writingeditorials

A BASIC EDITORIAL WRITING GUIDE FOR THE CHAMPS

JOHN LERRY F. VILLALOBOS

Schools Division of Lipa City
@hecallsmejohn
AN EDITORIAL…

is considered the fang of a newspaper

represents the stand of the editorial
board on a certain issue
is an intelligent expression of an opinion,
not necessarily a public opinion
AN EDITORIAL…

is not solely based on opinion; rather

establishes credibility through facts
IN A NUTSHELL…

An editorial is an opinion story written

from the point of view of the publication
to express the collective staff opinion on
a particular topic or issue.
QUESTION

Why have editorials?

AN EDITORIAL…

 drives home a point

 influences public opinion

 enlightens people
AN EDITORIAL IS PRETTY MUCH LIKE A…
EDITORIAL & HAMBURGER ANALOGY

BUN + PATTY = HAMBURGER

FACT + OPINION = EDITORIAL
TYPES OF EDITORIAL

 Informative
 Interpretative more commonly
 Argumentative used types

 Criticism
TYPES OF EDITORIAL

 Praise / Commendation
 Reform
 Tribute
 Entertainment
 Special Occasions
EDITORIAL OF INFORMATION

 those which just give information,

review, or announce certain facts or
events
 may define terms, identify persons or
factors or provide a background
EDITORIAL OF INTERPRETATION

 those which explain or bring out the

significance of an event, situation, or
idea
 writer doesn’t argue nor criticize, but
merely present both sides of an issue
and leaves the judgment to the reader
 merely interprets
EDITORIAL OF CRITICISM

 deeply interprets an issue by exploring

implications of both sides
 points out the good or the bad features
of a problem or situation mentioned in
the news
 shines light on a relevant problem and
seeks to influence the readers
EDITORIAL OF ARGUMENTATION

 takes sides on a controversial issue and

provides explanations on why this stand
is best
 argues in order to convince or persuade
readers to accept his stand on the issue
IMPORTANT TIP

It is essential that we teach our writers to

discern which type best fits or applies to a
specific issue or topic.
HOW DO WE BEGIN?

Ideally, the writing process will begin with

planning what to write.
PLANNING WHAT TO WRITE

1. Decide on a topic. A writer may choose to tackle any of the

issues or events appearing in the news but must try as much as
possible to make the editorial acquire the following values:
 current and timely
 substantive
 offers insight
 free of conflict of interest
PLANNING WHAT TO WRITE

2. Obtain background material and information about your

topic. Observe, read and interview to gather sufficient data
to support your arguments and ideas.
3. Identify your purpose and your audience. Will it merely
inform? Or do you want to interpret, criticize, suggest
reforms, urge readers to action?
4. Organize information. Do this by choosing the best
details from your research and arranging them based on
importance.
IMPORTANT TIP

Student-writers must be taught to articulate their

own thoughts and to have a sound, valid, and
objective opinion.
STRUCTURING THE EDITORIAL

This part requires the writer’s knowledge of the parts

that make up an editorial and various approaches
used in editorial writing.
STRUCTURING THE EDITORIAL

Basically, an editorial has three parts:

1. INTRODUCTION (News + Issue + Stand)
2. BODY (Facts + Opinion)
3. CONCLUSION (Call to Action)
EDITORIAL STRUCTURES INTRODUCTION
Present the
problem or
situation.

I. HUMAN STRUCTURE TAKE A

STAND.

Head:

Opposing viewpoints
REASON #1 FOR POSITION.

Present evidence for

All four points.
are rebutted.
Present the problem or the situation. REASON #2 FOR POSITION.

Neck: REASON #3 FOR POSITION.

Take a stand. REASON #4 FOR POSITION.

Present a logical
Body:

Recap the staff

solution.

stance.
Provide explanations [arguments] for
taking your stand.
EDITORIAL STRUCTURES INTRODUCTION
Present the
problem or
situation.

Arms: TAKE A
STAND.

Support your arguments with factual

Opposing viewpoints
REASON #1 FOR POSITION.

Present evidence for

evidences and examples.

All four points.

are rebutted.
REASON #2 FOR POSITION.

Leg: REASON #3 FOR POSITION.

Present a logical solution. REASON #4 FOR POSITION.

Present a logical

Recap the staff

Leg:

solution.

stance.
Recap the stance.
EDITORIAL STRUCTURES

II. THE SPECS FORMULA

S – Situation
P – Position
E – Evidences / Explanations / Examples
C – Conclusions
S – Solutions
EDITORIAL STRUCTURES

III. THE I-PO-RO-SAC APPROACH

I – Introduction
PO – Point of the Opposition
RO – Reject the Point of the Opposition
SA – Strong Arguments
C – Conclusion
EDITORIAL STRUCTURES

IV. DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACHES

^ Purposive
^ Pragmatic

IV. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES

^ Comparative
^ Forward-looking
 Some
Examples
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
THE RAMPANT PEDDLING of fake news through various
social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter has
reached an alarming state that it has already posted itself as
one of the most serious problems today.
To illustrate the growing problem, the National Bureau
of Investigation said its office has received 2,279 cybercrime
complaints in 2016 while 1,515 complaints have been filed
for the first three quarters of 2017. These figures include
voyeurism and cyber-libel which, as NBI confirms, covers
proliferation of fake news.
 The digital age, the rise of social media platforms, specifically, is indeed
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
a boon for most of us. It made possible faster dissemination of information
across the globe and served as a wide avenue for e-commerce businesses. On
the flipside, it also opened more doors for purveyors of pornography and
terrorism and gave birth to equally alarming cases of identity theft and
cyberbullying. It’s no longer surprising how technology is being used to spread
fake news and roll out smear campaigns.
It is likewise essential to note that not all erroneous articles in
mainstream or social media is fake news. People sometimes commit mistakes
in a rush to tell a story first. The term ‘misinformation applies to this case –
that is, inaccurate information, but not necessarily malicious ones. Fake news,
on the contrary, is done deliberately. This means that “inaccurate or
manipulated content is spread intentionally,” as tech giant Facebook explains
it. Fake news is generated for a specific and deliberate purpose which makes it
exactly different from the random errors people in the media sometimes
commit.
 Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, author of the famous pro-Duterte “Mocha
Uson Blog,” for example, recently drew flak in social media following her blog
post of an alleged disrespectful visit to a mosque in Marawi City and a separate
post where she used a photo of Honduras army for a blog post pertaining to
pray for the Philippine army who are in Marawi City, which she later defended
as “only used for symbolism.” On October 23, Uson posted another photo of a
clean and calm Marawi, with a caption saying it is impressive how fast the
government works. The photo, however, was not taken after Marawi City was
declared “liberated” by President Rodrigo Duterte on October 17. It was a photo
taken by Rappler correspondent Bobby Lagsa on May 25, 2017 – the 3rd day of
the Marawi siege. The social media blogger and former girl group member is
only one among the many personalities who are currently in hot water due to
alleged spreading of fake information. These malicious spreading of false
information affect us by eroding our trust in our fellow citizens and in public
institutions like our government.
 President Rodrigo Duterte’s casual admission in a recent television
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
interview that he was the source of the false foreign bank account numbers
purportedly belonging to his political nemesis, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, had led
him to become the nation’s chief purveyor of fake news. In the same manner,
his announcement of his “refusal” of $18-20 million from the United Kingdom
which the Department of Foreign Affairs contradicted saying there was no “new
offer of direct monetary assistance” from the said country also clearly shows
that even those in the high seats of the government cannot be excluded from
being fake news peddlers. Cloaked with the authority of the presidency, even
the strangest bit of information he says could take on the shape of a fact. It’s
taunting how people tend to be attentive to information that confirms their
beliefs or prejudices, regardless of its reliability.
How can a struggling country like ours come up with concrete solutions
to national problems when we can’t even agree on which information is true
and which is false?
 President Rodrigo Duterte’s casual admission in a recent television
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
interview that he was the source of the false foreign bank account numbers
purportedly belonging to his political nemesis, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, had led
him to become the nation’s chief purveyor of fake news. In the same manner,
his announcement of his “refusal” of $18-20 million from the United Kingdom
which the Department of Foreign Affairs contradicted saying there was no “new
offer of direct monetary assistance” from the said country also clearly shows
that even those in the high seats of the government cannot be excluded from
being fake news peddlers. Cloaked with the authority of the presidency, even
the strangest bit of information he says could take on the shape of a fact. It’s
taunting how people tend to be attentive to information that confirms their
beliefs or prejudices, regardless of its reliability.
How can a struggling country like ours come up with concrete solutions
to national problems when we can’t even agree on which information is true
and which is false?
 In light of the proliferation of fake news, the Filipinos see empowerment in
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
Senate Bill No. 1492 or An Act Penalizing the Malicious Distribution of False News
and Other Related Violations authored by Sen. Joel Villanueva which seeks to
define false news or information as those which either intend to cause panic,
division, chaos, violence, and hate, or those which exhibit a propaganda to blacken
or discredit one’s reputation. The bill seeks to punish violators with a hefty penalty
depending on the nature of crime he or she has committed. Any person who would
be proven guilty of malicious creation and distribution of false news would face a
fine ranging from P100, 000 to P5 million and imprisonment of from one to five
years. If the offender is a public official, he or she would be slapped with stiffer
penalties — twice the said amount, twice the period of imprisonment and absolute
disqualification from holding public office.
While the said bill is already facing signs of disapproval after President
Rodrigo R. Duterte tagged it as “a threat to journalists’ freedom of expression” and
instead recommended that the lawmakers craft a measure that would impose
stiffer penalties against individuals who would propagate false news, hopes and
efforts for stricter regulations and penalties need to remain high and in full swing.
 Fake news might, in the long run, affect the way Filipinos view their history and
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
even day-to-day affairs.
The effects of fake news should not be taken lightly as it may soon dictate the
way Filipinos think and react. The call to put an immediate stop to this
widespread issue also highlights the vital role of students - campus journalists,
especially, in cultivating a fake-proof society. It is high time concerned
agencies and authorities realize the need to urgently enact and implement
policies that will deter cases of disinformation and hold all violators
accountable.

Lifted from:
LIPEÑOS’ CUP (2017 Issue)
DEFAULT SETTING
THE FREE FLOW of information in this generation has made
people’s lives easier. Now we can have instant knowledge of
almost anything we want to know about any particular
topic—from proceedings in congressional hearings to the
operating hours of a store we wish to visit. We can reach out
to friends or relatives anywhere in the world, whereas before
we had to wait for their letters for weeks or pay a fortune just
to hear their voice.
But like many other things that start out as good
intentions, today’s easy exchange brings with it pitfalls.
Fake news—disinformation—easily comes to mind.
 It’s something we are all too familiar with here in the Philippines, given
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
many social media users’ propensity to share away story links. Sometimes they
genuinely believe they are doing good by providing information to their circle of
friends. Alas, they do not bother to check whether the sources are legitimate,
whether the story serves a more sinister purpose, whether it is not from a few
years ago, or whether the situation is even plausible at all.
And then of course, there are those who deliberately sow confusion or
feed erroneous information to others for their own ends.
It’s only a small comfort that the problem is not unique to Internet users
in the Philippines.
To help address this, social media company Facebook has partnered
with the International Fact-Checking Network to check the accuracy of news
stories shared in the Facebook platform. Two Philippine news organizations,
Rappler and Vera Files, have been certified by the network
 It’s tough work, really, not being able to take everything that appears on
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
the news as fact. The essence of news, after all, is its truth, such that fake
news is deemed an oxymoron by many.
But these are the times in which we live right now and these
irresponsible information consumption habits have already been formed.
Fact-checking initiatives are always commendable, if the credibility of
the organizations undertaking them is not assailed by those they are trying to
check in the first place. Still, before we rely on the efforts of fact-checkers,
people need to change how they accept what presents itself as news.
It’s a sad turn of event, but every reader, viewer, listener or social media
user of any age must adapt a critical mindset. Not everything presented to
them is accurate, and they must accept information only from trusted sources.
These are dangerous times—especially when some government officials
themselves are the source of misleading information.
Lifted from: The Manila Standard (May 3, 2018)
IT’S NOT OVER
A KUWAITI COURT has handed out the death penalty to the
employers of Joanna Demafelis, the overseas worker whose
body was found stuffed in a freezer in February. Labor
Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the sentence shows the
sincerity and good faith of the Kuwaiti government.
It appears justice has been served. Demafelis’ death
and its ignominy shocked a nation that was no stranger to
the risks that workers face in foreign lands. Demafelis’ story
was common indeed—she made the trip to act as
breadwinner for her family. The manner in which she was
killed, however, was revolting.
BATTLING WIDESPREAD LIES
The operative word is “appears.” Beneath the surface, many
issues remain unresolved.
Foremost, the employers—Lebanese Nader Essam Assaf and
his Syrian wife Mouna Hassoun— were tried in absentia. The two
fled Kuwait City and were arrested in Damascus. The husband has
been turned over to Lebanese authorities where he reportedly
confessed to the killing. The wife remains in Syria.
It is not known whether, when or how they would be made to
face the consequences of their action— in Kuwait or anywhere else.
BATTLING WIDESPREAD
Here at home, LIES
Demafelis’ recruiter, the owner of the our Lady
of Mount Carmel Global Solutions, remains in hiding. Again the story
is common—unscrupulous recruiters only concern themselves with
making the fees without ascertaining the actual risks they put the
workers in. Sometimes, the effects are economic. In other cases,
like Demafelis’, lives are lost.
Administration officials are also still weighing whether the
total ban on the deployment of workers to Kuwait should be lifted
after the Kuwaiti court’s show of good faith. The ban occasioned
mixed reactions from the public: Some said it was an impractical,
sweeping solution to a particular case —Kuwait is a destination to
more than a quarter of a million workers—while others agreed it was
a proportionate reaction to a grievous crime.
BATTLING WIDESPREAD
Finally, whatever LIES the case just goes
the fate of the suspects,
to show the extent of the dangers faced by Filipinos who venture
into other countries because of lack of opportunities in their home
country.
The sooner we stop regarding our workers as “prime exports”
and work instead to provide them with sustainable jobs they can
keep while living with their families, the better. The choice to live
abroad should be made out of one’s free will, not out of necessity.
Demafelis’ case is not the first heartbreaking OFW story. If
authorities focus on this case but fail to consider the bigger picture
and long-term situation, it will not be the last, either.
Lifted from: The Manila Standard (April 3, 2018)
IMPORTANT TIP

Ask your student-writers to follow the news.

It’s necessary that they understand fully how the
government works.
Be familiar with people, places and events. There’s a
lot to learn.
HEADLINE WRITING

Label Head
usually made up of at least 2-3 words
EXAMPLES

1. Workers’ woes
2. Gangster governance use of alliteration
3. Palace prime picks
4. No end to endo
5. Right and necessary drawn from stand /
call to action
6. First things first
SOME TIPS IN WRITING EDITORIALS

1. Use the “we” approach or the third

person, since an editorial represents a
group opinion.
2. Build the opinion from a news peg. An
editorial is not just a mere opinion but it is
pegged on news event, idea, or a news
story.
SOME TIPS IN WRITING EDITORIALS

3. For controversial issues, present both sides;

take up the advantages and disadvantages.
Ask the readers to decide or come up with
their opinion or concept.
4. If you need to take sides, be on the right
track; support and sustain good deeds,
commend exemplary actions or projects.
SOME TIPS IN WRITING EDITORIALS

5. If you may attack, attack the situation, the

problem, or the issue not the person.
6. While we can educate, inform, explain,
and influence readers through the
editorial, we have to avoid preaching.
SOME TIPS IN WRITING EDITORIALS

7. We can use beautiful language as we may,

depending upon the purpose to be
achieved in writing the editorial.
8. The editorial title like the lead or the first
sentence or paragraph should be catchy
or one that attracts or compels readers to
read the story or material.
SOME TIPS IN WRITING EDITORIALS

9. The conclusion should flow naturally from the

lead to the details and in the development of
the body of the story.
10. Like the feature story, the editorial should
have a catchy title, attractive lead, organized
body, and a conclusion that would help shape
reader’s opinion over issues and concerns
presented.
COMMON MISTAKES

1. You didn’t take a stand.

2. The argument was trite and generalized.
3. You asked too many rhetorical questions
without stating any opinion.
4. You used quotes. One quote (maybe two)
is enough or you don’t need any.
COMMON MISTAKES

5. The wording was pompous or pretentious.

6. You turned into a preacher.
7. You got off topic.
8. Your arguments lacked credibility.
9. You used stereotypes or made personal
attacks.
MAIN KEYS TO A WINNING EDITORIAL

1. Make the lead interesting to grab the

reader.
2. Provide strong evidences to support your
stand.
3. Use active voice.
MAIN KEYS TO A WINNING EDITORIAL

4. Be mature, fair and responsible.

5. Offer a solution.
6. Write in third person most of the time;
‘we’ approach.
Thank you!
Special thanks to these people for generously sharing information used in this presentation:

ASHZEL HACHERO
Regional Trainer | DepEd CALABARZON

CELESTE AGONIA
SDO Lipa City

NEMIROSE DE CAPIA
SDO Cavite / Calabarzon RASPA Facebook Group

ABNER PUREZA
SDO Quezon Province

Online Sources:
The Manila Standard Online | Photos were lifted from Facebook.