Writing Uncommon Sense + 9 Reminders from Dumbledore
BACS Youth Summit on Journalism
Naga Parochial School, Naga City
March 2, 2024
Editorial Writing
Editorials – articles meant to influence opinions, promote critical thinking, and, sometimes, to cause action. These articles may criticize, judge, or evaluate, praise, bind, explain, interpret, or persuade. Editorials are the heart and soul of a newspaper. You will get to know where a newspaper stands on issues when you read their editorials.
Below are the parts of an editorial. Remember you don’t have to have all of these, or that you don’t have to follow this arrangement. Feel free to re-arrange, remove some, or add some parts. Just remember to use your own (or your paper’s) voice.
- Title
- Introduction
- Objective explanation of the issue.
- A timely news angle / your “so what, who cares?” (nut graf).
- Brief mention of your proposition.
- Body
- Opinion from the opposition side.
- The paper’s stand.
- Alternative solutions.
- Conclusion
- Summary of the paper’s point.
- Closing sentence with a punch.
Some editorials by William Allen White
Inquirer Editorial – Respecting the taxpayers
Horace Greely – A Prayer of Twenty Millions
Abraham Lincoln’s response to Horace Greely
Reminders to editorial writers from Albus Dumbledore (in honor if the great actor Michael Gambon’s passing):
- ‘Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, the most inexhaustible source of magic.’ Words are powerful. You must choose your words wisely in writing your editorial piece. Practice using strong nouns and strong verbs by consciously avoiding the usage of adjectives and adverbs, if possible.
- ‘It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.’ Address issues close to how you and your readers live. Offer realistic solutions.
- ‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ It is easy to be depressed by the issues at hand, but know that there are solutions for these problems. Read, research, and conduct interviews so that you will know how to properly address these problems.
- ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but as much to stand up to our friends.’ If someone is wrong, do not turn a blind eye on their actions even if you are friends or colleagues with that person.
- ‘Curiosity is not a sin. But we should exercise caution with our curiosity.’ In looking for answers, exercise caution. Always wear a healthy dose of skepticism. This is where your fact-checking skills matter.
- ‘We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.’ It is easy to criticize people when they are collectively doing something wrong, but remember that there is always someone, who has more power and more influence. That someone must be challenged, must be criticized, or must be persuaded to take action. Sometimes, it’s not a person, but the system. This is not something easy, but it must be done.
- ‘The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.’ Your aim as a journalist is to look for the truth and tell the truth.
- ‘Differences of habits and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.’ Be inclusive. Do not further push people into the margins.
- ‘The best of us sometimes eat our words.’ When you realize that you have committed a mistake, acknowledge your mistake, correct your mistake, and do better next time. But don’t be too hard on your self. You are not the first person to commit a mistake. What matters more is that you have learned from your mistake.
Column Writing
[To be updated later after the discussion.]
I. What topic to write about
II. How to gather facts and ides
III. Writing your first draft
IV. Additional tips
[To be updated later after the discussion.]