COLUMN WRITING: An Opportunity to Speak Out

By Marnela Kathleen V. Pasamba Objectives: 1. Define column, its purpose and characteristics. 2. Differentiate column writing from other forms of writing (news writing, feature writing and editorial writing). 3. Give steps and tips on how to write a column. 4. Come up with a column article of the participants choice. What is a COLUMN? It is a personal and biased article yet it follows the rules and ethics of journalism. Its topic can be sports, social issues, daily lives, religion, and observations. Its Purpose: To write so that the reader can hear the writer thinking --thinking aloud through writing. The columnists voice should be so powerful that readers can hear the writer talking to them. Its Characteristics: 1. Highlight creative expression of opinion. 2. Reflect the personality of the author. 3. Showcase superior writing ability and distinctive style. 4. Express the viewpoint of one writer rather than a newspaper. (Any approach--persuasion, praise, explanation, entertainment--can work) 5. Build on careful, thorough reporting that incorporates purposeful interviews and documented observations. 6. Focus on a subject that appeals to many readers. 7. Present new insights in a lively manner that shows the writers conviction. 8. Provide commentary that stimulates readers to think, to evaluate, to act, and to see everyday life from a new perspective ranging from the serious to the humorous. 9. Use an original title that defines the slant or the type of content. Good titles often play on the writers name or reflect the writers skills. Also the live headlines must follow appropriate styles. Bylines are essential, and photos of the writer are appropriate. 10. Appear regularly in a newspaper on the same page. 11. To establish an appropriate identity and to distinguish the column from other articles, the column title should use typography and graphics to complement the publication design. A column, however, should never be confused with a regular feature in the paper.

Basic Differences: Columns vs. News Straight news covers press conferences and reporting who said what. Anybody can be trained to write straight news because its very mechanical. Columns vs. Features Feature stories involve too much reporting and require discipline to follow a set structure. Feature articles, though also somewhat formulaic, are harder because they require good writing. Columns vs. Editorials Personal columns differ from editorials in that they are the opinion of the writer rather than the collective opinion of the newspaper staff. They are signed, or bylined. The Edge of Column Writing: Column writing is the hardest type of writing of all because it requires good thinking. Steps and Tips in Column Writing: 1. Follow the pattern of the editorial. But this time, make it individualized. State the problem Position on the problem Evidence to support your position Conclusion Solutions to the problem give at least two 2. Show rather than tell. Use colorful nouns and action verbs. 3. Make the issue, your focal point. 4. Use creative style rather than arguing a specific point. Refer to facts. 5. Localize and personalize. Tie it with your own experience. 6. Choose a consistent tone. a. Thoughtful (stimulating) b. Analytical (serious) c. Conversational d. Confidential e. Reportorial f. Critical g. Satirical Now, its your turn to write your own column with any topic of your choice. References:
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Adapted from Writing Columns that Line Up Readers by Howard Spanogle Mobile internet researcher - http://oonyeoh.squarespace.com/columnwriting-tips/ Campus and Community Journalism Handbook by Alito Malinao