-MEDIA Editorial page

The newspaper is the voice of the community. The editorials are the voice of the newspaper. This voice can inform readers, stimulate thinking, mold opinion and occasionally move people to action
Writing an editorial to be worthy of print space, the editorial needs to tell the reader something that would not be discussed in a straight news story. However, the editorial must be researched carefully and just as thoroughly as a news story.

1. EDITORIAL PAGE
IMPORTANCE

3. Editorials may be supposed to reflect the opinion of
the periodical. Editorials may also be in the form
ofeditorial cartoons. Typically, a
newspaper'seditorial boardevaluates which issues
are important for their readership to know the
newspaper's opinion.

4. Importance of Editorial Page
•The newspaper is the voice of the community. The
editorials are the voice of the newspaper. This voice
can inform readers, stimulate thinking, mold opinion
and occasionally move people to action
•Writing an editorial to be worthy of print space, the
editorial needs to tell the reader something that
would not be discussed in a straight news story.
However, the editorial must be researched carefully
and just as thoroughly as a news story.
•The newspaper’s reputation is based on the accuracy
of the supporting material found in an editorial.
•The editorial page is dominated by comment and
analysis rather than objective reporting of factual
information.
•Editorials reflect the views of the owners, managers or
board of directors of media companies.

5. •Here, the opinions of the newspaper’s
editorial board are put forth in editorials.
•Opinions of newspaper staff members and
outside correspondents appear in by-lined
columns usually located on the facing page,
which is called the "op-ed" page. The op-ed
page also contains analysis and background
pieces.

6. Editorialsaremeanttoinfluence
publicopinion,promotecritical
thinking,andsometimescause
peopletotakeactiononanissue.

7. Editorials have
•1. Introduction, body and conclusion like other news
stories
•2. An objective explanation of the issue, especially
complex issues
•3. A timely news angle
•4. Opinions from the opposing viewpoint that refute
directly the same issues the writer addresses.
•5. The opinions of the writer delivered in a professional
manner. Good editorials engage issues, not
personalities and refrain from name-calling or other
petty tactics of persuasion.
•6. Alternative solutions to the problem or issue being
criticized. Anyone can gripe about a problem, but a
good editorial should take a pro-active approach to
making the situation better by using constructive
criticism and giving solutions.
•7. A solid and concise conclusion that powerfully
summarizes the writer's opinion. Give it some punch.

8. Make-up of the editorial
page
•Editorials
•Letter to the editor
•Editorial cartoon
•Columnists
•By-lined pieces

9. Editorial

10. Letters to the editor

11. Editorial cartoon

12. Purposes of the editorial
page
•The editorial page provides a forum for the
opinions of readers and editorial staff in order
to:
•Provoke thought and discussion
•Influence public officials
•Suggest a course of action
•Provide background and analyses events
•

13. Types of editorials
•Argument and persuasion:These take a firm
stance regarding a specific problem or condition
and attempt to persuade readers to adopt the
same point of view.
•Information and interpretation:These explain
the significance of a situation, condition or news
event. They range from pure information pieces
that provide background and review facts, to
highly interpretative ones that identify issues,
examine motives and suggest possible
consequences.

14. CONT…..
•Commendation:This type of item is used to
express appreciation to an individual or
organisation for a job well done.
•Entertainment:There are two types. One is the
brief, humorous editorial of a light subject,
intended to simply entertain. The other is the
tongue-in-cheek or satirical editorial that pokes
good-natured fun at a serious subject. Opinions
are expressed on a wide range of topics, including
foreign, national, municipal affairs; social issues;
and sports

15. Planning the Editorial
•Decide what issue you will write about and clearly define
the issue.
•Consider who your intended audience will be (for example,
it may be the general readership, or it may be directed at
those who hold a particular view that may or may not
already have been expressed in the media or other public
forum).
•Brainstorm a variety of strategies you can use to gain reader
support for your view on the issue. These might include
acknowledgement of the reader’s current viewpoint, listing
benefits of the view you are promoting, providing reliable
evidence, and using of sound reasoning.
•Develop logical and ethical arguments; avoid purely
emotional aspect.
•Conduct necessary research both to gather information
about the audience you are writing for, and to collect
evidence, examples, and support for the view you are
promoting.
•Develop an outline to follow before you begin writing.

16. Writing the Editorial
•1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news
angle and would interest readers.
•. Collect information and facts; include objective
reporting; do research
•. State your opinion briefly.
•

17. •Explain the issue objectively as a reporter
would and tell why this situation is important
•. Give opposing viewpoint first with its
quotations and facts
•Refute (reject) the other side and develop
your case using facts, details, figures,
quotations. Pick apart the other side's logic.

18. •Concede a point of the opposition —they must
have some good points you can acknowledge that
would make you look rational.
•. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the
reader's minds.
•. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem that
goes beyond common knowledge. Encourage
critical thinking .
•. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates
your opening remark (thesis statement).
•. Keep it to 500 words; make every work count;
never use "I".

19. Editorials as reflectors of
Editorial Policy
•Editorials reflect the issue positions taken by a
publication. These essays, which can help
influence decision-makers, are written by the
editorial board and usually use information
presented by local, state or national figures
during an editorial board meeting or briefing.
•These meetings, which are often scheduled at
regular times each week, typically last no more
than one hour and take place at the
publication’s office

20. Editorial Writers
•Editorial writers are news-oriented. Thus, meeting
requests are more likely to be received positively
if you approach an editor when transit or related
issues are in the headlines. To request a meeting:
•Find out the publication’s position on specific
public transportation issues before seeking a
meeting. This can be accomplished by reviewing
previously published editorials and relevant news
coverage.
•Draft a brief letter to the editorial page editor
stating why your issue or position is worthy of
discussion. Provide compelling and timely facts
that demonstrate you have valuable information
or an interesting perspective to share. It is also
useful to explain why the issue is particularly
relevant to your community. (A sample letter is
included in this manual.)
•Follow up with a telephone call.

21. Tips for a successful editorial
board meeting
•Focus your presentation on
no more than three main
messages supported by facts,
data, memorable examples,
quotes.
•Show that you are aware of
other approaches to the
issue. Editorial writers may
ask you to explain the
opposing point of view.
•Consider taking along a copy
who can provide additional
credibility, expert testimony,
personal insight or a local
angle

22. •Be prepared to defend your position,
answer questions, hand out simple
charts or background materials and
offer to be available if additional
information is needed
•Writes comments on topics of reader
interest to stimulate or mold public
opinion, in accordance with viewpoints
and policies of publication: Prepares
assigned or unassigned articles from
knowledge of topic and editorial
position of publication, supplemented
by additional study and research.
Submits and discusses copy with editor
for approval.
•Editorial writer may specialize in one or
more fields, such as international
affairs, fiscal matters, or national or
local politics. He can also participate in
conferences of editorial policy
committee to recommend topics and
position to be taken by publication on
specific public issues.

23. •ThePulitzer Prizefor
Editorial Writinghas
been awarded since
1917 for
distinguishededitori
alwriting, the test
of excellence being
clearness of style,
moral purpose,
sound reasoning,
and power to
influence public
opinion in what the
writer conceives to
be the right
direction.

24. Columnist
•A columnist is someone who writes for
publication in a series, creating an article that
usually offers commentary and opinions.
•Columns appear in newspapers, magazines
and other publications In some instances, a
column has been written by a composite or a
team, appearing under a pseudonym, or (in
effect) a brand name.
•Some columnists appear on a daily or weekly
basis and later reprint the same material in
book collections., including blogs.

25. •In defining a column, Dictionary.com
provides a breakdown of a few popular
subjects covered by columnists:
•A regular feature or series of articles in a
newspaper, magazine, or the like, usually
having a readily identifiable heading and the
byline of the writer or editor, that reports or
comments upon a particular field of interest,
as politics, theater or which may contain
letters from readers, answers to readers'
queries, etc.
•India
•M J Akbar,ChetanBhagat,Prem
Bhatia,GurcharanDas,Swapan
Dasgupta,SunitaNarain,Chidanand
Rajghatta,RajdeepSardesai,Tavleen
Singh(1950–),The Indian Express

26. Types of columnist
•Advice columnist
•Critic
•Editorialopinion columnist
•Gossip columnist
•Humorcolumnist
•Food columnist

27. OBJECTIVESANDIMPORTA
NCEOFCOLUMNS
•Friendlyatmosphere
•Itistheobjectiveofthecolumn-
writingtomakeafriendlyand
easyatmosphere.Thereadersfeelanewness,
freshnessand friendlinessin
thewritingandreadingofcolumns
ofdiversenature.
•EssenceofExperience
•Thecolumnistsundertaketomingletheirlife-
longexperience
andknowledgeintheircolumns, infriendly
tonesand amicableatmosphere.

28. •Truegenuinepublicopinion
•Toenrichtheirknowledge,informationand
toforma stronghabitforreference,cross-
referenceand
repeatedconsultationarecarriedout.A
personalcolumnbasedonwisdomandworldlyan
dreligious knowledgeassiststhe
columnistsfortrueandgenuinepublicopinion.
•Individuality
•Thetingeof personal
andindividualinclinationispredominantpresenti
n thecolumn-writing.Weusually
noticefewnamesof columnists
inallthenewspapersandperiodicals,whosecolu
mnsenjoypopular approval.Theirwritingsand
sayingsaregivenproperimportanceandweightd
ue toindividualityand personaladdress

29. •Propagationofsupremevalues
•Mainlycurrentaffairsandtheissuesof
thetimesarethesubjectsofthesecolumns.T
heartandthe demandsof thecolumn-
writingaretopresenttheissuesbydetailede
xplanationandexplanation.The
Columnsaremainlymadethemeansto
propagatethehighvalues in
thesociety,serveasdeterrentsof
socialandotherevilsandsuggestmeasurest
o combat
theevilsandothersocialmalpractices
andother reformatorymeasures

30. •Colourfulstatements
•Thevariouscolumnsaremanifestations
ofstylishandcolourfulstatementsandpiecesof
prose. A single
newspapercontainsusuallymorethanonecolum
nondifferentpermanentsubjectsortopicsor
captions.
•Thesepresentapageantryofcolourfulpiecesof
prose-writing,differentstandardstyles
ofwriting,excellentliterarypieces.All
thereaderscanenjoytheparticularstylesandlog
ical compositions with the
backgroundofintensiveandextensivereadingan
dexperienceoflongyearsofpractice.

31. Freelance Writers
•Afreelancer,freelance worker, orfreelanceis
somebody who is self-employed and is not
committed to a particular employer long term.
These workers are often represented by a
company or an agency that resells their labor
and that of others to its clients with or without
project management and labor contributed by
its regular employees. Others are completely
independent. "Independent contractor" would
be the term used in a higherregisterofEnglish.
•Definition:Freelance writers are writers who
are not hired on a permanent/staff basis. They
are hired to write a specific assignment, which
generally occurs in a limited time period