EDITORIAL DEFINED.. How to Write an Editorial...POINTERS

Editorial Defined

An editorial is the official stand of the paper on a relevant development or issue. It is a personal commentary written by the editor who comments or gives the newspaper’s or the staff’s opinion about various aspects on an issue which is of interest and importance to the public. It is a critical interpretation of significant, usually contemporary events so that the readers will be informed, influenced, or entertained. It is the stand of the paper, not of an individual editor.

Some authors give other definitions or explanations regarding editorials:

An editorial is an article in a newspaper giving the editor’s view or those of the person or persons in control of the paper. – A. GayleWaldrop

It is the expression of the people’s conscience, cause, and convictions. – Joseph Pulitzer

The modern editorial includes analysis and clarifications, sometimes with no opinion given. – Arthur Capper

The editorial should provide the background in which the facts are seen in a new perspective and should express its opinion. – Rufus Terral

Bitterness, bias, and fear have no place in an editorial. They make for weakness no matter how much they bluster. – William Allan White

It is a presentation of facts and opinion 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

How to Write an Editorial

In writing the editorial, select only one specific idea to develop. Be sure the topic is of interest to the reader. Organize your editorial in three parts:

1. the introduction
2. the body
3. the ending.

The first contains the newspeg with the reaction. It is usually one short paragraph. (A newspeg is a brief statement about the news event at issue upon which the editorial is based).

The body may take two or three short paragraphs that support or justify the reaction. The ending, sometimes called the clincher, summarizes the editorial’s stand.

The following are examples of editorials’ introductions composed of the newspeg and the reaction, not necessarily in that order. The underlined words are the reaction:

a. The new office policy of requiring tardy students to study their lessons in the library while they wait for the next period is both timely and wise.

b. It is source of great pride and inspiration for our school to come out second in the NSAT region-wide.

c. Our general PTA is really generous and concerned for the students’ welfare. They will donate labor and materials to improve the school gym.

d. The move of the DECS to revive Grade VII and to add one more year in the high school is not the solution to the deteriorating pre-collage education in the country.

The body should prove or justify the reaction or stand already made in the introduction. In a, the body should prove that the office policy is really timely (one paragraph) and wise (another paragraph). In b, the editorial should list reasons and figures which make the school and the studentry proud of their athletic meet achievement.

The end or lat paragraph of an editorial is sometimes called the punch line or clincher. But if the preceding lead and body have well organized and carefully written, the conclusion may be omitted.

The editorial also has a head.

Pointers on Writing an Editorial

1. Make the editorial interesting enough to read.
2. Develop it from one specific, limited idea, phrased in one sentence, and expand it into the body of the editorial.
3. Have a purpose well in mind which should be accomplished with sufficient data.
4. Organize all data into well-reasoned arguments, with each argument leading up to the conclusion.
5. Peg the lead sentence on a recent relevant news for its impact value.
6. Present both sides of an issue and clarify tricky aspects with a widely understood analogy or with an illustration that makes for easier understanding.
7. Direct the editorial towards the establishment of a consensus.
8. Is the writing simple, direct, clear, and forceful?
9. Does it not carry a double meaning?
10. Does it reflect clear, logical thinking?
11. Is the subject matter significant to the students, the school, the community, and the country?
12. Are the sentences and paragraphs relatively short?

Writing the Editorial

Expected Outcomes:

A. Realization that the editorial is the soul of the newspaper
B. Ability to comment on the news intelligently
C. Knowledge of the different definitions of an editorial
D. Familiarity with the qualities and characteristics of a good editorial
E. Understanding the different types of editorials
F. Ability to write different types of editorial
G. Appreciation of the fact that the editorial writer needs extensive research, o wealth of facts, An impartial turn of mind,and more like than heat on turn issues
TWO PRIME FUNCTIONS of the newspaper are to inform and to interpret. It goes without saying then that the two most important sections of the news paper are the news and editorial sections.

The editorial page is the demarcation line between news and opinions. The news pages are for news – to give information while the editorials pages are for editorials, the editorial columns, the cartoons, and the letters to the editor – to give opinion or to interpret the important events of the day.