Editorial Writing Lecture for Journalism Seminar-Workshops

1. Editorial Writing
by: JOJI UBALDO CABATIC
Communications Development Officer I
TARLAC AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
basyo1981@gmail.com
(+63)930-3626-884; (+63)997-7636-003

2. What is an editorial?
It is an article that states the newspaper's ideas on an
issue. These ideas are presented as opinion.
Editorials give opinions on important social, political,
economic, or legal issues and intend to persuade readers to
agree to a particular point of view.
Editorials are usually unsigned, or published without a
byline,
opinion, not the writer's.
because they represent the paper‘s

3. Who writes a newspaper’s editorial?
The editorial board is a group of people, usually
top editors, who decide on a plan for each editorial that will
appear in a newspaper.
The editorial board determines, hopefully by
consensus, the opinions that will be presented in an editorial.

4. BRAINSTORMING
This is a technique in which participants suspend
critical judgment as they generate as many ideas as possible.
It helps individuals engaged in group participation (be more
creative that they would be as individuals.) This is very
helpful to generate ideas for editorials and in suggesting
approaches to specific topics.

5. Where do editorial ideas come from?
The daily lives of the students in the campus -
their interaction with each other, with the faculty,
with the administration. Also community, state,
national and international issues are of concern to
the well informed writer.

6. Characteristics and Functions
of an Editorial
CHARACTERISTICS
• Official stand of the paper
on a relevant development
or issue.
• Concerted commentary
• Based on subjective opinion
about issues.
• Of interest and importance
to the public.
• SOUL OF THE
NEWSPAPER
FUNCTIONS
• Stirs the conscience of the
readers to action
• Influences and molds
public opinion

7. Editorials allow you to…
o Discuss your opinion on an issue facing your school,
community, or the world
o Persuade the audience (with facts)
o Talk to the reader
o Be careful not to overdo
o Using “I” or “you” in every sentence becomes
repetitious and BORING

8. KEYWORDS TO CONSIDER:
Readability
Audience
Opinion
Argumentative
Persuasive

9. Different Types of Editorials
seeks to give information on facts of
news stories or add other facts
unknown to reader with minimum
explanation. It may define terms,
identify persons or factors or provide
a background
Taipei Times (June 7, 2019)

10. praises, commends, or pays
tribute to a person or
organization that has performed
some worthwhile projects or
deeds, or accomplishments
Manila Standard (August 23, 2018)

11. oftentimes called editorial of
persuasion. The editor argues in
order to convince or persuade the
reader to accept his stand on the
issue.
Philippine Star (June 13, 2016)

12. explains the significance or meaning of a
news event, current idea, condition, or
situation, theory, or hypothesis. The writer
doesn’t argue nor criticize, but merely
present both sides of an issue and leaves
the judgment to the reader. It merely
interprets, say for example, the content of
a new memorandum issued by the
principal.
Philippine Daily Inquirer (January 24, 2018

13. presents a philosophy rather
than an argument or an
explanation. Oftentimes, the
subject matter is nature or
emotion.
Iowa State Daily (February 13, 2017)

14. points out the good or the bad
features of a problem or situation
mentioned in the news. Its
purpose is to influence the reader.
It suggests a solution at the end.
Philippine Collegian (Vol. 96 No. 2)

15. discusses issues lightly but has
serious point. It evokes a smile,
a chuckle, or laughter while
suggesting truth.
Rappler (July 1, 2019)

16. explains the significance of
a special day.
Sunstar Davao (June 11, 2019)

17. position of several editors from
different schools on a common
issue or problem published in
their respective school papers at
the same time.
Philippine Daily Inquirer (June 29, 2016)

18. Editorial Structure
An editorial is similar to an essay in that it focuses on a
specific issue or topic, offers a thesis, and provides evidence and
supporting arguments to convince its readers.
the introductory statement includes the writer’s view on the
issue; the body provides the details and the
conclusion restates the
The title clearly identifies the topic;
supporting evidence; and the
writer’s view and provides a final appeal for the reader to agree
to that view.

19. Newspeg- a brief
statement about the
news event or issue.
Parts of an Editorial
Introduction
Newspeg
 Reaction
Usually one short paragraph
We can’t truly say we expected the senator to know better.
After all, Dela Rosa owes his Senate victory to his
prominence—some would argue, notoriety—as chief
implementor of the administration’s war on drugs.
Sh*t happens in an imperfect world, says Senator Ronald
dela Rosa, responding to the outrage fueled by the killing
of a three-year-old girl in the course of police operations
in Rodriguez, Rizal on Saturday.

20. Parts of an Editorial
Body
Justification of the reaction
Two to three short paragraphs
Implementing the war on drugs of the Duterte government is a very serious
matter. The administration has come under fire from many sectors for the police’s lack of
restraint in going after pushers.
After three years and thousands of dead, the campaign is as strong as ever.
And now Dela Rosa is senator, swept to power by the popularity of his political
patron. He has admitted he has much to learn as a lawmaker—but apparently that
does not include learning to speak in ways befitting his office. He could have tried to
temper his candor with circumspection. Or, if that were too much to ask, some
sensitivity perhaps, if not to the general public, then at least to the grieving family
of the child.

21. Parts of an Editorial
Ending
Punch line or Clincher
Summarizes the editorial stand
In a perfect world, how policies are implemented would be equally
important as the rationale behind them.
The rights and lives of citizens—whether they live in gated communities or
hovels—matter.
Callous and coarse statements have no place in public discourse. Public
officials are judged exactly by what they say and how they say it. No annotations
are required for damage control.

22. To be worthy of printing, an editorial needs to tell
the reader something that would not be discussed in a
straight news story. However, the editorial must be
researched carefully and just as thoroughly as a news story.
Writing an Editorial

23. 1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news
angle and would interest readers
Tip for choosing the editorial topic:
IT SHOULD BE A CURRENT ISSUE

24. 2. Collect information and facts
INCLUDE OBJECTIVE REPORTING
AND DO RESEARCH

25. 3. State your issue briefly in the fashion of a thesis
statement
For example:
Evidence has shown that music
education promotes cognitive
development, so funding music
programs at all levels of the school
system should be a high priority for
state governments.
Thesis Statement – a
sentence that expresses the
main idea of a research
paper or essay, such as an
expository essay or
argumentative essay. It
makes a claim, directly
answering a question.

26. 4. Explain the issue objectively and tell why the situation
is important
Offer facts and quotations using the 5 Ws and the H

27. 5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and
facts
Identify the people, the decision, or the organization that
opposes you and state their strong opinions objectively.

28. 6. Refute the other side and develop your case.
 Use facts, details, figures, quotations and pick
apart the other side’s logic.
 Segue using a transitional word, phrase, or
sentence and directly contradict the opposition’s
beliefs.

29. 7. Concede a point of the opposition
They must have some good points you can
acknowledge that would make you look rational
and fair if not objective.

30. 8. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the
reader's minds.

31. 9. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem.
Encourage critical thinking and pro-active reaction.

32. 10. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates
your opening remark.

33. 11. Keep it to 300 words
Make every word count.

34. In general, an editorial should be organized in 4
steps.
• State the subject and your position on the subject in
the introduction
• Discuss opposing points of view
• Prove you position with supporting details
• Draw conclusion

35. S
P
E
C
S
State the problem or situation
State your position
Give supporting evidences
Refute in the conclusion
Offer possible solution/s

36. What NOT to put in an editorial
• The singular pronoun "I"
• Falsehoods, suppositions, exaggerations
• Libel and defamation
• Advocate anything illegal
• Long paragraphs
• Difficult and technical words
• Grammatical and language knots

37. • Vague and ambiguous references
• Preachy tone
• Rhetorical flourishes
• Cross reference
Cross reference – a note
that suggests that you look
somewhere else for more
information about
something

38. Advices on Writing an Editorial
• Speak as the voice of the whole
• Simplify grammar and vocabulary
• Use short sentences and paragraphs
• Soften criticisms
• Tie with current issue of public concern
• Establish credibility
• Focus on and clarify your points
• Begin and end with a punch
• Be grammatically correct

39. You think writing an editorial is difficult?
“You can.
You should.
And if you’re brave enough to start,
you will.”
-Stephen King, On Writing

41. And now, the moment of truth…
Lowering age of criminal liability still among Sotto's pet bills
Published July 1, 2019 9:57pm
Lowering the age of criminal liability from the current 15 to 13 years old was still among
Senate President Vicente Sotto III's priority bills in the 18th Congress.
According to Senate Bill No. 5, filed by Sotto on Monday, children below 18 years
but above 12 years of age during the time of the commission of a crime would be held liable
"unless proven that he or she acted without discernment."
Meanwhile, children aged nine to 12 years who committed "serious crimes" such as
parricide, murder, and infanticide would be mandatorily placed in the Bahay Pag-asa youth
center.
The measure would also mandate all local government units to allocate funding for
the construction of rehabilitation centers for juvenile delinquents.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives of the 17th Congress approved the
lower age of criminal liability, which they pegged at 12 years old
A counterpart bill in the upper chamber, Senate Bill 2026, was also filed by Sotto
during the last Congress.
Write an editorial based on the following: