WRITING AN EDITORIAL I E-learning Series I JERIC CABUG

Summary

This e-learning series delves into editorial writing, defining it as an article reflecting a newspaper's stance on current issues. It emphasizes the importance of editorials as the 'soul' of a publication, embodying its philosophy and morality. The video outlines the traits of an effective editorial writer, such as being knowledgeable, analytical, and a critical thinker. It also discusses the characteristics of a compelling editorial, including interest, brevity, and force. The tutorial guides viewers through the editorial writing process, from research and organization to crafting attention-grabbing titles and leads. It concludes with a structured approach to writing editorials and assigns topics for practice, aiming to hone the viewers' skills in this critical form of journalism.

Takeaways

• 📰 An editorial is an article representing a newspaper's stance on an issue, reflecting the majority opinion of the editorial board.
• 🤔 Editorials are meant to inform, influence, or entertain readers by critically interpreting contemporary events.
• 🚫 William Allen White emphasized that editorials should exclude bitterness, bias, and fear to maintain strength and integrity.
• 🧠 A good editorial writer should be knowledgeable, analytical, a wide reader, critical thinker, objective, and a good writer.
• 🔍 The characteristics of a good editorial include arousing public interest, being brief and factual, and having a forceful style with clear reasoning.
• 📚 Before writing an editorial, one should read extensively, research deeply, and practice organizing information and outlining.
• 🎯 The title of an editorial should be striking and indicative of the content, while the lead should contain the issue and the newspaper's reaction.
• 📈 The body of an editorial should arrange facts and arguments, citing data and statistics to support the newspaper's stance.
• 🏁 The conclusion of an editorial must be impactful, driving home the key message and often presenting a solution or call to action.
• 📝 There are various types of editorials, including informational, interpretive, critical, commendatory, argumentative, entertaining, mood, and special occasion editorials.

Q & A

What is an editorial according to the script?

An editorial is an article that presents the newspaper's opinion on an issue, reflecting the majority vote of the editorial board, which is the governing body of the newspaper.

Who typically makes up the editorial board?

The editorial board is made up of editors and business managers.

Why is the editorial considered the soul of the paper?

The editorial is considered the soul of the paper because it represents the official stand of the paper on a relevant development or issue, reflecting the thinking, philosophy, and morality of the management.

What qualities should a good editorial writer possess?

A good editorial writer should be knowledgeable, have good comprehension, be a critical thinker, objective, and a good writer.

What are the three qualities of a good editorial piece according to Redrick?

The three qualities of a good editorial piece are interest, brevity, and force. It should arouse public interest, present facts and not mere opinions, and have a clear style with a moral purpose and sound reasoning.

What should one do before starting to write an editorial?

Before writing an editorial, one should read to expand knowledge, research to deepen understanding of an issue, and practice by listing facts and organizing information.

What is the role of the title in an editorial?

The title should be striking enough to arouse the reader's interest and may also give the gist of the content.

What are the different types of leads in editorial writing?

Different types of leads include emphatic statement or maxim, remarks about the topic or person, narration, question, quotation, prophecy, and reaction.

Why is the lead important in an editorial?

The lead is important because it should contain the issue or the news peg and establish the newspaper's stand on the issue immediately in the beginning paragraph.

What is the purpose of the body in an editorial?

The body of an editorial is where facts and arguments are arranged, and factual details are presented to bolster the opinions or principles of the newspaper on a given issue.

How should the conclusion of an editorial be crafted?

The conclusion should drive home the most important message, be impactful, and may present a solution, advice, command, thought-provoking questions, forecast possible effects, or a summary.

What are the different types of editorials mentioned in the script?

The different types of editorials include editorials of information, interpretation, criticism, commendation, argumentation, entertainment, mood, and special occasion.