EDITORIAL WRITING:WRITING AN EDITORIAL:STRUCTURING AN EDITORIAL

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 36

EDITORIAL WRITING

An editorial is an article that states the newspaper's ideas on an issue. These ideas are presented as opinion.

Editorials are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking, and sometimes cause people to take

action on an issue. In essence, an editorial is an opinionated news story.

According to Webster's Dictionary an editorial is "an article in a publication expressing the opinion of its

publishers or editors."

Editorials appear on the newspaper's editorial page, a page which includes editorials, columns, opinion

articles, reviews and cartoons. If the paper contains more than one opinion page, the others are called op-ed

pages. Another important item that appears on the newspaper's editorial page is the masthead, also known as

a staff box, which includes a statement providing the details of publication.

Since a newspaper is not a living, breathing human being, it cannot form these ideas or opinions. However, the

editorial board is made up of living, breathing human beings who determine, hopefully by consensus, the

opinions that will be presented in the editorial. The editorial board is a group of people, usually the top

editors, who decide on a plan for each editorial that will appear in a newspaper. Please note that eeditorials are

not written by the regular reporters of the news organization, in fact, most major newspapers have a strict

policy of keeping "editorial" and "news" staffs separate. That's why editorials are written without any byline.

Most editorial pieces take the form of an essay or thesis, using arguments to promote a point of view.

Requirements for article length varies according to each publication's guidelines, as do a number of other

factors such as style and topic. An average editorial is 750 words or less. But this length can vary depending

upon the need and requirement.

WHAT SHOULD AN EDITORIAL DO?

· Criticize or attack: If they criticize, they require suggestions for change. If you launch an attack against

something, you must be impeccable in your charge. An attack is forceful; criticism does not have to be

forceful, but it has to be held down with facts and suggestions for change.

· Defend: Stand up for an individual or an institution that is under attack by society.

· Endorse: But you must give solid reasons for your endorsement of a political candidate, an issue, or the

reasons behind building a new gymnasium.

· Compliment: Show evidence that the compliment is deserved. Do praise when warranted.

· Instigate, advocate or appeal: To instigate editorially would mean that the newspaper intended to go on a

crusade for something--improvements in the school study hall system, for example. Or you might advocate

that this be accomplished by backing suggestions put out by a school committee that studied the problem.

An appeal editorial might mean that you'd encourage people to donate to a school fund drive or vote for a

tax levy increase.

· Entertain: An entertaining editorial is good for the reader's soul, but it should have a worthwhile point and

should be written about something worth the reader's time.

· Predict: Support your predictions with fact.

G. SMITH 1997. IS THE ROLE OF A NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL TO ...?

· act as a voice for the ruling class,

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

· advocate for the rights of individuals

be strictly accurate,

bring down a government,

criticize government policies,

fight for the freedom of the press,

indicate preferred foreign policy directions,

nurture enlightened values,

preach,

set a high tone for debate,

suppress important facts,

Promote critical thinking?

QUALITIES OF A GOOD EDITORIAL:

1. Clarity

Precise conveyance of ideas

2. Colour

Using words that evoke images

3. Concreteness

Being specific

4. Economy

Making every word count

5. Tone

The general impression of the writing

6. Tempo

The pace (how the writing moves- fluency)

7. Variety

Vary word choice, sentences, length, and sentence structure

WRITING AN EDITORIAL:

The writing process:

1. Invention: choose an issue

Your editorial could be about how the readers could help the environment, inform the public about a particular

endangered species, praise an effort by a group who has helped to take an endangered animal off of the

endangered species list, or any other idea that can be used as an editorial.

2. Collection: gather support

Gather as many details to convince others about your opinion. (Facts or evidence, written statements from

sources or authorities in the subject (experts), comparisons to similar situations to support your argument,

pictures or images that strengthen your argument, be able to counter argue your opponents on this issue.)

3. Organization: stretch from straight forward opening to closing

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4. Drafting: write the first draft

Body should have clear and accurate details and examples. Give strong arguments in beginning of editorial and

at the end. Show the opposing arguments and their weaknesses. Offer a solution at the end. Do not be wishy

washy. Stick to your argument or opinion.

5. Revising: get it right

Your editorial should be clear and forceful. Avoid attacking others, do not preach, paragraphs should be brief

and direct. Give examples and illustrations. Be honest and accurate. Don't be too dramatic.

6. Proofreading: check the language

Check content, format and mechanics

STRUCTURING AN EDITORIAL:

Whatever type of editorial you write, it must be built around a logical framework. It must have a/an:

· Introduction: To get the reader's attention

· Body: To persuade the reader

· Conclusion: To prompt the reader into action

An effective formula for editorial writing is SPECS.

State the problem or situation;

Position on the problem;

Evidence to support the position;

Conclusions: Who's affected and how; state and refute the position of the other side

Solutions to the problem: At least two.

DO'S AND DON'TS OF EDITORIAL WRITING

Do's:

· Change abstractions into living examples

highlight emotional hooks - a warm positive tone is essential

soften criticism; never divide your readership

speak as the voice of the whole community

tie the editorial to a news item or current issue of public concern

show a local flavour; local loyalties and interests relate to readers

beware legal challenges over reputations

avoid a preachy tone and rhetorical flourishes

convert statistics into factions

simplify grammar and vocabulary

limit questions to a minimum; your task is to offer answers

Clarify your point of view before beginning; state a Headline.

establish your authority, credibility

Simplify expressions; talk plainly.

focus on three points only

Avoid language knots: in which, through which.., of which...

Avoid lists; avoid "First, second ..." etc.

Avoid need to cross reference: not "as was said above." name it again.

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· Avoid dialogue. It is not a novel.

avoid "I you me" pronouns; use a plural voice = the community

Don'ts:

What NOT to put in your editorial

· the singular pronoun "I"

falsehoods, suppositions, exaggerations

libel and defamation

advocate anything illegal

long paragraphs

subheadings

difficult, technical words

grammatical knots, confused writing

questions to finish

forget to devise and include a headline

ignore the obvious a

Vague ambiguous references, the unattached "It".

Source: http://home.pacific.net.au

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