COLUMN WRITING

COLUMN WRITING

 Columna - Latin; pillar (pantheon, great buildings)

 Vertical division of the page since mid-1400s
 Article giving opinions or perspectives
 500 to 850 words
 Editorial-opinion/stand of the newspaper or school publication, or of the editors
of the paper
 Column-opinion of the columnist, not necessarily shared by the news.
Also known as OP-ED

Originally: OPPOSITE THE EDITORIAL

NOW: Opinion-Editorial
 VARIETY OF COLUMN
PIECES

National or Regional Issues

Local/School Concerns
Global Issues
Human Interests

ENSURE THAT ISSUES MUST BE GROUNDED AND

CONNECTED TO CAMPUS EXPERIENCE. ISSUES MUST
HAVE CONNECTIONS TO CAMPUS CONCERNS.
 EXPERIENTIAL

Personal insights should be tested against facts

No such thing as “This is MY OPINION”. The opinion
must respect the evidences
Even opinions should be based on facts, not merely
emotions
Column writing promotes diversity

Note: DO NOT WRITE OPINIONS WHEN YOU DO NOT

EXPERIENCE OR YOU ARE NOT INVOLVE IN A CERTAIN ISSUE.
 DISCOURSE
The ability or power to connect seemingly unrelated
matters (may pag-uusapan at may paghuhugutan – kapag
ang isyu ay pinag-uusapan ibig sabihin ito ay mahalaga)

Example:
1.Duterte and Hitler
2.Martial Law and No Hair Color Policy
3.Heavy Traffic and Ants
 TURN INSIGHT INTO EXPRESSION
Empower students to find their voice

Teach them to learn, not to stock knowledge

Teach them to express what they have learned

Encourage them to re-think their learning's

 ETHICS OF COLUMN WRITING

You cannot succeed as a columnist unless youcombine

your craft/skills with strong critical thinking and
sound ethical decision-making
The more competent you are in ethical decision-making,
the more confident you will become in your ability to
meet the tests you face.

Note: BE CAREFUL. OPINIONS WILL BE SUBJECTED ALWAYS

TO CRITICISM.
 ACCURACY AND FAIRNESS
Accuracy means “getting it right”
Fairness means pursuing the truth with both
vigor, compassion and reporting information
without favoritism, self-interest or prejudice
“The method is objective, not the journalist.
The key is discipline of the craft, not the aim”.
Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel,
The Elements of Journalism

Note: YOUR OPINION WILL BECOME THE VOICE OF

EVERYBODY.
 OPINIONS ARE CRITICAL.
IT IS MOSTLY INFLUENCED BY BIAS
 AVOID COMMERCIAL BIAS

News is sponsored by advertisers.  Does the news

presented reflect the advertisements embedded within
the media?
 AVIOD TEMPORAL BIAS

 To be immediate and fresh, the news must ever-changing

even when there is little news to cover.

News agencies look for "breaking stories," often relegating

old news to the back page or leaving it entirely uncovered.
 VISUAL BIAS

Television and increasingly the newspaper is biased toward visual depiction of news to
exaggerate the issue. Including visuals will draw the reader's attention.  Do images
presented evoke specific responses?  Do they prejudice the reader to view the news one
way?
 BAD NEWS
BIAS

Good news is boring. This bias makes the world look like a
more dangerous place than it really is. Plus, this bias makes
politicians look far more crooked than they really are.
NARRATIVE OR NEWS MEDIA
BIAS
Writers will generally
develop a plot line -
beginning, middle, and
end - complete with
drama.  News, however,
is rarely so tidy. Remind
yourself that stories you
read in the news are
"unfolding." If a story
captures your attention,
its best to follow that
story over a period of
time.
 STATUS QUO BIAS
- It is an emotional bias; a
preference for the current state
of affairs. The current baseline
(or status quo) is taken as a
reference point, and any
change from that baseline is
perceived as a loss.
 bia
s

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Fa
- This manifests as a contention between/among political actors (also narrative bias)
- Ethical journalism is, in theory, fair.  When a controversy arises, reporters will generally
attempt to get the "other side" of the story.  When a rebuttal is reported, it can seem like the
media is taking one side or another.  Read carefully to determine if presentation of both
arguments is neutral. (DO NOT WRITE JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL YOU LIKE IT OR
YOU DON’T LIKE IT. DO NOT BE INFLUENCED BY YOUR PREFERENCE)
 GLORY
BIAS
Journalists especially
television reporters often assert
themselves into the stories they
cover. This bias helps
journalists establish and
maintain a cultural identity as
knowledgeable insiders
(although many journalists
reject the notion that follows
from this--that they are players
in the game and not merely
 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

When individuals face

competing loyalties to a
source or to their own self-
interest, or to their
organization’s economic
needs as opposed to the
information needs of the
public.
 DECEPTION

Can take many forms, from

outright lying to misleading,
misrepresenting or merely
being less than forthright
Use real people, concepts
and policies, misleading
people’s belief and
perceptions
 PLAGIARISM

“Great journalists
credit others”

- Aly Colon
Poynter Institute
 PRIVACY

Need for free information flow vs. rights of individuals to

personal privacy

Harm from invasion of privacy is almost certain, but it is

more difficult for a journalist to fully identify benefits from
intrusion
PRIVACY
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
FOR ETHICAL DECISION MAKING

Seek the truth and reporting it as fully as

possible
Act independently
Minimize harm
Be accountable
What’s the difference between an Article and a Column?

Articles Column
-Objective -Subjective

• Aims to inform audience of • Aims to give an opinion on a

an issue subject matter
• Gives inside info or the
elaboration about the subject/
issue/news that are hidden to
public view
 “When news is in the
wind, readers, listeners
and viewers, lean into
it, feeling for its
meaning, trying to
detect its importance to
them and their lives”
-Conrad C. Fink
That’s when the COLUMNIST comes in
• report, analyze, comment, and personalize the
news.
• inform the readers of what he may not know
• form or help to form public opinion when he
comments with his logic, humor, emotion on an
issue of the day
• as an interpreter, columnist condenses the main
news into clear logical and effective sentence to
emphasize the meat of the story.
 UNIQUE ROLE PUBLIC ROLE
Responsibility to gather Building new models to
information and present it help citizens find ways
to the public to have power
Tell the community about Newspaper as an
significant issues so advocate, activist,
people can make agenda setter and
important decisions in community convenor
their lives
 Forms of writing used in columns

The columnist is free to use any

form of writing. He may use the
essay or story form; on certain
occasions, he may even use verse.
 Types of columns according to purpose
Editorial column –any personal column in the editorial page
on critical issues.
Exchange/Reader’s column – column of comments
sent in by the readers
Feature column
Discussive articles (interview type)
Columns on various topics
Business column
Sports column
Art column
Types of columns according to purpose
Women’s column
Entertainment column
New products and inventions
Personality
Food for thought
Book Reviews
How to Do It columns
Humor Column
Sources of materials

Current news
Observations
Interviews
Commendable projects
People researches
Investigations
 Sample Structure of a Column
Headline (Title) –try to use some alliterations
ex. Filipino, Filipinos; Taong Tambay, Tumba
By Line –Your name
Lead (hook) – a shocking stat or rhetorical
question works well
-creatively introduce your topic
-clearly present your main point (50 words)
 Sample Structure of a Column
Present your 2-5 supporting FACTS (250 words)
This involves:
Point – state the fact
Proof – paraphrase or quote an external source
Analysis – comment on the proof presented
Write about your OPINION on the facts you have included
(start with a strong stance). Comment on the facts. Transition
in to a personal experience (optional). (250 words)
 Sample Structure of a Column
Conclude by creatively restating your main point.

Finish with a statement linking to your lead (a

CALL to ACTION works well) (50 words)
 Editorial Column

All parts
Uses and Uses
“WE” structure “I”
 Workshop Proper
Write a column article. You may use some of the
topics/ issues like:

1. The SDDSU – NEMSU Migration

2. The NEMSU Experience/Journey
3. NEMSU Now and in the Future
4. Struggles and Success of a NEMSU Student
Thank
You!!!