CBC Opinion FAQ

Update:CBC News is not currently accepting Opinion pitches. If you have a news tip for a story, please contact the relevant CBC newsroom or show.

Why is CBC News doing opinion?

CBC Opinion aims to represent a range of commentary and a diversity of political thought from new contributors. Our goal is to give the audience access to competing ideas and perspectives which complement CBC's news coverage and provide additional insight.

Here are some examples of CBC Opinion columns:

• Blame first-past-the-post for Canada's growing rural-urban divide

• If you really want to affect climate change, talk to women

• Brian Sinclair, Joyce Echaquan died years apart in hospitals. Only one of their inquests points to change

• The R-word takes away people's humanity. We all need to stop using it

• As a mother and a farmer, I think Canada's new food guide goes too far

What are you looking for?

We're looking for contributors from a variety of backgrounds who have a strong opinion that could illuminate an issue in the news or change how people think about a timely issue. Preference is given to unexpected arguments that challenge preconceptions, have not been widely published before, or covered by CBC News in our reporting.

Each Opinion column must stand independently, laying out the author's clear position with supporting arguments and researched context. Columns should not simply repeat facts.

Authors do not necessarily have to be professional or high-profile writers.

CBC does not accept rebuttals or critiques of published columns, but we do welcome pitches for opinion columns expressing a different point of view regarding topics already covered by other authors.

How do you disclose conflicts of interest?

Anonymous columns are not accepted for publication. Anyone writing an opinion for CBC News is asked to fill out a disclosure form about any potential conflicts of interest. Editors will then determine which conflicts need to be brought to a reader's attention in the author's bio when the column is published.

What is the difference between First Person, analysis and opinion?

A First Person column relies on specific experience lived by the contributor. It should be a compelling narrative that readers may relate to because they, too, have experienced something similar or because they are learning something new through a perspective on a situation.

An Opinion column relies on expertise held by the contributor, allowing them to be more definitive about a particular argument that may have an impact on society. These columns showcase a wide range of commentary to give the audience access to competing ideas and perspectives which complement CBC News coverage, and provide additional insight.

Analysis pieces are largely written byCBC News journalists, who bring their knowledge and expertise to provide additional context. Occasionally, we publish analysis by reporters from our news wire agency partners or freelance journalists.

All of this content whether it is Opinion, First Person or Analysis must adhere to CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. All columns are fact-checked by CBC staff.