MAC 406: EDITORIAL AND COMMENTARY WRITING

Conceptual Clarifications
An Editorial
This is a journalistic peace, which attempts to inform, explain, persuade, convince and/or
stimulate insight in an entertaining or humorous manner. William Allen defines the editorial as
an expression of the opinion of a media platform based on a selection of facts which present a
truth in a new light. That is, something everyone knows about but which no one before ever
thought deeply of. To Lyle Spencer, an editorial is a presentation of facts and opinion in a
concise, logical, and pleasing order for the sake of influencing opinion, entertaining or of
interpreting significant news in such a way that its importance to the average reader will be
clear.

According to Tine (2017), an editorial is a stated stand on a topical issue, which expresses the
opinion of a media platform by critically interpreting the issue and placing it at the disposal of
the readers aimed at informing, educating, influencing or persuading them. In essence, the
editorial illuminates the intelligence of the day, argues the merits or demerits of a public issue
and seeks to answer some complex problems of public concern. Essentially, the editorial is
published anonymously because it the not the opinion of the writer but that of the
organisation.

Commentary
A commentary is an expression of sound opinion or offering of explanation about an event or
situation. It is a descriptive spoken account (especially on the broadcast media) of an event or
performance as it happens. It can also be a set of explanatory or critical notes in text usually
voiced on a broadcast medium. In other words, a commentary is a record of events usually
written by a participant. Writing a commentary means stating your stand, insight, analysis,
explication, personal reaction, evaluation or reflection about a concrete detail in an essay. A
commentary discusses the fundamental concepts and general beliefs as well as the effects of an
event or an innovative thing that is fresh.

In writing commentaries, one is supposed to have an in-depth knowledge about the issue in
discourse as one will be presenting one’s unique viewpoints on various aspects of the issue or
problem.

Opinion
This is a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter. It is a belief
stronger than impression but less strong than positive knowledge. In other words, an opinion is a
generally held view, a formal expression of judgment or advice by an expert. In a nutshell, an
opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute. It suggests a settled idea reflective
of one’s feelings.

Column
This is a piece in a newspaper or magazine that is almost always written by the same person or is
always about the same topic (e.g. fashion, politics, health arts or literature). In simple terms, a
column is a journalistic piece that appears regularly in a publication, such as a newspaper or
magazine.
Why Study Editorial and/or Commentary Writing?
Many people have argued that there is no need to study editorial writing under classroom
conditions and that after all, not all journalist write the editorial. In spite of that plausible line of
thought, there are some compelling reasons why journalist or students of journalism must learn
the techniques and mechanics of editorial writing under classroom or rather, lecture room
conditions. Prominent among these are:

All journalists have the potential to grow or rise to the highest position in the profession-editor
and will then need the editorial to influence, educate or even persuade his readers on an issue of
public interest as well as provide some answers to complex issues of public concern. However, if
he is not conversant with the techniques of editorial writing, he may end up confusing his
readers.

Even cursory look at some of the editorials in today’s dailies reveal an appalling situation, which
goes to confirm that the writer was not grounded in the art of editorial writing. Therefore, there is
every need for the aspiring journalist to study the art of writing incisive editorials while in
training rather than learning on the job. After all, it is said that “practice makes for perfection.”

There is a dearth of text books to teach editorial writing so the mass communication student
should learn it first hand from his instructors.

The problem associated with the lack of a systematic training for a systematic pattern of writing
editorials is another reason that makes it imperative for editorial writing to be learnt under
classroom conditions.

Some people erroneously think that journalism is an all-comers-affair so people from such
disciplines as history, literature, sociology and even political science have veered into journalism
and are writing editorials that are not living up to expectations. In the light of the foregoing, the
study of editorial writing by students of journalism will separate the boys from the men when
editorial writing is concerned.

Journalist should learn the art of editorial writing, if for nothing else, to at least, dispel the notion
that journalism is baseless and of no effect.

Moreover, a journalist who is fully baked in the art of editorial writing will not only write
editorials that will influence, persuade and advice, but his editorials will achieve all that without
being insultive and/or attacking other people’s sensitivities.

Evolution of the Editorial Pages in the Print Media

The development of the editorial pages in the print media was occasioned by the
departmentalization of the newspaper into such departments as News, Politics, Sports, Fashion,
Metro etc. with that development, there arose a need for the editorial to be allotted a page or two
in the newspaper.
The era of the free market place of ideas as enunciated by the Libertarian Theory, which believed
that humans should be allowed to express themselves made it imperative to devote a page or two
in the newspaper where the people can inject their opinions on the facts available in the news.

The development of media theories such as the Social Responsibility Theory, which holds that
the newspaper or any other medium for that matter should be socially responsible by explaining
to its audience members what is going on gave impetus for the development of the editorial
pages where issues can be analyzed and interpreted.

The complex nature and controversies surrounding events in today’s world has also created a
reason for the development of the editorial pages. As society becomes more complex, the news,
which is expressed in a few words has increasingly become inadequate in in explaining these
complexities hence the need to develop the editorial pages where more facts can be presented to
explain the complexities.

The competition from the electronic media with their “FIESTEST” style of reporting news
engendered in the Newspapers the need to develop the editorial pages, which will counter this
competition with the “MOSTEST” for their readers.

The emergence of the elite class in the society that is no longer satisfied with the bare-facts of the
news imbedded in the what, who, where, when and the how but want to know the why as well as
the background to the events has created a reason for the development of the editorial pages.

Functions of the Editorial Pages

The editorial serves different functions to different people who either write or attend to it.
For the writer, the editorial provides an opportunity to express their views on topical or burning
issues in the society. It gives the media platform its personality, its conscience, its spine as well
as provides a golden opportunity for the paper to express its convictions. More significantly, the
editorial plays an agenda setting role by raising issues to the plane of discussion.

For the reader, the editorial helps to bring order out of the bedlam, jumble and complexity of the
news of the day. Editorials help to order or rank and explain the events in the news. It helps to
clear confusion and complexity created by the various news of the day. The editorial fights
battles for the reader by advocating for better conditions of life for the populace.

On the whole, editorials give writers and readers the opportunity to air their views on topical
issues in society and by so doing chart a way forward.

Types of Editorials
Editorial of Interpretation: These editorials attempt to provide adequate information on the
topic or issue under discourse. It explains the meaning or significance of a situation, current idea,
condition, or news event. These editorials basically identify issues and provide background
information on them. The writer does not argue or criticise but merely presents both sides of an
issue and leaves the judgment to the readers.
Editorial of Criticism: These editorials point out the good or bad features of problem or situation
mentioned in the news. There main purpose is influence the readers and but at the end, they also
suggest solutions to issues under discussion.

Editorial of Appreciation: These editorials are written with the sole aim of appreciating,
commending or praising a person, an institution or an organisation. They also serve as accolades
compliments, tributes and palms.

Entertainment Editorial: These editorials employ satire, which is the use of sarcasm or keen wit
to denounce abuses or follies in the society. In other words, the editorial ridicules or makes fun
of a subject it intends to improve. It is a satirical treatment of a serious subject.

Editorial of Argument and Persuasion: These editorials do not only take a firm stand on a
problem controversy or condition but also present facts to defend that stand as well as attempt to
persuade the reader to think in the same way. This editorial often proffers a solution for the
problem and advises some definite actions to be taken.

Writing the Editorial

Planning the Editorial
The first step to a successful editorial is pains taken research. The editorial writer must conduct
detailed research into the topic he wants to write on not only to get the facts about the issue but
also to get different perspectives on the issue so as to be in position to present argument for or
against the issue. The editorial writer must of necessity have a grasp of the language he is using
to write the editorial. He must write in flowery language but avoid high sounding words because
he is not writing to impress but to express.

The editorial writer must be abreast of the topical news items in the society, this is because the
peg of the editorial is almost always a news item.