The document discusses different types of columns that can be found in newspapers and magazines. It describes columns as belonging to their author who has control over the content. Effective columns require clear thought and communication of a few main ideas or opinions. Some column types discussed include: personal columns, advice columns, sports columns, political columns, and specialized columns focused on a single topic like law, religion, or fashion. The goal of many columns is to engage readers through opinions that provoke reaction, agreement, or enlightenment.

2.  Columns, like features, come in many forms. They are
defined by ownership; the column "belongs" to its author
who has that ultimate journalistic luxury, a slot,
guaranteed space over which he or she presides and has,
in some cases, near total control over content
 Writing a column requires clarity of thought, the ability to
communicate a message clearly and simply, and an
engaging style.
 The column must be planned so that the writer knows
before he or she starts just what they are going to say.
There must not be too many ideas (two or three will
usually suffice), but plenty of opinions; the bland, obvious
or fence-sitting must be ruthlessly expunged. Columns are
there to get a reaction - agreement, disagreement,
amusement, enlightenment.

3.  Friendly atmosphere
It is the objective of the column-writing to make a friendly and
amicable atmosphere, without any intermediary between
the direct contacts with the columnist. The readers feel a newness, freshnes
s and friendliness in the writing and reading of columns of diverse nature.
 Essence of Experience
The columnists undertake to mingle their life-long experience
and knowledge in their columns, in friendly tones and
amicable atmosphere. The columnists mold and mobilize the readers to sust
ain a fair amount of desirability to go through the columns.
 True genuine public opinion
To enrich their knowledge, information and to form a
strong habit for reference, cross-reference and
repeated consultation are carried out. A
personal column based on wisdom and worldly and religious
knowledge assists the columnists for true and genuine public opinion.

4.  Individuality
The tinge of personal
and individual inclination is predominant present in the column-
writing. We usually notice few names of columnists
in all the newspapers and periodicals, whose columns enjoy pop
ular approval. Their writings and
sayings are given proper importance and weight due
to individuality and personal address.
 Propagation of supreme values
Mainly current affairs and the issues of
the times are the subjects of these columns. The art and the
demands of the column-
writing are to present the issues by detailed explanation and ex
planation.

5.  Personal
A columnist must possess some qualities at the
personal level, as these are essential for him to
be known
as a better individual as well.
 Professional
Someone with just personal qualities is never a suc
cessful professional, until he possesses certain
qualities, which are a must for any professional.

6.  Highly Educated
It is a fact that not all columnists are well-
read or educated. In Urdu journalism, we find that there are
many columnists who are not highly well-
qualified, but with the passage of time, they have mastered the
traits of columnists and they are now heavily paid by
the newspapers. No doubt, they have definitely
well-
read now. Those who are not into reading, expose themselves, sooner or late
r.
On the other hand, degrees do matter now, as these have become a pre-
requisite to the introduction
because time has changed. Now people definitely see who is talking and wha
t, especially when the media is
progressing day and night; hence making it pertinent for a columnist, to
be well-read and educated.
It is deemed so because he will understand the changing times,
and will be able make readers comprehend too.
Secondly, it important for him to having knowledge of
the related fields for which he is writing

7.  Essay Columns
Just as nature and color editorials have
appeal for many a metropolitan daily editor, so
the columnist,
who arouses a similar nostalgia and mood in his writi
ng, attracts attention. These require perceptiveness
or possibly just and overpowering interest
in people. All authors do not possess this.
This type of column is rare today. Students of English
literature will recognize the essay columns of
Joseph Chesterton and A.A. Mime. As
an essay, it has style. Its range
is unlimited but it must stick to one rigid rule-
it must never be deductive or dull.

8.  Personality Diary Columns
The Diary columns come from public figures, who ar
e talking about their interesting incidents with
others.
 How- to-do or Advice Columns
These educate the readers, as there is
a gentle instruction written in such a way as not to a
ppear to be a
lesson. These columns usually appear on magazine
and daily pages

9.  Sports Column
There was a time when some leading newspapers had their daily sports columns,
but this is getting to be
rarer these days. However, event-based article-cum-
columns are there. Some newspapers try to make-up
for the dearth this way. Perhaps it is still a field less trodden
 Question and Answer Column
This column comes in various colors. It could be
a medical column in which a qualified doctor answers
queries on health.
 Standard Column
This type of column handles editorial subjects of lesser importance and deals wit
h each in a paragraph or
two. They are unsigned and are frequently the work of two or more members of
the editorial staff.
Outstanding columns in this category are `Topics of the Times" in
the New York Times.

10.  Political columns
These are an extension of the Standard Column, but it is considered
of very serious nature. This is
especially done in pursuance of the Editorial policy of the
newspaper, and these are considered to be one
of the most-read columns
 The Middle Column
The `middle' is so-called because it occupies a position on
the editorial page between the main article and
the standard column. Its sole purpose is
to lighten what could otherwise be serious reading, which an
editorial page normally is and is expected to be. It is generally humorous and
in any event it should be
entertaining and is usually written in a lighter vein. In length it
is about 500 words and the more off- beat
it is the better.

11.  The Hodge-Podge Column
Here the columnist presents to his reader a Hodge Podge of stuff a little or
no consequence on the
principle that variety is not only the spice of life but a sure formula to catch read
er's interest.

12. It is properly called the signed editorial column. In it
we find what resembles an editorial in form, but an
editorial so palpably personal that it is a cross between an editorial and
a column. When an editor writes a
piece under his own name he is trying to lay his prestige on the line.
These do not necessarily depend on humorous elements only.
They are and can be handled efficiently by
the experienced and stylish writer of
columns. Its demands are different than the other forms of columns.
In it are included one's personal views and opinions on any subject or topic in
the world like an editorial
in any style.

13. -These types of columns are generally limited and confined to
a single subject or topic, with the underlying
purpose to render better and detailed service to the subject
or topic under study and examination. It may
be confined to a single department of life or learning. Specialized
Columns are arranged in accordance
with the circumstances. Under specialized columns are included the
columns like, "Legal Column".
"Religious or Deeni Column", `Astrology' or Palmistry Column", `Sports
Columns", "Fashion Column",
Medical Column", "Women's Column", `Students, Laborers" or Childre
n Column". In the specialized
Columns, there is simplicity of
language and style and no literary tastes are added unnecessarily, nor
do
they reflect any personal
or individual trends. Specialized Columns can be called "Professional
Columns".

14. - These mainly comprise of commentary
and criticism on books, Criticism columns on films and
theatre,
columns on performance in sports, columns on
the study of the impending and actual changes in the
different walks of life