Mass Communication and Journalism: Journalism Practice and News Writing - Editorial Writing and Opinion Pieces

What It Is

Editorial writing and opinion pieces are forms of nonfiction writing that express a personal viewpoint or stance on a particular issue or topic. A canonical example is Walter Lippmann's "Today and Tomorrow" column in The New York Herald Tribune, which ran from 1931 to 1933 and is considered a pioneering work in the field of opinion journalism. This matters for media analysis because editorial writing can shape public opinion and influence policy decisions, making it essential for journalists and communicators to understand the principles and best practices of opinion writing.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Editorial: A written piece that expresses the opinion of a newspaper or publication on a particular issue or topic.
• Opinion piece: A written work that expresses a personal viewpoint or stance on a particular issue or topic.
• Editorial board: A group of individuals responsible for writing and publishing editorials on behalf of a newspaper or publication.
• Op-ed: A short opinion piece published in a newspaper or online publication, often on the editorial page.
• Columnist: A writer who regularly contributes opinion pieces to a newspaper or online publication.
• Persuasion: The process of using language and argumentation to convince others of a particular point of view or course of action.
• Propaganda: Information, ideas, or messages that are spread deliberately to promote a particular point of view or agenda, often in a biased or misleading way.
• Inverted pyramid structure: A writing style in which the most important information is presented first, followed by less important details.
• Hourglass structure: A writing style in which the introduction and conclusion are the most important parts, with the middle section providing supporting details.
• Libel: A false and damaging statement made about someone, often in writing or through public speech.
• Slander: A false and damaging statement made about someone, often through spoken words.
• Fact-checking: The process of verifying the accuracy of information before publication.
• Bias: A tendency or inclination to present information in a way that favors a particular point of view or agenda.
• Objectivity: The goal of presenting information in a neutral and impartial way, without promoting a particular point of view or agenda.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Editorial writing is the same as opinion writing.
• Correction: Editorial writing is a specific type of opinion writing that is published in a newspaper or publication, often on the editorial page.
• Misunderstanding: Fact-checking is only necessary for opinion pieces.
• Correction: Fact-checking is essential for all types of writing, including editorials and opinion pieces, to ensure accuracy and credibility.
• Misunderstanding: Bias is always a bad thing in writing.
• Correction: Bias can be a legitimate and necessary aspect of opinion writing, but it should be acknowledged and disclosed to readers.

Quick Application / Identification

Scenario: A newspaper publishes an editorial criticizing a local politician's handling of a recent crisis. The editorial includes several factual errors and misleading statements. What type of writing is this?

Answer: An editorial, specifically an opinion piece that expresses the newspaper's viewpoint on the issue.

Explanation: Editorials are a type of opinion writing that expresses a personal viewpoint or stance on a particular issue or topic, often in a newspaper or publication.

Scenario: A writer is tasked with writing an op-ed piece for a national newspaper. What should they do first?

Answer: Conduct thorough research and fact-checking to ensure the accuracy of the information presented.

Explanation: Fact-checking is essential for all types of writing, including opinion pieces, to ensure credibility and accuracy.

Scenario: A columnist is writing an opinion piece that includes several biased statements. What should they do?

Answer: Acknowledge and disclose the bias to readers, and provide evidence to support their claims.

Explanation: Bias can be a legitimate aspect of opinion writing, but it should be acknowledged and disclosed to readers to maintain transparency and credibility.

Last?Minute Revision

• Walter Lippmann is considered a pioneer in the field of opinion journalism.
• The New York Herald Tribune published Walter Lippmann's "Today and Tomorrow" column from 1931 to 1933.
• Editorials are often published on the editorial page of a newspaper.
• Op-ed pieces are typically short and concise, often no more than 500 words.
• Fact-checking is essential for all types of writing, including editorials and opinion pieces.
• Bias can be a legitimate aspect of opinion writing, but it should be acknowledged and disclosed to readers.
• The inverted pyramid structure is often used in news writing, while the hourglass structure is often used in opinion writing.
• Libel and slander are both forms of defamation, but libel is typically written and slander is spoken.
• Propaganda is often used to promote a particular agenda or point of view, while persuasion is used to convince others of a particular point of view or course of action.
• Objectivity is the goal of presenting information in a neutral and impartial way, without promoting a particular point of view or agenda.
• The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics states that journalists should "seek truth and report it" and "avoid plagiarism."
• The Associated Press Stylebook recommends using the inverted pyramid structure for news writing.
• : Always fact-check information before publication to avoid libel or slander claims.
• : Be aware of bias and take steps to disclose it to readers.
• : Use the hourglass structure for opinion writing to emphasize the introduction and conclusion.