Editorials

“Who cares what you write in editorials?
Nobody reads them anyway.”
 Have you ever heard any newspaper staff say something like that?
 Although journalists express concern that newspaper readers increasingly avoid
editorial pages, the editorial does not have to become the last dinosaur.
 After all, people hunger for opinion and analysis.

After this lesson, you will learn….
1. The importance of editorials in contributing to community conversation
2. How to write different types of editorials (that explain, evaluate or persuade)
3. The role of editorial cartoons

What is an editorial?
 An article that states a newspaper’s ideas on a particular
issue. These ideas are presented as opinions.
 The newspaper is the voice of the community, and
editorials are the voice of the newspaper.
 It creates a community conversation that will not be
bland or boring.
Ex) school newspapers

Editorials
 Today, most editorial writers are hired not for their willingness to
parrot the views of the paper’s owner but for their education and
experience.
 These writers try to make sense out of complex, and sometimes
controversial, issues.

So..........
There are two strategies
to address
controversial arguments.

Strategy 1- Editorial board
 Because editorials state the newspapers’ position on controversial
issues, many high school newspapers have an editorial board
 Editorial board: the group of people (usually the top editors) who
decide on a plan for each editorial that will appear in a newspaper
 Editorials are usually unsigned, because they represent the
newspaper’s opinion, not the writer’s

Strategy 2- Brainstorming
 Of course, the process of deciding the newspaper’s positions on
controversial matters can include long and heated debates
 Conferences are held to discuss what is to be written about, decide
the newspaper’s position on various topics, and make assignments
 One useful strategy in these conferences is brainstorming

Brainstorming
 A technique in which participants suspend critical judgment as they
generate as many ideas as possible; also called free association
 It helps people generate ideas for editorials and in suggesting
approaches to specific topics.

Parts on the Editorial page
 Editorial page: the page in a newspaper that includes editorials,
columns, opinion articles, reviews, cartoons and the masthead
 Masthead: a statement in a newspaper that provides the details of
publication
 Op-ed page: the page opposite the editorial page in a newspaper

Writing Editorials
 Needs to tell the reader something that would not be discussed in a straight
news story
 Like a news story, though, an editorial requires careful research

How to
organize an
editorial…
 State the problem or
situation
 State your position
 Give evidence to support
your position
 State or refute the position of
the other side in your
conclusion.
 Offer a possible solution to
the problem.
S
P
E
C
S

Three different kinds of editorials
Editorials that Explain
Editorials that Evaluate
Editorials that Persuade

Editorials that Explain
 They present facts with explanations that are detailed.
 They meant to inform the public on the topics whereas other types
of editorials are presented as an opinion.

Editorials that Evaluate
 Center on certain situations that need improvement.
 Instead of criticizing, the editors will focus on the positive and
present solutions.

Editorials that Persuade
 They are the opposite of editorials that evaluate.
 Instead of finding a long-term resolution of the problem, this type of
editorial wants to solve the problem almost immediately, therefore
editors will provide specific solutions.

Have you learned anything?
Read the sample editorials on the blog and identify if the editorial evaluates,
persuades or explains.
STOP HERE!!!

So…
what if you are
against or with
the editor’s
opinion?

You write
a letter to
the editor!

Letters to the Editor
 As was explained earlier, the newspaper’s editorial staff has the
responsibility to create community conversation.
 In order for readers to have their turn to speak, newspapers provide
space for dialogue on current topics of concern.
 In this way, readers are given their voices.

Responsibility of the editor
 Most readers like reading letters to the editor, but they must be encouraged to
write.
 If you as an editor want to strengthen this part of the editorial pages, you have
to ask readers to respond.
 Furthermore, you must be willing to print critical, as well as complimentary,
letters.
 Finally, to receive vital, well-written letters, you must publish vital, well-written
editorials.

Opinion Features
 Similar with Letters of the Editors
 Daily forum that includes the public’s opinion on an issue or specific
question.
 For the free exchange of opinions.

Cartoons
 Can do more than enrich popular culture and make readers laugh
 Editorial cartoons can be a powerful form of expression.
 Unfortunately, however, they are not always understood.

Cartoons
Like this cartoon

Cartoons
 Therefore, your goal in drawing or selecting editorial cartoons is to
make sure that your readers get the intended message.
 An effective way to achieve this goal is to have a cartoon reinforce
a message that is contained in an accompanying editorial.
 In addition, cartoons should also be timely and well drawn.

NOW,
You have all the knowledge
About the Editorials!!
Let’s check 
GEOPARDY
TIME!!!!!!