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An op-ed, short for "opposite the editorial page" or as a backronym the "opinions and editorials page", is a written prose piece typically published by a newspaper or magazine which expresses the opinion of an author usually not affiliated with the publication's editorial board
It tackles recent events and issues, and attempts to formulate viewpoints based on an objective analysis of happenings and conflicting/contrary opinions. An editorial is predominantly about balance. But that does not prevent it from occasionally stirring things up, when such is the need.
