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WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS AND BASIC POINTS THAT GO IN TO THE FORMING OF A COLUMN?

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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
LESSON 24
WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS AND BASIC POINTS THAT GO IN
TO THE FORMING OF A COLUMN?
From the foregoing study and examination of the nature and definition of the column-writing, we can
analyse the following essentials and basic points which go into the forming of a column.
The column-writing can cater to the needs of the newspapers, periodicals with equal significance.
Column-writing can be equated with the concept and practice of personal journalism of the past.
Columns are written on a multitude of subjects, with a natural flair of conversation and a direct address to
the readers without any intermediary. There are syndicated and non-syndicated columns on diverse topics.
It can be said that any subject is an apt subject for the columnist.
Under a column, different news, announcements, and information can be gathered. Columns are really the
concise and precise rather pointed comments on the news of the day. Column may include in its range the
humour, criticism, wisecracks, judgements, observations, philosophies, apologies etc.
Columns are the unique devices of direct contact and address with the general masses, as being the most
modern and sophisticated form of personal journalism of the past.
These are the decorating pieces of the newspapers and hold the position of permanent topics and subjects.
Column-writing is a unique form of lively journalism, and is easily attuned to the information, instruction,
address, entertainment and amusement, guidance, enlightenment of the readers.
Columns are of multi-purpose nature and can include diverse writings on national and international topics
and subjects, social and cultural issues, and literacy and light subjects, economic and political subjects
besides humorous writings, and sarcastic writings, which were replaced, by the serious subjects. Both are
equally popular and important. Today column-writing includes anecdotes, short essays, reviews, and
editorials, comments, on news, announcements, and readers' contributions.
A column is both a general and a specialised writing, which may entail the elucidation or expression of
the policy of the newspapers, or it may be based on the independent thinking of an individual.
It is asserted that the style and approach in writing a column is usually determined by the local conditions
and the predilections of the concerned writers. However the sole criteria for gauging the success of a
columnist lie in his efficiency and proficiency to attract and hold the readers. A successful columnist must
possess some cardinal points to impel the readers to continue the perusals of the column carefully and
with deep and keen interest. However it is estimated that only from ten to fifteen percent - people who
read the editorials from beginning to the end. However the columns are most sought after and consulted
frequently.
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Table of Contents:
  1. IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE:Feature writing, Explanation of the definition
  2. SOURCES OF MATERIAL:Commemorations, Science and Technology
  3. INTERNET USAGE IN FEATURE WRITING:Be very careful, Website checklist
  4. WHAT MAKES A GOOD FEATURE?:Meeting demands of readers
  5. DEMANDS OF A FEATURE:Entertainment and Interest, Both sides of picture
  6. CONDUCTING AND WRITING OF INTERVIEWS:Kinds of interviews
  7. WRITING NOVELTY INTROS:Punch or astonisher intros, Direct quotation intros
  8. STRUCTURE OF FEATURES:Intro or Lead, Transition, Body
  9. SELECTION OF PICTURES, ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS:Sources
  10. FEATURES AND EDITORIAL POLICY:Slanting or angling feature
  11. HUMAN INTEREST AND FEATURE WRITING:Obtaining facts, Knowing how to write
  12. NEWSPAPER FEATURE STORY:The Business Story, The Medical Story
  13. THE NEWSPAPER FEATURE STORY IDEA:Conflict, Human interest
  14. MAGAZINE FEATURE VERSUS DAILIES:Feature versus Editorial, An overview
  15. WRITING THE SPECIALISED FEATURE STORY:The Deadline Feature Sidebar
  16. MODERN FEATURE AND ITS TREATMENT:Readers’ constraints
  17. MODERN FEATURE WRITING TECHNIQUE:The Blundell Technique
  18. ADVICE TO FEATURE WRITERS:A guide to better writing, Love Writing
  19. COLUMN WRITING:Definition, Various definitions, Why most powerful?
  20. COLUMN WRITING IN MODERN AGE:Diversity of thought, Individuality
  21. ENGLISH AND URDU COLUMNISTS:More of anecdotal, Letting readers know
  22. TYPES OF COLUMNS:Reporting-in-Depth Columns, Gossip Columns
  23. OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE OF COLUMNS:Friendly atmosphere, Analysis
  24. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS AND BASIC POINTS THAT GO IN TO THE FORMING OF A COLUMN?
  25. STYLE:General and a specialised writing, How can a columnist improve it?
  26. GENERAL STYLE OF THE COLUMN:Unified Style, Anecdotal Style, Departmental Style
  27. STRUCTURE OF A COLUMN:Intro or lead, Main body, Conclusion
  28. COLUMN WRITING TIPS:Write with conviction, Purpose, Content
  29. SELECTION OF A TOPIC:Close to your heart, Things keeping in Queue
  30. QUALITIES OF A COLUMN WRITER:Personal, Professional, Highly Educated
  31. WHAT MUST BE PRACTISED BY A COLUMNIST?:Pleasantness, Fluency
  32. SOURCES OF MATERIAL OF COLUMNS:Constant factors, Interview
  33. USEFUL WRITING DEVICES:Be specific, Use Characterisation, Describe scenes
  34. COMMON WRITING PROBLEMS:Eliminate clichés, Don’t misuse words
  35. WRITING THE COLUMN:Certain thumb rules, After writing the column
  36. ARTICLE WRITING:Introduction, Definition, Contents, Main Segments, Main body
  37. HOW TO WRITE AN ARTICLE?:It is more efficient, It is more believable
  38. TYPES AND SUBJECTS OF ARTICLE:Interview articles, Utility articles
  39. FIVE COMMANDMENTS, NO PROFESSIONAL FORGETS:Use Key Words
  40. ARTICLES WRITING MISTAKES:Plagiarising or 'buying articles, Rambling
  41. WRITING THE ARTICLE:Various parts of article, The topic sentence
  42. What to do when you have written the article?:Writing the first draft
  43. TEN STANDARD ARTICLE FORMATS:The informative articles
  44. LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WRITERS:Libel, Doctoring Quotes
  45. REVISION:Importance of language, Feature writing, Sources of material