So what distinguishes editorials?

So what distinguishes editorials?

• It’s your or your publication’s opinion

So what distinguishes editorials?

• It’s your or your publication’s opinion• Almost always on a newsworthy topic: taxes,

elections, politics, crime, social issues such as abortion, education

So what distinguishes editorials?

• It’s your or your publication’s opinion• Almost always on a newsworthy topic: taxes,

elections, politics, crime, social issues such as abortion, education

• It’s clearly marked as opinion

So what distinguishes editorials?

• It’s your or your publication’s opinion• Almost always on a newsworthy topic: taxes,

elections, politics, crime, social issues such as abortion, education

• It’s clearly marked as opinion• Take many of the things we’ve studied about

journalism and toss them out, especially objectivity

“Publications need editorials and columns, in short, to provide the personality and passion that news reporting doesn’t allow...”

Writing editorials

• Keep it tight: 300-500 words

Writing editorials

• Keep it tight: 300-500 words• Always relevant

Writing editorials

• Keep it tight: 300-500 words• Always relevant• Take a strong stand

Writing editorials

• Keep it tight: 300-500 words• Always relevant• Take a strong stand• Attack the issue, not personality

Writing editorials

• Keep it tight: 300-500 words• Always relevant• Take a strong stand• Attack the issue, not personality• Write strong lede and strong closer

Who has editorials

Who has editorials

• Virtually all daily and weekly newspapers, including college newspapers

Typical newspaper layout

Who has editorials

• Virtually all daily and weekly newspapers, including college newspapers

• Many magazines such as New Yorker, Time, New Republic, National Journal, even Sports Illustrated

Who has editorials

• Virtually all daily and weekly newspapers, including college newspapers

• Many magazines such as New Yorker, Time, New Republic, National Journal, even Sports Illustrated

• Many big websites such as Daily Kos, American Spectator, Breitbart, Huffington Post

Who has editorials

• Virtually all daily and weekly newspapers, including college newspapers

• Many magazines such as New Yorker, Time, New Republic, National Journal, even Sports Illustrated

• Many big websites such as Daily Kos, American Spectator, Breitbart, Huffington Post

• Broadcast media such as local TV, networks

Columns

• Always signed, therefore represent the author’s opinion... not necessarily that of the publication

Columns

• Always signed, therefore represent the author’s opinion... not necessarily that of the publication

• Some famous syndicated political columnists are George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd

Columns

• Always signed, therefore represent the author’s opinion... not necessarily that of the publication

• Some famous syndicated political columnists are George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd

• Not limited to politics: can be sports, entertainment, business

So you wanna be a critic

So you wanna be a critic

• Criticism: “considered judgment of or discussion about the qualities of something, especially a creative work”

So you wanna be a critic

• Criticism: “considered judgment of or discussion about the qualities of something, especially a creative work”

• Study, evaluate and interpret

So you wanna be a critic

• Criticism: “considered judgment of or discussion about the qualities of something, especially a creative work”

• Study, evaluate and interpret• Meaning, social context and significance of

the artist’s work

So you wanna be a critic

• Criticism: “considered judgment of or discussion about the qualities of something, especially a creative work”

• Study, evaluate and interpret• Meaning, social context and significance of

the artist’s work• Which means you have to be an expert in the

field in which you work

So you wanna be a critic

• Criticism: “considered judgment of or discussion about the qualities of something, especially a creative work”

• Study, evaluate and interpret• Meaning, social context and significance of the

artist’s work• Which means you have to be an expert in the

field in which you work• More than just unloading on somebody

Areas you might review

Areas you might review

• Movies

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance• Television

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance• Television• Theater

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance• Television• Theater• Other live performance such as comedy,

circuses, dance

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance• Television• Theater• Other live performance such as comedy,

circuses, dance• Books

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance• Television• Theater• Other live performance such as comedy,

circuses, dance• Books• Art

Areas you might review

• Movies• Music: recorded and live performance• Television• Theater• Other live performance such as comedy, circuses,

dance• Books• Art• Food

Areas you might review

• Wine

Areas you might review

• Wine• Beer

Areas you might review

• Wine• Beer• Video games

Areas you might review

• Wine• Beer• Video games• Technology

Areas you might review

• Wine• Beer• Video games• Technology• Cars

Areas you might review

• Wine• Beer• Video games• Technology• Cars• Travel

Ok, you got the gig! Now what?

Ok, you got the gig! Now what?

• Structure your review: no ranting or rambling

Ok, you got the gig! Now what?

• Structure your review: no ranting or rambling• Suggestion: lede, nut graf (could be story line

of movie, history of new restaurant, details of visiting orchestra and the program), what’s good, what’s bad, audience reaction, summary and recommendation

Elements of a review

• It’s a mix of facts and opinion:

“While the Ptomaine Palace’s signature dish – Sauteed Skittles with beur-blanc reduction – scores high on creativity, its gag-inducing texture caused this reviewer’s companion to projectile vomit across the soothing earth tones of the expansive main dining room...”

Elements of a review

• You gotta know your stuff. Don’t review the New York City Ballet if your knowledge of dance is limited to doing the Macarena in pre-school

Elements of a review

• You gotta know your stuff. Don’t review the New York City Ballet if your knowledge of dance is limited to doing the Macarena in pre-school

• Be aware of your biases: just because you despise Thai food, millions adore it

Elements of a review

• You gotta know your stuff. Don’t review the New York City Ballet if your knowledge of dance is limited to doing the Macarena in pre-school

• Be aware of your biases: just because you despise Thai food, millions adore it

• Don’t be pompous

Elements of a review

• Don’t reveal plot twists or ending of movies, books, plays, etc.

Elements of a review

• Don’t reveal plot twists or ending of movies, books, plays, etc.

• Cliche alert: don’t use common adjectives such as delicious, great, awful

Elements of a review

• Don’t reveal plot twists or ending of movies, books, plays, etc.

• Cliche alert: don’t use common adjectives such as delicious, great, awful

• Don’t review amateur productions

Elements of a review

• Don’t reveal plot twists or ending of movies, books, plays, etc.

• Cliche alert: don’t use common adjectives such as delicious, great, awful

• Don’t review amateur productions• You will be called an idiot by your

readers/viewers: everyone is a reviewer today

So write a quick review!

• You are the reviewer for your favorite magazine, website or show

• Write a review of a movie, restaurant or concert that you experienced recently

Assignment 2/18

• Pages 163-173 Inside Reporting• Do exercises 1 & 3 on page 174. Write them

up and turn in next week