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    Column Writing Tips 2

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    Ericson De Guzman
    The document provides tips and guidelines for column writing. It discusses that the personality of journalism is the column. It then lists 10 tips for effective column writing: 1) focus on one topic, 2) choose an interesting current topic, 3) do research to support your point of view, 4) express yourself creatively, 5) grab readers' attention with an anecdote or quote, 6) ensure your argument and opinion are clear, 7) edit and rewrite for clarity and structure, 8) write with conviction and come down firmly on one side of an issue, 9) be critical but avoid libel, and 10) provide solutions rather than just criticisms.

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    Column Writing Tips 2

    Uploaded by

    Ericson De Guzman
    70 views2 pages
    The document provides tips and guidelines for column writing. It discusses that the personality of journalism is the column. It then lists 10 tips for effective column writing: 1) focus on one topic, 2) choose an interesting current topic, 3) do research to support your point of view, 4) express yourself creatively, 5) grab readers' attention with an anecdote or quote, 6) ensure your argument and opinion are clear, 7) edit and rewrite for clarity and structure, 8) write with conviction and come down firmly on one side of an issue, 9) be critical but avoid libel, and 10) provide solutions rather than just criticisms.

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    The document provides tips and guidelines for column writing. It discusses that the personality of journalism is the column. It then lists 10 tips for effective column writing: 1) focus on one topic, 2) choose an interesting current topic, 3) do research to support your point of view, 4) express yourself creatively, 5) grab readers' attention with an anecdote or quote, 6) ensure your argument and opinion are clear, 7) edit and rewrite for clarity and structure, 8) write with conviction and come down firmly on one side of an issue, 9) be critical but avoid libel, and 10) provide solutions rather than just criticisms.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    70 views2 pages

    Column Writing Tips 2

    Uploaded by

    Ericson De Guzman
    The document provides tips and guidelines for column writing. It discusses that the personality of journalism is the column. It then lists 10 tips for effective column writing: 1) focus on one topic, 2) choose an interesting current topic, 3) do research to support your point of view, 4) express yourself creatively, 5) grab readers' attention with an anecdote or quote, 6) ensure your argument and opinion are clear, 7) edit and rewrite for clarity and structure, 8) write with conviction and come down firmly on one side of an issue, 9) be critical but avoid libel, and 10) provide solutions rather than just criticisms.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    Column Writing

    The heart of the of the journalism may be news reporting, and the soul of journalism the editorial page,
    but the personality of journalism is the column.

    – Sam Riley, Editor, The American Newspaper Columnist (1998)

    Straight news report -

    Column Writing Tips

    1. Use active Voice


    2. Take a stand
    3. Stay focused
    4. Use research to support your arguments
    5. Attack Issues, not people
    6. Write a strong lead and a solid conclusion

     Column writing
    1. 1. COLUMN WRITING<br />Tips and guidelines<br />
    2. 2. What you’ll need<br /> - An opinion <br /> -Writing ability<br />cd<br />
    3. 3. So many kinds of columns<br />Op-ed Art&Culture<br /> Business<br /> Police
    Environment<br /> Fashion Spirituality Sports Books<br />Food etc. <br /> Advice Technology<br />
    Health<br /> Consumers Entertainment<br />
    4. 4. My weekly column HumanFace<br />
    5. 5. 1. FOCUS your column on one topic if possible. You can begin discussion of one issue to invite
    reactions, so make sure your readers are clear about what they should be reacting to. <br />2. Choose a
    topic that you think will INTEREST your readers. Current issues usually work best. <br />
    6. 6. 3. Do your RESEARCH. A good op-ed column presents a well thought out and researched,
    informed point of view. <br /> <br />4. Use UNIQUE ways of expressing yourself. Present your piece
    creatively and in a way that will make your readers want to at least consider your stance and keep
    reading.<br />
    7. 7. 5. Grab your readers’ ATTENTION. Op-ed columns do not need to follow standard journalistic
    guidelines. Open with an anecdote, a quote, an example—something that will get your readers
    interested in what you have to say.<br /> <br />6. Opening with a story is great, but be sure that at the
    heart of that story is your ARGUMENT and that your stated opinion is clear and follows logical
    flow.<br /> <br />
    8. 8.  <br />7. You will need to EDIT and REWRITE your column for CLARITY, STRUCTURE and
    GRAMMAR. Your article should make sense to readers other than yourself so do not be afraid to
    rewrite as necessary.<br />cd<br />
    9. 9. More tips<br />Write with conviction: Put forward your opinion as something you truly believe in.
    Argue your case with conviction. Come down hard on one side of an issue. Be unequivocal. Don’t
    sound like a fence sitter. <br />2. Maintain your focus:As much as possible stick to one topic or issue.
    That’s one way to make a strong impression on your readers and convince them that your point of
    view is worth considering. <br />
    10. 10. 3. Understand opposing viewpoints:Be mindful of arguments from all sides. Anticipate objections
    to your views and deal with them with sound reasoning. If you’re not familiar with the opposing
    views, you will not be able to argue your points well.<br />4. Refer to facts: Your arguments, no
    matter how logical, will not carry much weight unless they are backed up by facts that support your
    position. Don’t overdo this by dumping too many statistics on your readers. Use facts from reliable
    sources.<br />
    11. 11. 5. Use analogies:Theseare useful for illustrating a point, especially when the topic you are writing
    about is complicated or technical. Simple analogies from everyday life make the issue more
    understandable and relevant to the reader. <br />6. Be critical:People like reading columnists who dare
    to criticize people and events in real life – not nameless concepts and policies. Name names as long as
    you do not libel anyone and don’t go overboard. This works well to make your column an exciting
    read.<br />
    12. 12. 7. Do reporting:It’s possible to write columns without doing any reporting but the best columns
    involve some form of reporting. When you report, you show that you were “there” and that you have a
    good grasp of what’s on the ground. When you write from an ivory tower, it shows.<br />8. Localize
    and personalize:Localize your story whenever possible. Link it to some personal experience – yours or
    that of someone you know. This makes the topic more real, relevant and memorable to the
    reader.<br />
    13. 13. 9. Be passionate:Generally, readers don’t like columns with a soft or passive voice. Come on
    strong. People want passion. They want to feel energized. If the issue doesn’t seem to excite you, the
    writer, it is certainly not going to excite the reader.<br />10. Provide solutions:Don’t just raise an
    issue. Offer solutions—yours or from others. Columns that criticize policies but offer no solutions
    leave readers hanging. People read columns because they want to gain insight and, perhaps, find
    answers. <br />U.I.O.G.D<br />(From various sources and personal experiences)<br />

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