciting opportunities have emerged from it.”
– Naila Keleta-Mae, Professor of Theatre and Performance, University of Waterloo

“The Informed Opinions workshops have been game-changers – they are full of actionable insights and have taken my career to new heights. Engaging with the Informed Opinions community and content has provided me with the confidence to unlock my leadership potential and accelerated the impact I have had on policy and public affairs in Canada and beyond.”
– Anjum Sultana, MPH, Director of Youth Leadership and Policy Advocacy at Plan International Canada

 

We’re a charitable non-profit that offers pricing on a sliding scale.

Receive up to 50% off if you’re an employee of a non-governmental organization with 10 or fewer employees, self-employed, a student or retired.

To maximize engagement, our workshops are limited to 10 participants. Enroll now to reserve your spot! 



 

 

Vancity Logo

Thanks to our generous partner Vancity, we’re pleased to be able to offer a limited number of full and partial bursaries to people from equity-deserving communities experiencing financial barriers to accessing our training. Please note that Vancity’s bursaries prioritize Black, Indigenous and/or trans people. We encourage women of colour, women living with a disability and/or non-binary and gender diverse folks to also apply and we will accommodate them as spaces permit. Please click here to apply.

 

 

The people we have trained and supported have published hundreds of commentaries. Click here to read some of the analyses they’ve contributed.

Have questions about this workshop? Email us at info@informedopinions.org 

 

 

Informed Opinions is a charitable organization committed to amplifying the voices of women and gender-diverse people for the benefit of all. Workshop revenues are invested in future training, research and resources. 

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Looking for customized training? We provide a range of tailored workshops to suit the needs of any organization. A list of all our offerings can be found here.