Activity # 1: True or False
1. Accuracy is not important in editorials as in news reports.
2. A good editorial need not to have a formal conclusion.
3. To be effective, an editorial should not be preachy.
4. Leaving the reader to form his own conclusion is a good practice for an editorial
writer.
5. The editorial writer must primarily be a reporter.
6. The editorial page must not contain reprints from magazines, speeches or
statements.
7. The first person (editorial we) is the preferred point of view in writing editorials.
8. The most important asset of a campus editor is his exceptional knowledge of
grammar.
9. The campus editor’s primary duty is to see to it that the image of the school is
always held up unblemished before the community.
10. Editorials may also be found outside the editorial page, like for example in the
sports page.
Activity # 2: PROJECT
Write Editorials based on the following facts:
Criteria: Relevance and Content: 30 points
Grammar, Clarity and Mechanics: 20 points
a. Write an editorial of interpretation on some recent situation in your school.
b. Drug addiction is again rampant in the community. What should be done about it?
Write an editorial using any of the types you have learned.
Journalism 7 - Quarter 2 Editorial Cartooning
Discussion
An editorial cartoon is another tool for conveying a paper’s stand on
certain issues. The editorial cartoon provides visual, usually in a light vein, on
the message that the paper wants to convey to the readers. The aim of the
editorial cartoon is to exert influence as well as to entertain. Cartoons may be
good-natured or humorous or they can be serious and sophisticated.
Sometimes they can also be satirical. What is important is that cartoon should
not reveal all; something must be left to the readers’ imagination.
An editorial cartoon is an editorial page illustration expressing opinion
and interpretation. The word cartoon is derived from two words, caricature and
lampoon.
A caricature is an exaggerated description, generally by sketching. It is
a pictorial representation of a person or thing in which the defects or
peculiarities are exaggerated so as to produce a ludicrous effect.
A lampoon on the other hand, is a piece of malicious writing, a personal
written satire that attacks and ridicules.
The editorial cartoon is one of the oldest and most notable items on the
editorial page. The Chinese proverb that one picture is worth a thousand
words is applied in order to persuade.
Like the editorial proper however, the editorial cartoon may also
perform any of the three functions of the newspress – to inform, influence or
entertain.
Characteristics of a Good Cartoon
A good cartoon appeals to the reader’s sense of humor in order to persuade
him to accept an opinion. It is an effective social force.
Also, a cartoon, like the top editorial, should deal with only a single idea. While the
subject matter covers a wide range of topics and purposes, the typical cartoon is
about political and social conditions and problems. Some cartoons are good-natured
and humorous, others are serious and sophisticated.
Cartoons in a campus papers need not to be so professional looking as those found
in the national dailies. Ideas for editorial cartoons may be suggested by the editor,
or they may come from the cartoonist himself. At any rate, the name of the
cartoonist is placed in the cartoon, even if the idea us not his. After all, it’s probably
harder to draw, than to have an idea.
Range of Cartoon Ideas
Cartoon ideas cover a wide range of subjects. Some may be:
a. Inspirational – e.g. the school represented as a mother taking care of
her children.
b. Satirical – e.g. the embarrassment for having girls wear miniskirts in the
classroom.
c. Correctional – e.g. problems involving people taking prohibited drugs.
Cartoon ideas must be carefully thought of. Campus cartoonist should
Ask themselves the following questions:
1. Will the cartoon hurt someone?
2. Is the cartoon exaggerated?
3. Is the cartoon decent? Parts of the body should not be drawn in the
style of dirty tabloids? Remember, ours is a campus paper where values
and clean living are developed.
4. Is the cartoon “corny”? Examples are overworked ideas such as
knights fighting dragons, or rescuing a damsel in distress; a student
climbing a steep mountain to reach a castle labeled “SUCCESS”, or
an erupting volcano labeled “REVOLUTION.”
A cartoonist can think of new ways of rendering am old subject in a
fresh way.
Suggestions for Cartooning
1. If you decide to use a cartoon, make sure that it is done in good
taste, and that it should say something.
2. Like an editorial, it should deal with only one topic.
3. The purpose of a cartoon is to visualize an idea. Limit the use of
words and labels. Unlike a photo, in the news page, a cartoon does
not need a caption. Remember also that a good cartoon, like a
photo, is worth 10,000 words.
4. You may use symbols like dove for peace, a laurel leaf for victory, or a
heart for love. But be sure that the symbol is universal; i.e., that is
easily understood even by an ordinary reader. Just as in newswriting
“cartoonize” to express not to impress. The message is more
important than the drawing.
5. Be original. Don’t plagiarize. Develop your own style.
6. Cartoons, like headlines and caption, may also be sources of libel
suits. The pictures and the bubble may be funny but they should not
defame nor expose a person or object to hatred, ridicule, or
comtempt.
Examples of General Symbols in Editorial Cartooning:
1. Pencil, Pen and Newspaper - Journalism, Freedom of the Press
2. Dove - Freedom, Peace, Democracy
3. Salakot ,Juan Dela Cruz - the ordinary Filipino
4. Chain - suppression of freedom, maltreatment and slavery
5. Kamatayan - Death or Bad omen
6. Syringe - cure, death sentence, drug addiction
7. Crocodile - Abusive person of authority
8. Mallet - Justice
9. Beggar - Poverty
10. Blindfolded - Blind justice
11. Skull with crossed bones - danger, poison
12. Bar of gold - wealth
II. Activities
Activity # 1: True or False
1. The editorial cartoon provides visual, usually in a heavy vein, on the
message that the paper wants to convey to the readers.
2. The word cartoon is derived from two words, culture and lampoon.
3. A cartoon, like the top editorial, should deal with more than one
ideas.
4. Cartoons in a campus papers need to be so professional looking as
those found in the national dailies.
5. Cartoons may not be good-natured or humorous or they can be
serious and sophisticated.
6. The purpose of a cartoon is to visualize an idea. Limit the use of
words and labels. Unlike a photo, in the news page, a cartoon does
not need a caption. Remember also that a good cartoon, like a photo,
is worth 10,000 words.
7. Cartoon ideas cover a wide range of subjects.
8. Cartoons, like headlines and caption, may also be sources of libel
suits.
9. The editorial cartoon is one of the oldest and most notable items on
the editorial page.
10. Like the editorial proper however, the editorial cartoon may also
perform any of the three functions of the newspress – to inform,
influence or entertain.
Activity # 2: Give the meaning of the Universal Symbols used in
Editorial Cartooning
1. Chain –
2. Mallet –
3. Dove –
4. Salakot –
5. Heart –
6. Bar of Gold –
7. Crocodile –
8. Syringe –
9. Beggar –
10. Skull with a crossed bones –
