Editorial Writing

Lecture Delivered by
JERRY M. NOVENO
Instruction Specialist III
Philippine Science High School—Bicol Region Campus
Goa, Camarines Sur

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 What is an editorial?
Considered as the soul of the newspaper, the
EDITORIAL is an analytical interpretation of
significant and timely topics or issues.

“IT is the expression of the people’s

conscience, cause, and convictions.” –
Joseph Pulitzer

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“IT is a presentation of facts and opinions in
a concise, logical manner, or of interesting
significant news in such a way that its
importance to the average reader will be
clear.” – M. Lyle Spencer

IF written well, it can be a vital force to

influence public opinion and institute
changes or reforms.

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 Characteristics of an Editorial

• Carries a timely news angle.

• Has a moral purpose, sound reasoning and
power to influence public opinion
• Factual and provides pertinent information;
arguments based on facts
• Focused on a central theme.
• Objective and well-argued

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• Bases moral evaluation on facts.
• Avoids preaching.
• Concise
• Ending on a call for action

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 Information and Explanation

• This is done if the issue at hand has become

complex and confusing for ordinary people
to easily comprehend and appreciate. It
does not criticize or debate. Its sole
purpose is to present and define the
essence of a subject so that the reader can
be better informed.

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Sample Ideas

• What are the contents and provisions of

the new memorandum released by the high
school administration?
• What are the processes involved in
amending the Cyber Crime Law of 2012?

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 Evaluation and Interpretation

• This explains the significance of a news

story to the lives of the people. It
highlights all the actors or a prediction of
the implications of a certain issue.

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Sample Ideas

• What are the implications of the

Reproductive Health bill should it be
passed into law?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages
of playing too much computer video
games?

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 Argumentation
• The main purpose of this writing is to compel
readers to support a course of action or
certain position. It takes a firm stand on a
problem or condition. The presentation of
facts is often biased to what the newspaper
wants to uphold. Good research and
objective analysis are the main features of this
editorial.

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Sample Ideas
• The school principal is correct in imposing
strict health measures amidst opposition from
street vendors. This is supported by a
nationwide survey conducted among public
high schools stating that water-borne diseases
can be easily acquired through unsanitary
street foods.
• Juvenile delinquents are increasing in number

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Sample Ideas

that it is timely the government is considering

lowering the age for minors to be criminalized
for their lapses in judgment.

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 Criticism and Attack

• This writing aims to dismiss, demolish or

debunk a certain policy or idea. However,
if an editorial criticizes, it must also offer
suggestions for change. Instigating an
argument must be balanced with excellent
reasoning.

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Sample Ideas
• The school administration’s memorandum
regarding not allowing students who come
late to enter their first-period classes is
illogical and inappropriate. The school is
only putting these students to danger as
anything untoward can happen outside.
This could put the school in danger as well.

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Sample Ideas
• Stores located in the premises of the school
should be strictly monitored by the
community police to ensure that they do
not sell liquor and cigarettes, which are
proven dangerous when taken especially by
minors. Business licenses of these stores
must be cancelled if the store owners
violate the directive.
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 Defense

• This editorial stands up for a viewpoint

that is being challenged or under attack.
It aims to further establish the
desirability and strength of a position.

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Sample Ideas
• The school policy to discourage buying of
street foods among students must be
welcomed. Studies revealed that street
foods are major sources of microbes and
germs which cause fatal diseases like
Hepatitis B, diarrhea, and cholera.

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Sample Ideas
• Playing computer games do not only serve
entertainment purposes. They also develop
the student’s technical and abstract
reasoning skills which can be helpful if they
plan to pursue engineering courses in
college.

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 Persuasion and Endorsement
• This type focuses on encouraging and
mobilizing public support. This is also called
campaign editorial. To be effective, there is
a need to give rock-solid reasons for the
endorsement.
Example
The school’s rehabilitation program for
mangrove areas in Sagnay must be
supported.
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 Entertainment
• Light or a humorous treatment of a topic
• Satirical treatment of a serious subject

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 Special Occasions
• This highlights the significance and
importance of a public holiday or event to the
lives of the public.

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Appreciation, Commendation,
and Tribute
• This can be considered one form of “praise
release”. It commends a particular person,
place, or event.

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 How To Write an Editorial

PREPARING TO WRITE
• Choose a very timely topic. Bring this down to
a specific, particular idea.
• Be clear about your purpose.
• Be sure you know and understand your topic
very well. Formulate your stand or position.
• Gather sufficient data.

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ORGANIZING THE EDITORIAL INTO 3 PARTS
1. Introduction—It contains the issue or news
peg and the reaction. The stand of the paper
should be given immediately in the
introduction
NEWS PEG—It is a brief statement about the
news event at issue upon which the editorial
is based.

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 Sample News Pegs
• For most Filipinos, the Halloween this year is
scarier than ever with the implementation of
Republic Act 9337 or the new Expanded Value
Added Tax (EVAT) law starting November 1.
Looking back, the temporary restraining order for
the implementation of EVAT was lifted on
October 18, and the added 2% to the then 10%
VAT has been everyone’s reason to cower in fear
as the soaring of prices of goods and services will
ensue while workers’ meager incomes
get more unable to support their families’ needs.
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• While this country’s waiting generation
staggers to keep up with the rest of the world,
headlines have spelled more dejected news.
RP is Japan’s toxic dump, or will be, once both
countries’ senate approves of Japan-
Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement
(JPEPA), signed by President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo and then Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi on Sept. 9 in Helsinki on the
sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting.

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 The celebration of the Nutrition Month this
year was both timely and meaningful because of
the following reasons: one, our school director
announced that 52% of school children in
Camarines Sur are either undernourished or
malnourished. Two, the students reached out to
different elementary schools in Goa, Camarines Sur
for the feeding program for hundreds of school
children. But what students do not observe is
proper nutrition among themselves.

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2. The Body—This part proves or justifies the
reaction or stand already made in the
introduction.
Tips:
Use examples and illustrations to convey
your point.
Document statements by quoting sources
and authorities.
Arrange your arguments according to
importance. Start with abang.

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3. Conclusion—The last part that either
summarizes or drives home a point. It ties up
the ideas and arguments presented in the
body. It also presents a solution, plea, advice,
command, thought provoking question, or
forecast (depending on the kind of editorial).

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 Sample Editorial

Filling the Real Gaps

THE CYBER Education Project (CEP) of our
government aims to fill the gaps in the education
system using satellite technology to deliver key
learning concepts and other educational services
to every public elementary and high school in the
country through TV screens. One question: Is this
$460 million-project a really dire need in our
country?
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• At a glance, one can presume that the CEP is
beneficial to Filipino students. For one thing,
it can abolish the ignorance in technology
among many schools and students or
teachers. Computer literacy, a major factor in
job hiring today, can be raised, thereby
helping students learn skills that could earn
them stable professions in the future.
Furthermore, learning can be made easier and
more interactive, thus, more alternatives can
be given as to the imparting of
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knowledge. By incorporating technology to
show key concepts of learning, interest and
enthusiasm among students may rise, leading
to better academic performance.
Sadly, the CEP’s flaws outweigh its
possible benefits. The Philippines isn’t really
ready for a vast network that uses advanced
technology. There are many schools in
remote areas in various locations around the
country that do not have electricity yet.

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Moreover, the lack of faculty members qualified to use
this new technology is a problem due to inadequate
training and experience. Lack of infrastructure
(buildings) that can safely house the equipment needed
for the CEP poses just another downside. There are also
questions raised as to the ability of the company
awarded with the CEP contract, because this Chinese
firm, the Tsinghua Tongfang Nuctech Company
(Nuctech), specializes in x-ray machine manufacturing
and container inspection systems, which have little or no
relevance to satellite technology that the CEP requires.

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 If the CEP is implemented on the soonest
time, what can be said of the government is that
it is visionless on the many problems confronting
Philippine educational system: overcrowding of
students in classrooms, which, ideally, should
have only 30 to 35 students; lack or absence of
qualified teachers to teach core subjects like
Math, Science, and English; scanty salary for
teachers; lack of school building and classrooms,
textbooks, and other equipment necessary for
learning; now-and-then changing curricula; and
failure to implement sound
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programs due to budget constraints and
reasons undisclosed to the public.
Hence, it is not a surprise that our country
placed 23rd among 25 countries in the 2003
Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS) for both Grade 4 science
and mathematics. The Philippines’ average of
332 in science and 358 in math are way below
the international averages of 489 and 495 in
science and math, respectively. In addition,

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the country was 42nd in science, with 377, and
41st in mathematics, with 378, among 45 countries
for second year high school—again, further down
the international averages of 474 and 467 in math
and science, respectively. The results are
analogously similar to the 1999 TIMMS, which
placed the Philippines 36th in both mathematics
and science among 38 participating countries.

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With all these factors that hinder the progress of
education in our country and the dismal
performance of our fellow students not only in
international but also in local assessments, what
the government must focus on is finding solutions
to the abovementioned problems—the real gaps
that must be filled to raise the quality of
education even before it thinks of embarking on a
massive advancement project like the CEP.
Dealing with those problems accordingly and
earnestly could assure each

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student a better quality of education and a
bright future. By then we might not need
projects like the CEP at all.

The Bicol Scholar

June-October 2007

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