This document discusses the role of columns in journalism, highlighting their importance in informing, interpreting, and entertaining readers. It describes various types of columns, the sources of material, and qualities that make a good column. Additionally, it emphasizes the influential role of columnists in both print and digital media.

1. Column and it’s Role in
Journalism
Name: Vishva Gajjar
Paper: Mass Communication and Media Studies
Email: vishvagajjar27@gmail.com
Department of English (MKBU)

2. Colum
n:
• Journalists occasionally write regular pieces for publications. These
are considered columns and the journalists that write them are
columnists. They distinguish the columnist's voice and personality,
creating a regular piece that readers look forward to.
• Columns are written about everything from advice to gossip.
Audiences determine the types of columns they want and the
columnists they want to hear from by the frequency they read.
• Publications publish the most popular columns to establish loyal
readerships and numbers.

3. Contin
ue:
• A column plays a very significant role in journalism. If we say
the print media heavily relies on the columns, it will be a
correct statement in many ways. Since the columnists are
highly experienced, skilled, knowledgeable and have good
sources, their opinions are respected and register the
impacts on the minds of the readers. So, when a celebrated
columnist associates with a newspaper or publication, the
circulation is bound to increase. (Punn)

4. Types of
column:
• According to Purpose:
oEditorial Column
oReaders Column
oBusiness Column
oSports Column
oArt Column
oWomen’s Column
oEntertainment Column
oNew Products and Invention
oPersonality
oReview
• According to Content:
o The Opinion Column
o The Hodge-Podge Column
o The Essay Column
o The Gossip Column

5. Sources of
Material:
• Current news
• Observations
• Interviews
• Commendable projects
• People researches
• Investigations

6. Purpose of the
Column:
• The main purpose of the column is to inform, interpret and to a large
degree to fiscalize.
• To explain the news. The columnist has to explain their significance and
consequence by:
1. Giving the background of an event
2. Determining whether a certain event is an isolate case or part of the
pattern
3. Pointing out how the event will affect or not affect his readers.
4. Pooling together and assessing comments of readers from the
different segments of society.
• To entertain the readers.

7. What makes a Good
Column?
• Columnists shouldn't be propagandists.
• Columns are no place for feelgoodery.
• The column must never be a write-only publication—if it can't engage and
connect with its targeted audience, it should be abandoned.
• Columns shouldn't act as apologists for any group or interest.
• Columns should keep important issues alive.
• Columns should be an abduction engine in the logician's sense of
delivering the best explanation of the events of interest.
• Iconoclasty and abduction, are the technical foundation of a good column.
(Berghel)

8. Columnist of
India:
• Ashok Malik
• Dinesh Raheja
• Pushpa Girimaji
• Sindhu Joy
• Jay Vasavada
• Taarak Mehta
• Chetan Bhagat
• Barkha Dutt

9. Conclusi
on:
• The columnists can make or break anything. Most of the time,
their experiences go in a right direction and their sources bring
up the correct information, which reveals the hidden facts. In
today’s world of digital media, their role has surpassed the print
media and they are now often seen in anchoring the talk shows,
delivering their opinions on news channels and they are also
seen running their own blogs. Their role is not only big in
journalism but also mammoth in society

10. Works Cited:
• Berghel, Hal. "What Makes a Good Column." 5 2015. computer.org. Web. 23 2 2020.
<https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/co/2015/05/mco2015050084/13rRUy3gmVI>.
• Naveed, Fakhar. "Column, Definition, Types of Column and Writing Column." 25 10 2011.
masscommunicationtalk.com. Web. 23 2 2020.
<https://www.masscommunicationtalk.com/column-definition-types-of-column-writing-
column.html>.
• Punn, Goher Iqbal. "Column-What's It All About and It's Role in Journalism." 9 2019.
researchgate.net. Web. 23 2 2020.
<https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336020403_Column_-
_What's_It_All_About_and_Its_Role_in_Journalism>.

11. Thank You