Writing editorials and opinion columns

1. Writing editorials and opinion columns

2. What is an Editorial? An Opinion Column • Editorial • Opinion article that represents the voice of the newspaper at large • First person plural “We” • Not signed • Opinion Column • Opinion article that represents a single writer • First person singular “I” • Signed

3. Types of Editorials • Advocacy Editorial • Interpret, Explain, Persuade, and Advocate change • Tied to significant news stories • Why is it important? • Trying to persuade the audience to accept a certain interpretation • Presents facts clearly and logically • Tone; not negative, not point by point criticism

4. Types of Editorials • Longer lunch period a gift for students, staff • “The Student Senate made a positive and reasonable request with their proposal. No instruction time is lost with the longer lunches, and students and staff are given more time to eat and gear up for their afternoon classes. The administration should vote in favor of keeping the 45 minute lunch this April.”

5. Types of Editorials • Problem-Solution Editorial • “Editorial of criticism” • Calls attention to a problem or criticizes someone’s actions. • Responsibility; use facts to back up criticism. Explain. • Statement of the problem, presentation of evidence, conclusion with potential solutions. • Must criticize for public actions. • Lies and fabrications: unethical. • Popular Issues.

6. Types of Editorials • “Recently in the Live Oak parking lot, there have been multiple acts of random vandalism. Cars have been keyed, things stolen, and antennas destroyed; not to mention the damage on Half Road, the only alternative parking place. All this has happened while we have two very capable and attentive yard monitors, who simply have too much area to watch at once.”

7. Types of Editorials • Commendation Editorial • Praising a group or person for an act. • Elevates the person to a special level of notoriety. • Retirements, state championships, death of an inspiring student/teacher/administrator, community service, etc. • Careful Consideration. • Reasons must be clearly stated, impact should be noted. • Not very long. • Ex. Student saves life in Florida.

8. Other Types • Brief Editorial Comment • Short… ex. Drinking at graduation • Editorial short • Making the grade • Editorial Cartoon

9. Writing an Editorial • Current Issue • Start out with a thesis • Use facts as examples • Direct Persuasion • Personal touches

10. Writing an Opinion Article • Argument • Facts • Statistics, studies, quotes or polling results • Include the other arguments… then rebut them

11. Writing an Opinion Article • Well, at least the lawns are safe The Madison Police Department came out with everything short of drone strikes to get students off of Mifflin Street this year. On top of that, they spent last Saturday patrolling downtown threatening to ticket anyone daring to drink outside in the 70-degree sun. For that, we feel they deserve the Get Off the Damn Lawn award. Choosing to approach a campus weekend with the subtlety and tact of 70-year-old yelling from his porch, MPD busted up any party not crowded indoors. Come on guys — we know you are usually a reasonable and respectful bunch when it comes to student house parties. Do not change just because you wanted to beat out Mayor Paul Soglin for this award.