Sub EditingHow to write a

Column

A column means straight pillars often found as the dominant feature in historical buildings and structures.

In a form of news story, there are single, double and multi column stories determined by the number of columns a news story has been written in.

Column writing is an entirely different element of the newspapers. It is a regular piece of writing which is published on fixed days,

under a permanent heading. However, the pattern for column writing is changing e.g not all

English newspapers today give a specific title to columnists’ columns.

Urdu Newspapers to date publish columns by columnists under their specific column titles. Listed below are some of the column writers, their column titles.

What is a Column

Columnist Title by which the column is published

Newspaper

Ansar Abbasi Kis say munsafi chahain Jang

Hamid Mir Kalam Kamaan Jang

Talat Hussain Rah e Raast Express

Javed Chaudhry Zero Point Express

Abdul Qadir Ghair siyasi baatain Express

Rais Fatima Dareechay Express

Ayaz Amir Islamabad diary The News

Famous Columnist

Munno Bhai Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi Z. A . Suehri Khalid Hasan Masud Hasan Babar Sattar Naseem Zahra M.J Akbar Cowasjee Nadeem F. Paracha

Some other columnists

Publishes on regular basis, on a particular spot in the paper

Usually written by freelance writers There is a permanent caption to every column to

identify it with its writer There is a picture of the writer with the column It is a critical and analytical piece of writing Subjective and doesn’t reflect the policy of the

newspaper Journalistic piece of writing

Components of a Column

Letter to editor Movie/ book reviews if they have a fixed space in the paper

or magazine with a specific writer. Comic columns Q/A professional columns e.g a column on gardening in

Dawn newspaper. Almost anything can be talked about in a column. They can be

on political, historical, literary, religious, world affairs, social, business, showbiz issues.

Style of column writing Initially Maulana Abdul Majid Salik and Mulana Gulam Rasool

Meher started the concept of writing humorous columns in the newspaper ‘Inqilaab’.

Generally a column writing can be argumentative, serious, or humorous storytelling technique.

Types of Columns

Personal A columnist must possess some qualities at the

personal level, as these are essential for him to be known as a credible individual .

Professional Someone with just personal qualities is never a 

successful professional, until he possesses certain qualities which are a must for any professional.

Qualities of a column writer

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 qualified, but with the passage of time, they have mastered the traits of column writing and they are now heavily paid by newspapers. 

Those who are not into reading, have to expose themselves, sooner or later to this.

On the other hand, degrees do matter now, as these have become a pre-requisite to the publications because times have changed. 

Now people definitely see who is talking and what, 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 have knowledge of the related fields for which he is writing.

Qualities of a column writer

Well read Reading is a must for everyone, but for a columnist, reading of

almost all subjects is a necessity because knowing everything around him and mastering one can do. 

Ones subject, he must know it thoroughly because a columnist acts as a preacher-cum-opinion maker; hence he must know things to put them in a proper perspective.

Well-versed in Language Good command of the language

is also a must for a columnist, whereas a reporter or an editor can do with simple language, but a columnist has to play with words to create humor, situation, criticism, argument and conclusion. 

So it is very important for a writer to present ideas in better language. 

Qualities of a column writer

Sense of humour Humour makes a columnist popular, but it is

a must for him that he never uses gross language or dirty jokes.  Some columnists, mostly of,the Urdu newspapers and English rarely, 

use jokes but to good avail. Actually, in,the process, they are making comparisons, which is again

 popular with Urdu  columnists. Good sense of humour making the column looks softer in its outlook.

Quality reporter A columnist has qualities of a good reporter, as City diary or personal

columns,cannot,be based on news,items.  The columnists move around and look at,the society besides seeing t

hrough the news to get insight. Moreover, they are also looking for a scoop and think and probe like 

a  reporter, while analysing things like a columnist.

Qualities of a column writer

Complete knowledge about laws and ethics of journalism Huge responsibilities are on,a columnist' shoulders, 

when he is writing.  He knows the laws, and keeps

journalistic ethics in mind besides never relegating the editorial policy to redundancy.

A,responsible columnist never creates a problem for the 

editors by being oblivious to the above. He also knows the readers well, and always give du

e respect to their religious feelings.

Qualities of a column writer