The purpose of a column is to inform, interpret, and critique events for readers. A good columnist explains the background, significance, and consequences of news and determines if events are isolated or part of broader patterns. They also assess different perspectives on issues from members of the community. To be an effective columnist requires strong writing skills, including the ability to write in clear, logical, and engaging prose with a forceful yet flexible style. Columnists must also be able to observe keenly, have a wide background of knowledge, and be resourceful and fair-minded in their analysis. Maintaining a sense of humor is also important. There are different potential column types, including text, number, date/time,

1. Writing Columns

2. 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:
a. Giving the background of an event b.
b. Determining whether a certain event is an isolate case
or part of the pattern
c. Pointing out how the event will affect or not affect his
readers.
d. Pooling together and assessing comments of readers
from the different segments of society.
• To entertain the readers

4. Characteristics and Qualities of a Columnist
1. Ability to write good English or
Filipino, whichever is his medium.
 2. Originality, creative ability, and
imagination.
3. Writing skill, a forceful, flexible
style.
 4. Ability to observe keenly.

6. 5. Clear, logical thinking.
6. Wide background.
7. Resourcefulness.
8. Have a sense of fairness.
9. Sense of humor.

7. TYPES OF COMLUMNS
 Text: The default type. When text is a URL, Fusion Tables
will often automatically format it to display a hyperlink or
image in the table.
 Number: Integers or decimal numbers. The second column
of a "two-column location" is often number column. In some
cases, for example with United States zip codes, changing a
column from Number to Text may give better results.
 Date/Time: Dates can be sorted and filtered appropriately
when the column is Date/Time. In some cases, for example
with four-digit years, it may be easier to make the column type
Number or Text.
 Location: This column type indicates that the information in
this column describes a location. The description might be a
name of a place, an address, a latitude-longitude pair, or even
KML. A location column is required for map visualizations.