An editorial was a journalistic opinion piece written by the editor of a publication. A similar piece written by a guest writer was called an op-ed. (SNW: "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow")
Sometime prior to 2373, Harry Kim wrote a polarizing editorial for the Starfleet Academy newspaper regarding the Maquis activity against the Cardassians, prompting his fellow students to debate the pros and cons of the matter. When Neelix asked him what his professors' reactions were, Kim admitted that he didn't tell them before he published it, citing a journalist's independence. (VOY: "Investigations")