EDITORIAL WRITING 2009

a presentation
What is EDITORIAL?
Opinions, views and Soul of the Newspaper
comments are barred from
news stories. Expression Mouthpiece of the Paper
of opinions is found in the
editorial for it is this part
Bring Results or Change
of the newspaper that
carries the burden of
Analytical Interpretation
speaking for the paper.
Who Writes the
EDITORIAL?
 staff
discuss gather organiz
choose
the
s topic issue s data es data

best writer
writes with ideas not a collectiv
the from personal e
editorial group opinion opinion
Characteristics of an EDITORIAL
•An editorial should be interesting, brief and forceful.
•It must be clear and must have moral purpose, sound
reasoning and power to influence public opinion.
•It must be factual and provide pertinent information.
Arguments to support the stand are based on facts
•It must be concise, around 250-300 words in four or
five paragraphs.
Types of EDITORIAL
1. Editorial of
-explain the significance
Interpretation

2. Editorial of Criticism -analyzes the fault

3. Editorial of
-takes a stand
Argumentation
4. Editorial of
-gives praise
Commendation
5. Editorial of
-discusses lightly
Entertainment
Types of EDITORIAL
6. Crusade Editorial -endorses a thought

-combined work of 2
7. Pooled Editorial
editors

8. Editorial Liners -end of editorial column

Pre-Writing
Preparing to Write the Editorial
•Choose a very timely topic. Bring this down to a
specific, particular idea which you will develop
fully.
•Be clear about the type of editorial you will
write. Be clear about your purpose.
•Be sure you know and understand you topic
very well. Formulate your stand or position.
•Gather sufficient data.
Choosing the Topic
The first task of the editorial Editorial of
Interpretation
writer is to choose a suitable
topic deserving editorial “new policies of the
treatment. If the topic is flat, administration”
no amount of logical
presentation or clever writing “new grading system”
can save the piece. The topic
must be timely, significant “new system of
selecting honor
and relevant – an issue or graduates”
problem in which readers
somehow have a stake.
Choosing the Topic
Editorial of Criticism Editorial of Appreciation

“retirement of a well-
“policies which the staff
loved principal, teacher
considers unfair to the
or any member of the
student body”
staff”

“highhandedness of the
“national championship
school head as revealed
of an athletic team”
in a particular incident”
*state the kind of editorial that you will write given
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the topics
around the square

Exercise1

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Parts of an EDITORIAL
Introduction •Beginning of the
paragraph
•May contain the
news
•News peg
•States outright
the stand
Parts of an EDITORIAL
The body •Facts about the
news
•Writer’s opinion
•Logical
arrangement of
ideas
•Supported by
facts
Parts of an EDITORIAL
Conclusion •Last part
•Summarizes or
gives the point
•Ties up ideas and
arguments
•Clincher
The Lead 1
After a title, a powerful
lead is a must to
compel the reader to A simple statement
read on. Other than that gives enough
the news peg or of the situation,
expression of stand, problem or news
the lead can take event
many forms as follows.
The Lead 2
After a title, a powerful
lead is a must to
compel the reader to A striking
read on. Other than statement which
the news peg or
arrests the reader’s
expression of stand,
attention
the lead can take
many forms as follows.
The Lead 3
After a title, a powerful
lead is a must to A question with
compel the reader to which you can
read on. Other than invite attention to
the news peg or
the problem or
expression of stand,
situation to be
the lead can take
many forms as follows.
discussed
The Lead 4
After a title, a powerful
lead is a must to A quotation relevant
compel the reader to to the issue
read on. Other than
the news peg or 5
expression of stand, A narrative
the lead can take illustrating the
many forms as follows.
problem or situation
Giving flesh to the Body
Use examples and
The Editorial 1 illustrations to drive
home your point
becomes forceful if
Document statements
the case is argued 2 by quoting sources and
convincingly. Present authorities.
Cite statistics if
the facts clearly and 3 applicable. Use formal
concisely. language.
If you are presenting a number
of arguments to support your
4 stand, start with a bang, as it
were.
The Conclusion suggestion

The conclusion is an
integral part of the “The business
editorial. It may sector would do well
restate the stand to evaluate people
expressed in the on the basis of merit
lead, it may wrap up rather than
the points raised; or academic degree.”
it may be a clincher.
The Conclusion challenge

The conclusion is an
integral part of the
editorial. It may “If other schools can
restate the stand develop a culture of
expressed in the excellence, why
lead, it may wrap up can’t we?”
the points raised; or
it may be a clincher.
The Conclusion simple
summary
“The spate of scandals
The conclusion is an over government deals,
integral part of the characterized by
editorial. It may favoritism and influence
peddling, mars the
restate the stand government’s claims of
expressed in the transparency. Worse, it
lead, it may wrap up undermines the chances
of the Philippines to
the points raised; or recover from the
it may be a clincher. economic crisis.”
*state your stand on the following issues
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Exercise2

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Writing the EDITORIAL
Editorial Writing
So now you have the
data; more is better than
less. With the former,
you can sift them and
separate the chaff from
the grain; with the latter,
you will be insufficiently
equipped and end up
with a limp editorial.
Editorial Writing
When you settle down to write the editorial, think of the
following points.
1. •Understand thoroughly the situation or problem about which you are going to write.

2. •Plan a striking and interesting introduction

3. •Build up your arguments in logical sequence

4. •The last part should tie up with your beginning/introduction.

EDITORIAL WRITING 2009
now get your pen and start writing
 Christian
Isaac
Apricio
Valerie Joy Glen Mark
Corpuz V. Doliro

the team

Pritzy Pia
Ignacio Avila
Gervin M.
Samonte