Many sociologists have discussed the pros and cons of writing op-eds for major newspapers, but little is known about how many sociologists are actually involved in this activity, who these people are, or how this group has changed over time. Although some related studies exist, none consider the historical dynamics of op-ed writing or theorize about why some sociologists publish op-eds and others do not. This study examines op-ed publications in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post over a 32-year period (1980 to 2011). In addition to estimating the total number of publications by sociologists, it presents a descriptive portrait of the authors themselves. The study also shows that the length and number of op-eds published by sociologists depend on the authors' sex, professional rank, university affiliation and other elements of social status. Finally, supporting Merton's Matthew effect, the findings reveal in part how the gap between the upper and lower levels of the academic hierarchy -as it pertains to op-ed publication -has widened in the last decades.Keywords Public sociology . Op-ed writing . Matthew effect . Inequality A number of sociologists have joined the debate on whether social scientists should enter the public sphere, express their opinions and offer policy prescriptions (Burawoy 2005a). One specific point of contention involves the writing of op-eds for national newspapers and other media outlets. Some scholars see the op-ed as a valuable opportunity for sociologists to share their perspectives with a wider audience, while others regard op-eds as nothing more than partisan sound-bites that diminish the field's credibility as a scientific discipline. While the pros and cons of op-ed writing have been raised frequently within the field's broader debate over public sociology (Burawoy