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WEEK 7: NEWS STORY STRUCTURE
NEWS STORY STRUCTURE

The news story structure is designed in such a way that it answers both the fast delivery of news demanded by
its readers and its fast construction by its producers. That structure is more popularly known as the inverted
pyramid format.

This format facilitates the work of the editors because the first paragraph of the story (the lead):
1. Guides them in writing the headline; and
2. Allows them to easily shorten the story if there is not enough space in the newspaper.

THE LEAD

The Lead is the first paragraph of the news story and at the same time serves as its climax. News stories because
the lead immediately tells the reader if someone has died, has been arrested, or sentenced. If the news story is
about speech, then the lead tells the reader the gist of the speech or the principal message of the speaker.

The Leas is expected to answer six basic questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. The writer is
expected to put the best W or H forward and leave the less important ones for the succeeding paragraphs. How
do we know which is the best W or H? The news value cues us in. If a story is newsworthy because it involves a
prominent person, then you should opt for a “who” lead. But if the story is significant to a lot of people, then
you should use a “what” lead.
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Who lead: British Prince William yesterday said he will visit the Philippines in November.
What lead: The oil price hike will trigger higher food prices, economists from the University of the Philippines
said in a symposium on Tuesday.
When lead: For the first in 20 years, a Muslim from Mindanao was nominated as Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Where lead: Luneta Park was filled with G-string clad men on Saturday in an effort to raise awareness of
cultural minorities.
Why lead: Faulty wiring caused the fire that razed a hardware store to the ground yesterday.
How lead: Using his bare hands to kill the snake, the soldier saved a six-year-old boy from being bitten.

Apart from giving information, the lead also serves to attract the reader to the story. An effective lead is a a
single sentence that contains only one idea. Also, the lead should emphasize what is most newsworthy: it should
highlight the news value. If the protagonist of the story is not a prominent person, the rule of thumb is to
identify the person using common elements rather than his name. For example:

Weak lead: Juanita de la Cruz, 18, a student of the Far Eastern University, died in a car accident along North
Expressway yesterday.
Strong lead: An 18-year-old female student of Far Eastern University died in a car accident along North
Expressway yesterday.

The lead also reports the story’s most recent developments. A news story begins its narration from the ending.
We do not write that a person held up a restaurant when that person had already been apprehended; or report
that a person was injured when he had already died. To illustrate:

Weak lead: A McDonald’s outlet in Cubao was held up at around midnight on Tuesday by a lone gunman.
Strong lead: A man was arrested by police at dawn Wednesday for allegedly robbing a McDonald’s outlet in
Cubao.
Strong lead: Police arrested a man at dawn yesterday for allegedly robbing a McDonald’s outlet in Cubao.

Lastly, the lead should be action-oriented, telling the readers what the story is and not merely is about (i.e., its
topic). For instance:
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Weak lead: Results of a survey showing Filipino’s perception on government corruption was released by the
Social Weather Station yesterday.
Strong lead: The Bureau of Customs was deemed the most corrupt by Filipinos, a survey by the Social Weather
Station revealed yesterday.

ALTERNATIVE LEADS
Apart from the traditional Ws and H leads, today’s journalists rely on more colorful leads to attract readers.
They are called alternative because they sometimes break convention or even rules of grammar. They are also
called delayed leads because they only give a clue to what the story is about instead of informing the reader.

The summary of the story is found in the so-called nut-graph which is found in the second or third paragraph
of the story. The nut graph is similar to the traditional lead, although it is longer and contains almost all the Ws
and H. The term takes its origin from a nutshell (nilagang mani) which you have to crack open to reveal its
contents.

Some of the more common types of alternative leads are:

· Punch lead – A punch lead is a brief, witty, and sometimes paradoxical statement. Like a good joke, it is
a punchline that catches readers off guard.
Sample lead: Watching television can be deadly.
Nut graph: Joselito D. Cruz, 35 was beaten to death when he changed the television channel against the wishes
of the other patrons at the Lopaluza Bar along Taft Avenue last night.

· Picture or descriptive lead – this type of lead is a vivid word picture of an event. It is usually used for
sidebar stories to big events such as the story on congressional fashion during their homecoming festivities at
the St. Cecilia’s Auditorium on February 8.
Sample lead: Dressed in shiny metallic blouses, the silver jubilarians waved, smiled, and posed for the cameras
during their homecoming festivities at the St. Cecilia’s auditorium on February 8.

· Direct address lead – violating newswriting convention of writing in the third person, this lead is written
using the second person “you,” with the aim of targeting specific readers.
Sample lead: if your parents are alumni of this school, then your family may be eligible for the annual loyalty
award.
Nut graph: The Aurora Elementary School Loyalty Award will be given to a family that has been with the
school for at least two generations, Principal Mike Matino announced during the flag ceremony yesterday.
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· Contrast lead – it uses the comparison of two conventional extremes, such as black and white, young
and old, rich and poor, healthy and sickly. This is usually used for personality profiles, but it can be used for
crime stories well.
Sample lead: Forty years ago, he was a fish vendor in Tondo. Today, he is the ninth richest person in the
country.

· Question lead – it uses a pertinent question, which at the same time serves as the key idea of the story.
This lead is only effective if the question is phrased in such a way that people would be interested in its answer.
Sample lead: Is a tuition fee increase really necessary?
Nut graph: A tuition fee increase can be avoided next year, if the school manages to raise P500,000 from the
newspaper drive, Principal Francis B. Ochoa said yesterday.

· Quotation lead – for news stories, this lead uses a succinct remark or a bold statement from a speech or
an interview. For features, the is lead may also be culled from historical figures, well-known literature or even
the Bible.
Sample lead for news: “we will win the championships,” coach Virgilio Santos confidently declared yesterday.
Sample lead for features: “What is the truth?” Unlike Pontius Pilate who never waited for an answer, students
of Sister Mary Belle stayed for her Tuesday Catholic Doctrine classes.

· Literary allusion lead – it is usually used for features and makes use of famous lines from popular
literature or well-known proverbs. Here is an example of the lead, tweaked from Jane Austen’s Pride and
Prejudice.
Sample lead: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be
in want of an investment banker. (Originally, “an investment banker” is a “wife” from the first line of Jane
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice).

Writing the lead is the hardest part of newswriting because it is not only an exercise of skill but also of
judgment. Choosing the right lead means choosing the right angle of the story and choosing the best way of
stating it.

Any event can be written into a news story, from the most mundane to the most unusual. Taking the “Jack and
Jill” and making it into a real event, how would the lead be written? For the sake of the story, let’s say that Jack
and Jull were siblings, age 9 and 6, and had fallen from one of the Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol.
The poem: Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water.
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Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
Traditional: A nine-year-old boy died and six-year-old sister seriously injured in an accident at the Chocolate
hills of Bohol yesterday.
Alternative: a. There was no poetry in his death. (punch lead)
b. Jack and Jill went up the hill to shoot a perfect picture. (literary allusion lead)

THE BODY
News story takes the shape of an inverted pyramid. The first paragraph serves to give the story its focus and the
rest of the story follows it lead. The first wo to three paragraphs of a news story should only serve to expound
on the lead. To illustrate, let us go back to our earlier example:

Lead:
An 18-year-old female student died in a car accident along North Expressway yesterday.
Second paragraph (identification of the WHO):
The victim was Joan de la Cruz, a pre-law student of he Fat Eastern University and daughter of Court of
Appeals Justice Jose de la Cruz.
Third paragraph (expounding the WHAT, WHERE and WHEN):
She was found dead inside a 1980 Toyota Corolla with plate number AUY 340, by a highway patrolman at
around 3 p.m. The car was in a ditch not far from the toll plaza of North Expressway. Her body was brought to
the Valenzuela Memorial Hospital.
Fourth paragraph (expanding on the WHY and HOW):
Initial police reports showed that the brakes of her car malfunctioned, causing the car to skid and fall into the
ditch. “The brake fluid container was dried p and the brake lining was very thin,” said Police Officer Manuel
Reyes of the Valenzuela Police precinct.
Fifth paragraph (adding dram to the story):
Police called the family of the victim and her father came to identify the body. “She was supposed to follow in
my footsteps and be my legal aid,” said the teary-eyed Justice de la Cruz.
Sixth paragraph (related, but least important information):
The accident caused a four-hour traffic jam along North Expressway. But traffic was flowing smoothly by 8
p.m. after the damaged car had been towed.
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The paragraph immediately following the lead should build on the story’s focus. In the example above, the
focus was on the eighteen-year-old victim. Thus, the second paragraph was devoted to identifying who she was.

Paragraphs should only contain one major idea. Thus, the Why and the How were separated form the other Ws
to give the story greater quality. The paragraph that adds drama was also separated from straightforward facts of
the previous paragraphs.

Every paragraph of a news story should give readers additional information and specific details. Unlike essays,
news stories do not contain topic sentences. For instance:

Essay: The eyewitness managed to get a description of the gunman’s car.

News: The eyewitness said she saw the gunman escape in a white Honda Civic driven by a woman.

We always say that the paragraphs and sentence should be brief as possible but we should not end up with the
extreme – that is, sentences and paragraphs becoming too choppy or repetitive. For instance:

✕ He stood on a street corner. The wind was blowing. He peered into the darkness. He was a stranger. He
realized that he had no place to go.,
✓ Standing on a windy street corner and peering into the darkness, the stranger realized that he had no
place to go.

As much as possible, journalistic writing is always in the active voice. Active voice means the sentence is
structured in such a way that shows that “someone did something.” This is opposed to the passive voice, which
articulates that “something was done by someone.” For example:
✕ The games were enjoyed by the participants of the two-day conference.
✓ The participants enjoyed the games during the two-day conference.

In choosing which voice to use, however, be guided by whether you want to emphasize the doer or the receiver
of the action. The passive voice is the better option when the subject is not known or when the receiver of the
action is more important than the actor.
Examples:
The cigarette vendor was attacked and badly beaten while jogging through Rizal Park yesterday.
The new Congress building will be completed in July.
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WEEK 8: NEWSPAPER MAKEUP AND LAYOUT
NEWSPAPER AND MAKEUP LAYOUT

The makeup of a newspaper publication refers to the general appearance of the pages as a result or effect of the
arrangement of the news stories, the headlines letter-font, illustrations on each page of the publication while
layout refers to the plan or sketch showing the arrangement of the artwork and content of a newspaper or a
magazine.
The general appearance of the front page is the signage of the newspaper makeup or layout. Apparently, the
makeup of the newspaper is the showcase of the substance and forms of the print media.

Basically, a newspaper makeup has three functions:

1. To make the appearance of the pages attractive and pleasing to the readers.
2. To show the relative significance of the news stories as to their appearance or positions in the layout.
3. To facilitate reading by getting rid of disharmonized makeup.

The art director of a publication is responsible for the makeup or layout of the newspaper or magazine.

TYPES OF FRONT PAGE MAKEUP

1. Balance Makeup. With this makeup, the editor usually uses a large crossline banner with equal number
of headlines on either side which are identical in format. A column cut at the top of column two is balanced with
another column cut at the top column of a five-column page. The front page makeup is apparently well-
proportioned as to form and design. It could be a good option for campus papers.
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2. Brace Makeup. It is capped with 3-column cut at the top left with a 2-column headline at the upper right
placed like a brace of a house. Balance is obtained by succeeding 2-column cut at the lower right corner as
presented below.

3. Broken Column Makeup. The page is broken into several areas purposely to provide spaces for a
number of news stories. Symmetry is obtained by arranging carefully the news items. Appropriate sizes of
headlines are provided to punctuate the makeup. More stories are included.

4. Occult or Hidden Makeup. The first and second columns at top left, a cut is set and is balanced by a
running headline over the top area of column 3, 4, and 5. This is one of the common forms of makeup being
used; for, it permits great variety from issue to issue as illustrated below.
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5. Streamlined Makeup. In this format, the nameplate is usually floated; the headlines are flushed up to the
top portion of columns 4 and 5; and bigger font are used in cap and lower-case. Some closely cropped pictures
are used. Instead of placing in boxes the stories, three quarter boxes are resorted to.
Bullets, asterisk, or jim dashes are employed to introduce the lead stories. This format is another good option
for campus papers.
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6. Circus Makeup. This format is in broken column carried to the extreme. It is irregular; it does not
observe symmetry and order. Headlines are of various sizes and pictures or cuts are spread all over the page in
screaming style like barkers in a carnival circus. This makeup is sometimes adopted by tabloid papers. This is
not recommended for campus papers.

7. Quadrant Makeup. In this format, the front page is divided into four parts. Each quarter-part has its
distinctive makeup that makes the whole page interesting to read. Apparently, each quadrant has equally
significant stories that attract newspaper readers. This may have the semblance of balance makeup.
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8. Horizontal Makeup. This makeup apparently draws up horizontal rectangles. In most cases, headlines
occupy 3 or 4 columns so much so that the page appears horizontal. When reading, the readers’ eyesight travels
to the right direction.

NEWSPAPER MAKEUP AS TO TEXT AND PHOTO ARRANGEMENT

The text and photo combinations are usually in the following format.

1. The X Format
2. The Curve Format
3. The L Format
4. The J Format
5. The Inverted L Format
6. The Umbrella Format
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WEEK 9: WRITING NEWS HEADLINE

WRITING NEWS HEADLINES

Every news story must have a title of its own. This is called headline. The headline of the No.1 news story of
the day is known as banner. If the banner runs across the whole front page with bigger font, it is otherwise
known as streamer.
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A. Guidelines

Writing news headlines is governed by some forms of conventional styles.

1. A headline must answer as many W’s as possible.

Example: MVGFC enrolment hits 5,000 mark.

2. Positive headlines are better than negative ones.

Faulty: Dengue not rampant in urban area.

Better: Urban area safer from dengue.

Faulty: Barangay election won’t be held.

Right: COMELEC postpones Barangay election.

3. A headline must have a verb, expressed or implied.

Faulty: DepEd for salary hike.

Better: DepEd bats for salary hike.

4. A verb in the active voice is preferred for a headline.

Example: Cabanatuan KC Council aids flood victims.

5. Passive verb may be used only to give the doer special prominence (rarely used).
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Example: Flood victims aided by Cabanatuan KC Council.

6. All forms of the verb be: is, are, was, were, be, are better deleted if clearly understood, unless
needed to make the meaning of the headline clearer.

Faulty: SSS officials are dismissed.

Better: SSS officials dismissed.

Faulty: Cleanliness drive is intensified.

Better: Cleanliness drive intensified.

Okay: Aquino is new RP President. (is is necessary to make the concept more complete)

7. Articles, such as a, an, and the are omitted from headlines.

Faulty: Parade caps the F-Day festival.

Better: Parade caps F-Day festival.

8. Use the present tense of the verb for past news stories; use the infinitive form for future stories.

Faulty: DepEd sought Pnoy’s help.

Better: DepEd seeks Pnoy’s help.

Faulty: Security guard ran amuck.

Better: Security guards runs amuck.

Faulty: CHED nipped tuition fee hike.

Better: CHED nips tuition fee hike.

Faulty: PAFTE will conduct study tour.

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Better: PAFTE to conduct study tour. (future event)

Faulty: Aquino will visit Vietnam.

Better: Aquino to visit Vietnam.

9. Numbers are better written in figures than in words in headlines, in order to save space.

Faulty: Donation draw nets two million.

Better: Donation draw nets 2M.

Faulty: UP enrolment hits ten thousand mark.

Better: Up enrolment hits 10,000 mark.

10. Use comma in lieu of conjunction in headlines.

Faulty: Honasan and Trillanes join forces.

Better: Honasan, Trillanes join forces.

11. Use single quotation marks, not double quotation in headlines.

Faulty: SBO holds program for “Mother’s Day”

Better: SBO holds program for ‘Mother’s Day’

12. Avoid repeating key words in a headline.

Faulty: PNB strikes ended;

Strikers back to work.

Better: PNB dispute ends;

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Strikers back to work.

13. Avoid general terms. Be specific.

Faulty: Many awarded Full College Scholarship by MVGFC.

Better: MVGFC awards 10 full college scholarships.

14. Don’t use names unless the person is notable.

Faulty: Arabia deports Jose dela Cruz.

Better: Arabia deports Filipino OSW.

15. Avoid editorializing.

Faulty: Senator Enrile delivers inspiring speech at PMA graduation.

Better: Senator Enrile, PMA graduation speaker.

16. Use single quotation marks for headline.

Faulty: 13th Month bonus “compulsory.”

Better: 13th month bonus ‘compulsory.’

17. Avoid splitting a verb phrase.

Faulty: Contestants chosen to

join oratorical tilt.

Better: Contestants chosen

to join oratorical tilt.
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18. Don’t separate terms that should go together.

Faulty: Villar bags gold

Medal.
Better: Villar bags gold medal.

19. Don’t split a preposition and its object.

Faulty: Oratorical contest sponsored by Knights of Columbus.

Better: Oratorical contest sponsored by Knights of Columbus.

20. Avoid separating an adjective from the noun it modifies.

Faulty: 2 cabinet
members to resign

Better: 2 cabinet members

To resign

21. Don’t divide acronym or abbreviation.

Faulty: Berdon uses NA-

WASA
Better: Berdon uses NAWASA
Faulty: Aquino appoints Luistro Dep-
Ed Secretary.
Better: Aquino appoints Luistro
DepEd Secretary
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22. Don’t use the word “may’ or “may be”; for it expresses uncertainty.

Faulty: NFA may import rice in October.

Better: NFA to import rice in October.

23. Don’t convert verbs into nouns in headlines.

Faulty: Students support resigning of school officials.

Better: Students back resignation of school officials.

24. Avoid judgmental headlines.

Faulty: President gives his stinging SONA today.

Better: President delivers his SONA today.

25. Avoid using long words. Short and simple words are better for headlines.

Faulty: DepEd overwhelmingly voiced approval on sex education for elementary.

Better: DepEd approves sex education for elementary.

Faulty: DepEd secretary submitted his resignation to Malacañang.

Better: DepEd secretary resigns.

STRUCTURE OF HEADLINES

According to structure or form, headlines are classified as follows:

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HEADLINE STYLE

Any of the following headline styles may be used, but be consistent.

1. All caps style. All letters are capitalized.

Example: PAFTE HOLDS REGIONAL STUDENTS’ CONGRESS AT UP

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2. Cap and lower case. Only the first letter of every content word is capitalized.

Example: PAFTE Holds Regional Students’ Congress at UP

3. Down style. Only the first letter of the first word is capitalized.

Example: PAFTE holds regional students’ congress at UP

In composing headlines, it is better to use properly culled short terms some of which are enumerated below:
Instead of the terms listed at the left column, select any of the appropriate shorter words at the right column.

agreement, settlement, reconciliation accord / grant

to reveal or to expose bare
to invite or to request bid
conference, convention confab
policeman cop
arrest, capture nab
restrain or control curb
enumerate or mention cite
decrease, decline, lower dip or cut
dispute, quarrel, or animosity feud
reject, refuse, repulse or repudiate nix or nip
investigate, examine probe
assassinate slay
disagreement, dispute, differences, rift
memorandum, memo
rehearsal, practice dry run
conflagration fire
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relative, family kin
throw away, dispose of, discard junk
sanction, approve, confirm ratify
foreigner alien
noncommittal, silent mum
defend, speak for bat for
criticize, attack assail / hit
persuade, influence, remind prod
investigation, inquisition inquiry
seek information, examine scan
thwart, reject, impede foil / balk
relinquish, resign quit
because of, on the account of due to
payable, appropriate due
relationship, connection link
constitutional, lawful or legally legal
acceptable
past or former ex
welcome, accommodate; pay tribute hail
question or cross examine grill
postpone, procrastinate delay / defer
to set at a fixed level peg

WEEK 10: WRITING THE OPINION COLUMN

WRITING THE OPINION COLUMN

No newspaper would be complete without the op-ed page, the page opposite the editorial, which contains a
staple of columnists. Since the rest of the paper deals with hard facts, we can say that this page, together with
the editorial page, is the heart of the paper. It is its true voice.
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An op-ed piece derives its name from originally having appeared opposite the editorial page in a newspaper.
Today, the term is used more widely to represent a column that represents the strong, informed and focused
opinion of the writer on an issue of relevance to a targeted audience.

Distinguishing characteristics of an op-ed or column

Partly, a column is defined by where it appears, but it shares some common characteristics:
· Typically, it is short, between 750 and 800 words.
· It has a clearly defined point.
· It has a clearly defined point of view.
· It represents clarity of thinking.
· It contains the strong, distinctive voice of the writer.

Questions to ask yourself when writing an op-ed or column

· Do I have a clear point to make? If so, what is it?

· Who cares? (Writing with a particular audience in mind can inform how you execute your column. Who
is it that you are trying to convince? Why are you targeting that specific reader?)
· Is there substance to my argument?

Topic and theme

Every successful op-ed piece or column must have a clearly defined topic and theme.
· The topic is the person, place, issue, incident or thing that is the primary focus of the column. The topic is
usually stated in the first paragraph.
· The theme is the big, overarching idea of the column. What’s your point in writing about the chosen topic
and why is it important? The theme may appear early in the piece or it may appear later when it may also serve
as a turning point into a deeper level of argument.

Research
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While columns and op-ed pieces allow writers to include their own voice and express an opinion, to be
successful the columns must be grounded in solid research. Research involves acquiring facts, quotations,
citations or data from sources and personal observation. Research also allows a reader to include sensory data
(touch, taste, smell, sound or sight) into a column. There are two basic methods of research:
· Field research: going to the scene, interviews, legwork; primary materials, observations, and knowledge.
· Library, academic, or internet research: using secondary materials, including graphs, charts, and scholarly
articles.

Openings and endings

The first line of an op-ed is crucial. The opening “hook” may grab the reader’s attention with a strong claim, a
surprising fact, a metaphor, a mystery, or a counter-intuitive observation that entices the reader into reading
more. The opening also briefly lays the foundation for your argument.

Similarly, every good column or op-ed piece needs a strong ending that fulfills some basic requirements. It:
· Echoes or answers introduction.
· Has been foreshadowed by preceding thematic statements.
· Is the last and often most memorable detail.
· Contains a final epiphany or calls the reader to action.

There are two basic types of endings. An “open ending” suggests rather than states a conclusion, while a “closed
ending” states rather than suggests a conclusion. The closed ending in which the point of the piece is resolved is
by far the most commonly used.

Voice
Having a strong voice is critical to a successful column or op-ed piece. Columns are most typically
conversational in tone, so you can imagine yourself have a conversation with your reader as you write (a short,
focused conversation). But the range of voice used in columns can be wide: contemplative, conversational,
descriptive, experienced, informative, informed, introspective, observant, plaintive, reportorial, self-effacing,
sophisticated or humorous, among many other possibilities.

Sometimes what voice you use is driven by the publication for which you are writing. A good method of
developing your voice is to get in the practice of reading your column or op-ed out loud. Doing so gives you a
clear sense of how your piece might sound – what your voice may come off as – to your intended reader.
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Revision checklist
Below are some things to remember as you revise your op-ed or column before you submit it for publication.
You should always check:
· Clarity.
· Coherence and unity.
· Simplicity.
· Voice and tone. Most are conversational; some require an authoritative voice.
· Direct quotations and paraphrasing for accuracy.
· That you properly credit all sources (though formal citations are not necessary).
· The consistency of your opinion throughout your op-ed or column.

TYPICAL FORMS OF OPINION WRITING

1. Editorial – an opinion article written by a senior editor, which expresses the sentiments of the editorial
board regarding a particular issue.
2. News Analysis – usually an opinion piece regarding a current issue; however, it could also be a “behind
the scene” look at a news story or additional but unverified data regarding a news story that a journalist was
covering. For instance, Ellen Tordesilla’s column “Making Life Worth Living” in Malaya.
3. Humor – a satirical or witty column that makes fun of life’s contradictions (e.g. Jessica Zafra’s column in
the Philippines Star) or the online opinion blog The Professional Heckler.
4. Reviews – a writer’s assessment of a new book, movie, or restaurant, such as Nestor Torre’s column
“Viewfinder” in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
5. Specialized Commentary – (e.g. sports, science) a column about a specialized field. This type of column
is usually written by a professional from that field, an enthusiast or a hobbyist. For example, Tessa Jazmine’s
sports column “Part of the Game” in Business Mirror.
6. Advice – an interactive column that solicits questions from readers. Like a specialized column, it is
written by someone with experience in the field; for example, a column on parenting could be written by a
guidance counselor or experienced family psychology expert such as Jose Sison’s “A Law a Day in the
Philippine Star.

STRUCTURE OF AN OPINION PIECE

An opinion piece has three basic parts: the introduction, the body and the conclusion. Its structure is similar to
an essay except that it begins with a newswriting lead.
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· The introduction is actually an eye-catching lead. Here, alternative leads come in handy, since there is
little concern for the 5Ws and H in an opinion column. For example, a column about the student council
elections could simply begin with an imperative statement: “Go out and vote!”
· The body of the column should contain the writer’s opinion plus the facts that back it up. Facts could be
in the form of statistics, laws and policies or anecdotes and experiences.
· Unlike a news story that simply ends with the least important data, a column ends with a punch line, a
call to action, or a quick summary of arguments. Readers are rarely left hanging, unless the columnist intends to
have a second installment on the same topic, in which case he/she should conclude his/her column with a teaser.
· Moreover, a column is not limited to formal writing. You can use creative language to illustrate your
point of view or add color to writing.

THE EDITORIAL

Editorial Column gives each new editorial team a chance to let their voices be heard. An editorial is usually
written by the editor in chief or managing editor, but reflects not only the voice of that person but the collective
voice of the editorial staff. This is the reason editorials are not signed.

Several Types of Editorials

1. Explanatory – seeks to give readers a better understanding of an issue and the particular approach a
paper had taken in covering an issue. It could be sort of a behind-the-scene story of the challenges reporters
faced in covering a story.
2. Interpretative – seeks to interpret a timely event, telling the reader the editor’s view of the situation.
3. Critique – makes a critical assessment of policies, actions, and decisions. It can identify problems the
policies or actions create or present alternatives to the decisions taken.
4. Persuasive – aims to influence readers into accepting a solution or action proposed by the newspaper.
5. Praise – used to praise an achievement by a person or institution. It could also serve as a tribute to
someone.

Below is an excerpt from the most famous editorial in western history. It was written in 1897 for the New York
Sun and answers a letter from an eight-year-old reader named Virginia O’Hanlon who asked “Is there a Santa
Claus?”

“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and
you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world
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if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike
faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in
sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to
watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus
coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa
Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see
fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or
imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen
world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could
tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the
supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and
abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times
ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”