This document provides guidance on writing columns for school newspapers. It discusses the structure and elements of a column, including a headline, lead, facts with supporting evidence, expressing an opinion on the facts, and a concluding call to action. It emphasizes using personal experience to discuss issues in an engaging way while avoiding plagiarism. Columns should be clearly written on relevant local topics using facts to back up opinions. The document also stresses the importance of ethics in column writing.

1. COLUMN WRITING
going personal but factual
RICKY V. TID
School Paper Adviser, Ang Pithaya
Regional Training-Workshop of Selected Elementary School Paper Advisers
Regional Education Learning Center, Rawis, Legazpi City
September 1-4, 2018

2. Column Writing
• Article giving opinions or perspective
• 500-800 words
• Editorial – opinion/stand of the newspaper or
school publication, or of the editors of the paper
• Column – opinion of the columnist, not necessarily
shared by the news

3. Column Writing
• Originally : OPPOSITE THE EDITORIAL
• Now: Opinion - Editorial

4. Sample Structure
• Headline (Title) – try to use some alliteration
• By-line – your name
• Lead (hook) – a shocking start or a rhetorical
question works well
-creatively introduce your topic
-clearly present your main point

5. Sample Structure
• Present your 2-5 supporting FACTS: (Each fact is
its own paragraph)
• This involves:
1. POINT – state the fact
2. PROOF – paraphrase or quote an external
source;
3. ANALYZE – comment on the proof presented

6. Sample Structure
• Write about your opinion on the facts you have
included (start with a strong stance). Comment on
each fact.
• Conclude by creatively restating your main point
• Finish with a statement linking to your lead (a CALL
TO ACTION works well)

7. HEADLINE/BY-LINE/LEAD
(50 WORDS)
2-5 FACTS
(250 WORDS)
OPINION + PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
(250 WORDS)
CLOSING +
CALL-TO-ACTION
(50 WORDS)

8. Variety of Column Pieces
• National or Regional Issues
• Local/School Concerns
• Global Issues
• Human Interest
ENSURE THAT ISSUES ARE GROUNDED AND
CONNECTED TO NATIONAL/LOCAL EXPERIENCE

9. Experiential
• Personal is Political
• Personal experience should be tested against facts
• No such thing as “This is my opinion”
• Even opinions should be based on facts, not
merely emotions
• Column Writing promotes diversity

10. Discourse
• The ability or power to connect seemingly
unrelated matters
• Duterte and Hitler
• Martial Law and No Hair Color Policy
• Heavy Traffic and Ants

11. Turn insights into expression
• Empower students to find their voice
• Teach them to learn, not to stock knowledge
• Teach them to express what they have learned
• Encourage them to re-think their learnings

12. Ethics of Column Writing
• You cannot succeed as a columnist unless you
combine your craft skills with a strong critical and
sound ethical decision-making
• The more competent you are in ethical decision-
making, the more confident you will become in
your ability to meet the tests you face

13. On Plagiarism
“Great journalists credit others.”
-Aly Colon, Poynter Institute

14. How to Avoid Plagiarism
• Does this wording sound familiar?
• Do I know where it came from?
• Have I arranged my notes so attributed material remains separate
from my own material?
• Can I document the source of my information, description, or
observation?
• Am I giving credit, or some indication, as to where this material
came from when appropriate?
• Have I double-checked the source of work?

15. How to Write a Column
• Determine why you are writing a column
-To entertain or to inform?
- Entertain – humorous or make a serious
topic comical
- Inform – factual, educational, serious

16. How to Write a Column
• Write about your opinion
-by nature biased and opinionated
-you still have the journalistic
integrity and not maliciously slander anyone

17. How to Write a Column
• Choose relevant topics
-move fast
-choose relevant topics that you
have good perspective or advice about

18. How to Write a Column
• Write about people
-using real people in your column
gives it a stronger impact
Example:
If you are writing a column on your opinions on
immigration, use the story of a local immigrant in
your column.

19. How to Write a Column
• Localize and personalize your column
-You can use your experience to show you
understand something from a first hand information.
Example:
If you are talking about problems in the educational system, don’t be too
general. Focus on the schools in your town and the problems kids in your
town have faced or still face at school

20. How to Write a Column
• Stick to a theme
-same general topic (beauty,
politics, local issues)
Example:
If your theme is beauty you can talk about curly hair in one
piece, eyeliner in another, and lipstick in another.

21. How to Write a Column
• Write about personal topics
-think about your audience and
how they pertain to their topic

22. How to Write a Column
• Create a structure
-Q and A form
-how to format

23. Creating Your Column
• Write clearly
-confusing and technical language
-short and simple paragraphs
-600-800 words

24. Creating Your Column
• Write in AP Style
-refer to AP Style Guidebook

25. Creating Your Column
• Use first person
✔ “I find it horrific that our taxes are not being
used to help more homeless people find
jobs.”
x “Ricky Tid, the author, was horrified to
discover her taxes were not being used to help
more homeless people find work:

26. Creating Your Column
• Write the way you talk
-Does not have to be as formal
-Casual and personal
“Hell’s Kitchen, a neighborhood in New York City, is known for its variety of
delicious restaurant.”
“As a self-proclaimed ‘pasta expert,’ I thought I knew good pasta. However,
when I went to Hell’s Kitchen during my trip to New York, I ate fettuccine that
changed my life.”

27. Creating Your Column
• Write an attention grabbing lead
“It was 11 p.m. and I still had not eaten dinner. I was starving, angry
and lost in New York. I finally found an Italian restaurant that was still
open and ran inside, completely unaware that I was about to have
fettuccine that would change my opinion on pasta forever.”

28. Creating Your Column
• Use facts
-back up your opinion with facts
-conduct interviews
-do online research

29. Creating Your Column
• Use analogies to simplify your writing
-explaining something complicated or
technical
“When trying to understand how the business was hiding their money to get out
paying taxes, think of the files in your computer. When you put these files in the
“trash can” they seem gone, but really they are still there and accessible if you
drag them out. The CEO put his money into “trash can”, so the government
would not see it.”

30. Creating Your Column
• Be passionate, but have a solution
-don’t just complain
-finish off with solution
“I am disappointed and disgusted by the number of homeless
veterans living on our streets. Let’s raise the taxes of the wealthy and
use that money to help the homeless.”

33. References
• Andrada, Mykel, University of the Philippines-Diliman
• https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Newspaper-Column
• Ang Pithaya
• The Synchronizer