UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO
KIDAPAWAN CITY CAMPUS
Sudapin, Kidapawan City
Eng Ed 322 Campus
Journalism
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Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students
are expected to:
distinguish the types of an opinion
column according to content and
purpose;
analyze opinion column based on its
types and structure; and
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Objectives
write a campus opinion column
applying the principles, structure,
techniques shared.
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OPINION
COLUMN
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Opinion column
• Opinion columns are the most
personal of all newspaper writing.
• They have a very personal appeal,
an authoritative influence, and
very useful contribution to make in
spreading news and opinion.
Opinion column
• High in reader-
interest as it
stimulates public
discussion of the
day’s affairs
Opinion column
• The main purpose of the
column is to inform,
interpret, and to a large
degree, to fiscalize.
Opinion column
• The main purpose of the
column is to inform,
interpret, and to a large
degree, to fiscalize.
Purpose
1. To explain the news.
The columnist has to
explain their significance
and consequence by:
a. Giving the background
of an event
Example:
Miracle rice is develop
Ordinary news:
•What are the immediate steps done which
led to its development?
•Where it was developed?
•When it was developed?
•Who developed it?
•How many canvas a hectare can yield?
Example:
But a columnist goes beyond this because
he would probably describe the organization
that took pains in conducting the experiment
or series of experiments, the efforts of the
men involved, the problems that had to be
overcome and the length of time -from the
moment the idea was conceived to the
harvesting of the yield.
b. Determining whether a
certain event is an isolate
case or part of the pattern
Example:
• A number of cattle in Bataan have died of a
certain disease.
• In a few weeks, the same thing happened in
Ilocos Norte.
• In a few more weeks, it happened in
Camarines Sur.
• Then lately, some cattle in Mindanao died of
the same disease.
In each case, a news story was written.
Example:
But a columnist tells his readers
that the cattle in the different parts
of the country died of the same
disease. He then calls on the Bureau
of Animal Industry to determine
whether or not an epidemic exists.
c. Pointing out how an
event will affect or not
affect his readers
Example:
The Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries decides to
increase the price of oil.
Example:
The columnist will point out to his
readers the effect of this action of OPEC.
He may tell his reader that soon they
may be paying ₱3 instead of ₱1.50 for
their fare. Now, his readers are
concerned. Or the establishment of
nuclear power plant.
d. Pooling together and
assessing comments of
readers from the different
segments of society
Example:
A controversy may have more
than two sides. The columnist
must present all these sides
without favoring any of them
Example:
If, however, he has to favor one
side, it should be because that
side is the one which is right and not
because that particular side happens
to be the side of his relatives.
Example:
2. To entertain the readers
This purpose of the column
enhances the reader’s
interest in the paper.
Types according to PURPOSE
1. Editorial Column
2. Reader’s Column
3. Business Column
4. Sports Column
5. Art Column
…
Types according to PURPOSE
6. Women’s Column
7. Entertainment Column
8. New Product and Inventions
9. Personality
10. Reviews
1. Editorial column
Any personal column found in the
editorial page
Usually makes use of humor as a
vehicle in driving the columnist’s
message
At the bottom is a serious matter to
which the columnist wants to call
attention
1. Editorial column
2. Reader’s column
Comments sent in
by the readers are
placed
Some newspapers
call it “Letters to
the Editor” or “Dear
Sir
3. Business column
Materials about
economy, trade,
commerce and
industry
Found in the
business section
of the paper
4. Sports column
Deals exclusively
about sports
Found on the
sports page
5. Art column
Deals mostly on
painting,
architecture, flower
arrangement, paper
mache , ikebana,
and the like
6. Women’s column
Concerns about
latest fashion,
beauty tips, and
anything about
homemaking
7. Entertainment column
This is all about
music, theater,
cinema, and the
people involved in
them.
8. New Products and Inventions
Column about latest
products and
inventions, and the
researches being
conducted by some
prominent
scientists.
9. Personality
This may ply up a
famous person, his
significant
achievements, his
activities, dreams,
and ambition.
10. Reviews
Review of an
article, a book, a
movie, a drama,
or a painting
Types according to CONTENT
1. Opinion Column
2. Hodge Podge Column
3. Essay Column
4. Gossip Column
5. Dopester’s Column
1. Opinion column
is also called “signed
editorial column”
it carries the personal and
stamp of the writer’s own
ideas.
2. Hodge Podge column
• the author lumps together odds
and ends of information, a poem,
an announcement, a pointed
paragraph, a modernized
proverb, a joke, or an interesting
quotation
2. Hodge Podge column
2. Hodge Podge column
3. Essay column
• is a legacy from a more leisurely
age when writers could sit and
scribble and muse in light or
purple prose
3. Essay column
4. Gossip column
• It caters to the inherent interest of
human beings
• spy vices not virtues of others
• chronicle here the facts and foibles
of the great and near great, the
social climbers, and the true
celebrities
4. Gossip column
5. Dopester’s column
• Eye to the keyhole but with a more
serious purpose
• The “victims” are usually the
government’s leaders politicians,
congressmen, senators, cabinet
officials, titans of industry and
commerce, and institutions which have
to do with national international affairs.
4. Dopester’s column
Structure of an Opinion Column
First 2-3 paragraphs:
Hook: Why do I care?
Set-up: What’s this column
about?
Nut graph: What’s your
overarching point? (Your theme)
Structure of an Opinion Column
Next 4-5 paragraphs:
Diagnosis: Flesh out the
problem or issue
Next 4-5 paragraphs:
Prescription: What’s the
solution?
Structure of an Opinion Column
Next 1-2 paragraphs:
Concession: What’s the other side?
Final paragraph:
Coda/Call to action: What’s your
overarching point again? Or what do
you want reader to do?
Home Delight
Direction: Write a campus opinion
column article concerning our campus
while applying the principles, structure,
techniques shared.
This is a collaborative task as you will
work with your groupmates in your
magazine project.
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Home Delight
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CREDITS
Cruz, C. (2010) Campus Journalism and School
Paper Advising. Rex Book Store Inc.
How to Write an Op-Ed Classic Op-Ed
Structure. Jeffrey L. Seglin. Retrieved from
[Link]
-administration/academic-deans-office/
communications-program
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END OF SLIDE
Thank you for viewing.
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