In a newspaper editorial, the editor writes a piece
that attempts to influence public opinion on some issue in which he or she has
a particular interest. It usually takes one of two forms: a pro/con editorial
(usually called "pro"), which expresses the views of the newspaper's
editors about a topic and may be written by any member of the editorial staff;
or an editorial comment ("opinion"), which presents the feelings and
opinions of a single author.
Many newspapers have a team of professional
editorial writers who write many such editorials every day. Editorial pages are
considered important because they offer readers another viewpoint in addition
to what they read in news stories, and because they give journalists
opportunities for their own voices to be heard. In recent years, however,
several newspapers have discontinued their editorial sections, citing decreased
circulation and advertising revenues as causes.
***
The Purpose of an Editorial Page
As with most journalistic endeavors, the purpose of
an editorial page is to inform people about events taking place around them. It
also serves to provide context—to explain why some action was taken or why
certain policies were adopted. And it gives voice—through a variety of writing
styles—to members of society whose voices might otherwise go unheard.
The editorial page is not a forum for personal
attacks against other people. Instead, it should be used as a platform to
discuss issues, state positions, and advocate for change.
In general, editors are responsible for choosing
topics for editorials and assigning those topics to individual writers (or
teams of writers). Editors also edit and fact check the finished pieces.
The role of an editor varies depending on the size
and type of paper. At large metropolitan dailies, the editor is usually a
position appointed by the publisher or CEO. At small weeklies, the editor might
be the person who actually writes the editorials. Some papers assign editorial
pages to reporters who specialize in that area of coverage.
Some editors choose specific viewpoints to present
so that the entire editorial department can work together toward common goals.
Others let staffers write editorials and then edit them to make sure everyone's
opinions are represented fairly.
A good editorial page includes both pro/con and
opinion pieces. The former can take the form of either a pro/con essay or a
letter to the editor. Letters to the editor are letters from readers responding
to an editorial or other opinion piece. They often express different points of
view or raise new questions based on information presented in the original
editorial.
***
How Do You Write an Editorial?
An editorial is like any other opinion piece: it
explains your thoughts on a subject and persuades others to agree with you. But
it differs in that it is written for publication in a newspaper rather than for
private consumption.
There are two basic types of editorials:
Pro/Con essays explain the pros and cons of an
issue but do not make recommendations.
Opinion pieces are more subjective and more
opinionated, and usually take positions on an issue.
Both types of editorials must be persuasive and well-argued.
A typical editorial is about a page long and consists of four parts:
Opening paragraph. This introduces the topic and
states the point of the editorial.
This introduces the topic and states the point of
the editorial. Main body. This is where you make your argument. You should back
up whatever claim or statement you're making with facts and examples.
This is where you make your argument. You should
back up whatever claim or statement you're making with facts and examples.
Conclusion. Here you summarize the main points of your essay and restate your
recommendation.
Here you summarize the main points of your essay
and restate your recommendation. Cited material. After the conclusion, list all
sources of information you cited in the text of the editorial.
***
How Do You Edit an Editorial?
When you're editing a piece that someone else
wrote, you have to be sure that the piece is clear, concise, and grammatically
correct. You need to make sure the facts are accurate and that there are no
errors in the reporting. You also need to make sure the piece follows style
rules and conventions.
For example, if you're editing a piece that uses
the word "kill," you'll want to be sure that's the right word. Many
editors use the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language when
editing editorial pieces. If there's a dispute over whether to use the verb
"to kill" or the noun "murder," ask the author for his or
her preference.
***
Are There Any Tips for Writing an Editorial?
Yes. An editorial is a persuasive piece of
journalism, so its tone must be authoritative and authoritative and it must
avoid emotional appeals.
A good rule of thumb is to keep your editorial
short and simple. Readers don't like to wade through long, complicated pieces
to get to the heart of an issue. When writing an editorial, remember that a
newspaper reader may not know much about the subject, so the writer needs to
make it easy for him or her to understand.
Another tip is to make sure the facts in your piece
are accurate. If you quote someone, cite the source at the end of the article.
If you say something happened, find out for yourself whether it did. If you're
writing about a policy decision, talk to the people involved to get their side
of the story.
Finally, remember that a good editorial is
opinionated. That doesn't mean you can be rude or insulting to other people. It
does mean that you can put forward your own views and argue for them forcefully
and effectively.
***
Where Can I Find More Information About Editorial
Pages?
If you'd like to learn more about editorial pages,
try these resources:
American Journalism Review: A monthly newsletter
published by the American Society of News Editors. It reports on editorial
trends, awards, and news related to editorial pages.
Newspaper Code of Ethics: This document was created
by the Newspaper Association of America and provides guidelines for ethical
behavior.
On the Web: An online guide to current issues in
newspapers.
***
What Is a Letter to the Editor?
A letter to the editor is a piece of correspondence
submitted to a newspaper or magazine. Letters to the editor are sometimes
called letters to the editor (LTE) or letters to the editor and writer(s).
Letters to the editor provide a forum for readers
to share their opinions about articles appearing in print. Letters to the
editor are generally printed under a pseudonym. The writer of a letter to the
editor is called an LTE writer. In some cases, the LTE writer may have been
interviewed as part of the news reporting process, which means he or she could
be identified by name. For instance, the reporter who interviewed the LTE
writer might write a story about the interview, then include a summary of what
was said in the letter to the editor.
Letters to the editor are often written by readers
reacting to an editorial, column, or feature story. They can also be used to
comment on press releases, op-eds, columns, and other pieces of content.
Letters to the editor are generally expressed in a personal voice, and they
present arguments based on the writer's own experience and knowledge.
Some common topics for letters to the editor
include:
• Politically charged issues. These include hot
topics such as immigration reform, gun control, and health care.
• Personal experiences. Readers may wish to share
their stories of how an article affected them personally, whether positively or
negatively.
• Personal opinions. Some writers will express
their political and social views in letters to the editor.
Letters to the editor should be brief and to the
point. They should also be well reasoned, backed up with facts, and presented
without insults or attacks against the writer's opponents.
The best letters to the editor are those that offer
new information, insights, or perspectives. As a rule of thumb, the longer and
more detailed your letter is, the better.
As with any type of writing, the quality of a
letter to the editor depends heavily on its organization and structure. A
letter to the editor that is poorly organized and difficult to follow will
probably be rejected.
There are two basic types of letters to the editor:
1. Book reviews. These are personal reactions to
books or other written materials.
2. Opinions and comments. These are usually
directed at specific issues, events, or individuals.
The following tips are designed to help you write a
good LTE:
• Keep your letter succinct. Don't use too many
words; stick to the most important points.
• Make your argument clear and compelling. Write in
a way that engages readers and keeps them reading.
• Check your facts. If you say something happened,
find out for yourself whether it did.
• Proofread your letter carefully. Check for errors
before sending it.• Ask others to read your letter and give you their feedback.
***
How Do I Submit a Letter to the Editor?
To submit a letter to the editor, send it to your
local newspaper. Or if you want to contact a national publication, you can
submit your letter online or via mail. Here are the steps for both methods:
Send a hard copy letter to your local newspaper.
Most papers require submissions by regular mail only, but some will accept
email attachments. You can check the paper's website or call their office for
details.
Find the address or submission form for the
publication where you'll be sending your letter. Then, fill out the form
completely and attach your letter.
Mail the completed form or letter to the
publication.
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