HIGH SCHOOL EDITORIAL WRITING HANDOUTS Code of Principles

Prepared by: Cecille June Malones  Editorial writers present facts honestly and fully
 Editorial writers draw objective conclusions from the stated facts
Background  Editorial writers should NEVER be motivated by personal interest, nor use his influence
Campus Journalism to seek special favors
 Definition  Editorial writers should realize that he or she is not fallible
-journalism carried out by university/college, high school or elementary on subjects
relating to writing, published in publications generally only intended for campus or the Types of Editorial
school  Explain or Interpret
 RA 7079 -explain the way the newspaper covered a sensitive or controversial subject; explain new
-Campus Journalism Act school rules or a particular student-body effort like a food drive
-aims to promote campus Journalism  Criticize
 3 Main Principles -constructively criticize actions, decisions or situations whole providing solutions to the
-Accuracy – truth and facts problem identified. Immediate purpose is to get readers to see the problem, not the
-Balance – without any form of biases solution.
-Credibility – people’s trust  Persuade
-aim to immediately see the solution, not the problem. From the first paragraph, readers
Editorial will be encouraged to take a specific, positive action. Political endorsements are good
Editorial vs Column examples of editorials of persuasion.
 Editorial  Praise
-presents the newspaper’s opinion on an issue -commend people and organizations for something done well. They are not as common as
-usually unsigned the other types of editorials.
 Column  Special Occasions
-personal opinion of a member or staff -written to give meaning to occasions such as Christmas, Labor Day, heroes’ day
birthday, and other significant events.
Objectives  Entertainment
 Explain and interpret news; -written to give in a light vein, primarily to entertain readers
 Put news on its proper perspective;  Tribute
 Analyze news; -gives tribute to someone who plays an important rote to a certain field of life
 Draw conclusions from that analysis;
 Persuade readers to follow a course of action Editorial Lead
 Emphatic Statement or maxim
Functions of an Editorial Writer “The law might be harsh, but it is the law.”
 Explain the news  Striking statement about the topic
 Filling the background “Patriot, orator, lawyer, martyr – that was Jose Abad Santos.”
 Forecasting the future  Quotation
 Passing moral judgement “Time is gold,” so the saying goes.
 Narration
 “October saw a long and heated debate in the constitutional Convention Hall which  Crusading
resulted in the passing of a resolution lowering the voting age from 21 to 18.” “Get out and vote!”
 An order  Argumentative
“Go out and vote.” “We therefore urge the police, the local governments, the BAI, and the courts to crack
 A question down on dog thieves. In the old American West, horse thieves are lynched. We are not
“Remember the legend of the poinsettia and the story if the sanctuary bells?” advocating the same punishment for dog thieves but they should be treated as criminals,
 Poetic not as mere pranksters. If we don’t, our more values will certainly go to the dogs.”
“In the dark depths of man’s labyrinth of fears may lie hidden a ray of hope which man,  Formal and standard form
in his despair over other problems, may have overlooked.” “We hope it is not too late. It is about time the proper steps are taken.”
 Prophecy  Conclusion
“If nothing is done, we will wake up one day to find that there are not enough schools for “With these improvement programs, the people of Manila and suburbs are assured of
our children.” good water supply and efficient service.”
 Reaction
“Never has the government been so concerned with labor as it is now.” Structure of an Editorial
 Mixture of facts and opinions
“It is encouraging to note that students would rather take active parts in school affairs
than remain onlookers.”
 News peg
Introduction/ Interpretation
“This year’s NCEE results in VHS need looking into.” News Peg
Problem
of Problem
Stand

Editorial Conclusion
 Proverb
“Savage sentences ought to be deplored. But there is only safe rule to follow when Impact of
Solution Conclusion
travelling abroad. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Solution
 Quotation
“A book by Dennise and Ching Ping Bloodworth offers us an insight into the ways of
statecraft. We think this quotation from the book a timely reminder: “…A country or a
party should form a vertical ‘united forth’ with enemies who can be liquidated later, in
order to be able to destroy the enemy who must be liquidated now.” Editorial Checklist
 Advice  Facts
“We must always be on the guard against these lawless elements.”  Introduction
 Comparison  Body
“Other countries were able to save their forests by buying our exported logs. For a few  Conclusion
thousand dollars, we are practically selling them in environs of future generations of  Timely news angle
Filipinos.”  Opinions of the writer delivered in a professional manner
 Contrast  Alternative solutions to the problem or issue
“Societal reforms cannot, indeed, make headway if more privileges are piled up for a few  Solid and concise conclusion that can summarize the writer’s opinion
while the great majority of the population become mere onlookers.”
 SAMPLE EDITORIALS

Informative Special Occasions

The Need for Population Education New Year Thoughts
Poverty, high cost of living, school crisis, lack of job opportunities confronts common New Year is the finale of the Yuletide Season which is accompanied by the spirit of
people. Millions of children are victims of undernourishment and deficiency diseases that joy and goodwill that can only be understood, never fully explained. It is enough to feel the
shorten their life and harm their mental development. Due to the failure of parents to send all spirit of it – that which illumines our souls – the spirit that reforms into reality that Christmas
their children to school, illiteracy rates are high and are still increasing. message “Peace on earth to men of goodwill.”
Many of us have these problems. Bute very few are aware that excessive population When Jesus was sent to redeem mankind, the three kings offered Him the choicest
growth is responsible for these pressures as well as for the lowering of the quality of human gifts of their kingdoms and since that time, the Season has been the time to give, to receive.
resources and development, especially as regards educational standards. And man has since felt what pleasure it is to give and what joy to receive.
The inclusion of Population Education in the school curriculum is then the answer to New Year is an occasion and reason for showing the fine sentiments that we feel. It
the need of the younger crop who are bound to face the reality of parenthood in the near future. is the time for renewal of friendships, for making bonds of kinship stronger and firmer.
Basic cultural values concerning the individual, his family, the society, and the nation New Years’ time is the most fitting time to bury all grudges. Between friends,
can be effectively brought in to the extent desired through population education. neighbors, classmates, relatives, co-workers, it is the time to forget all wrongs suffered and all
Finally, creating awareness about population is a challenge that Philippine education injuries received, to let bygones be bygones.
has to face right now. For time is against us. And time-wasting is resource-wasting. This constitutes the real essence of the Season. Love, the greatest and finest of man’s
This idea will help in adopting a small family norm and will insure good health for sentiments must reign in all hearts.
the mother, better welfare of the children, economic stability of the family, and a bright future
for the continuing generations. Praise
Commitment
Interpretative Determination, self-confidence and the desire to seek the truth guided our struggle to
Attitude Towards Study restore the campus paper.
We are in school because we want to learn. Our study is for our own benefit and not The Josephine Journal is our victory—a product of the concerted effort of the CAS-
to accommodate someone else. As such we have to relate it to our own aims or ambitions in Wall Journal (CWJ) staffers and the whole CAS studentry amidst tremendous hardships we
life. encountered along the way.
We should not think of study merely in terms of quizzes, recitations, homework, term We rejoice with the studentry in having a paper we have been working towards since
papers and reports. Putting a valuation upon it in terms of five, ten or twenty years from now last year and a paper we have been longing for since the CAS-JO Chronicle ceased publication.
will give it more meaning to us. We are hoping that this paper will serve as our voice in upholding the students’ interests which
The facts, ideas, and principles we acquire now are the stuff with which we will do shall be guided by the principles of truth, justice, freedom and democracy.
our thinking in the future. Together, we have won the venue to voice out our grievances, victories, opinions and
Let’s remember, too, that how we learn is sometimes more important than what we ideas. Together we will uphold the freedom of speech in strengthening the unity of the studentry
learn. An efficient working method will serve us throughout life, but many of the things we in responding to the call of our times. Together we will protect the rights we have acquired
learn will just be forgotten. Being systematic about study will do a lot. Habit then comes to our through our struggle.
aid. This is the commitment of the Josephine Journal.
With just a few weeks to go before classes end, we hope these few reminders will
result to a better attitude towards study.
Entertainment “If we suddenly discovered,” the late Christopher Morley once observed, “that we had
First Day in School only five minutes left to say all we wanted to say, every telephone booth would be occupied by
The first day in high school for pupils who have been used to having all their classes people trying to call up other people to stammer that they loved them.”
in a single room is rather like their first day a big city crowded with different kinds of people.
There is confusion and a bewildered cry never heard of before. Why wait until the last five minutes?
On our own first day in high school, we were elbowed about from one room to
another, usually losing our way and arriving late. Crusade and Reform
Then we were told that the section in which we had finally found our way was too The Way of Most Desks
large, that we must find another room on a different floor. Student-judges who inspected every room in connection with “Operation
When we got on the wrong stairway, the older pupils laughed. When bells rang for Cleanliness” found out that most of the desks had scratches and/or ink spots. One can hardly
classes to begin, we would stand still; and when they rang for dismissal, we would sit still. write on them without a thick sheet of paper for a pad.
By the end of the first day we had decided that higher learning was no good and we Outside the classrooms. Some desks are placed for the students to sit on. Students
might as well quit. really take advantage of the them. They sit top of the desks and place their muddy shoes on
Yet, as you see, we are still here; so, we must have changed our minds. the seats instead.
When the 220 new desks for Pasig Line will be made available for students’ use, will
Tribute they end up the way most desks go?
Dean of Filipino Surgeons
Dr. Januario Estrada, 78, considered the dean of Filipino surgeons, died yesterday,
leaving behind an outstanding record of service in Philippine Medicine.
Since obtaining his medical degree in 1918, Dr. Estrade had been with the Philippine
General Hospital and the University of the Philippines College of Medicine throughout his
career. Until his death, he remained an active member of various medical organizations, the
same groups which he at one time or another helped organize or headed as president.
For his services, Dr. Estrada received many awards, topped off by having his been
chosen the most outstanding medical alumnus of the state university in 1955. During his
lifetime, he also authored scientific papers that brought new light to the practice of medicine
and, more particularly, surgery. His death is a heavy loss to the medical profession.

Editorial Lines
Love is…
Love is looking up to find comfort in mother’s smile. It’s running and kissing father’s
hands to deserve his package. It’s thinking and dreaming about a loved one day and night. It’s
doing things to please the other. It’s answering and writing love letters on perfumed paper. It’s
crying and brooding over careless words. It’s rejoicing and walking on clouds on hearing sweet
things. It’s loving happily day by day.

Why wait?