Tips for grabbing readers for the opinion section in your student newspaper.

1. Editorials,Editorials,
ColumnsColumns
and Lettersand Letters
Things to thinkThings to think
about when itabout when it
comes to studentcomes to student
opinion in theopinion in the
scholastic pressscholastic press
Karl GrubaughKarl Grubaugh
Granite Bay (Calif.) HSGranite Bay (Calif.) HS

2. EditorialEditorial
PoliciesPolicies
 Yes, you need one; keep it simpleYes, you need one; keep it simple
What should go in it? Ideas:What should go in it? Ideas:
 Get some distance between theGet some distance between the
newspaper and school officials,newspaper and school officials,
non-J students … and younon-J students … and you
 Cite the Constitution and state lawCite the Constitution and state law
 Include letters to the editor policyInclude letters to the editor policy
 Include advertising and guestInclude advertising and guest
commentary policies (reasons forcommentary policies (reasons for
why you won’t publish materials)why you won’t publish materials)

3. Editorials: TheEditorials: The
voice of thevoice of the
newspapernewspaper
• A byline? Probably not.
• Input from other editors? Probably so.
• Here’s a cool format I found years ago
that you can use, too.

4. Editorial StructureEditorial Structure
 Catch Attention:Catch Attention:
 Commit:Commit:
 ConcedeConcede
 Counter: Strong argumentCounter: Strong argument
 Convince: Stronger argumentConvince: Stronger argument

5. Editorial Structure,Editorial Structure,
continuedcontinued Clinch: Strongest argumentClinch: Strongest argument
 Commit again:Commit again:
 Cap it off:Cap it off:
 A final note:A final note:

6. Types ofTypes of
editorialseditorials
 Focus? Significant news topicFocus? Significant news topic
with a current news hookwith a current news hook
 Four types:Four types:
– Explain/interpret: how theExplain/interpret: how the
newspaper covered a sensitivenewspaper covered a sensitive
topic (we often try to link ourtopic (we often try to link our
editorial to a story on A1)editorial to a story on A1)
– Criticize: Constructively criticizeCriticize: Constructively criticize
actions, decisions, situations.actions, decisions, situations.
Offer solutions!Offer solutions!
– Persuade: Focus first on thePersuade: Focus first on the
solution; encourage specific,solution; encourage specific,
positive action.positive action.
– Praise: Commend people and/orPraise: Commend people and/or
organizations; more rare.organizations; more rare.
 Style? Typically thoughtful,Style? Typically thoughtful,
considered, careful, reflective,considered, careful, reflective,
seriousserious
 Thanks to Alan WeintrautThanks to Alan Weintraut
of Annandale, Va.of Annandale, Va.

7. ColumnColumn
writingwriting
 Purpose?Purpose?
– Entertainment/humorEntertainment/humor
– InformationInformation
– IndignationIndignation
– Etc.Etc.
 Who are some of your faves?Who are some of your faves?
– Leonard PittsLeonard Pitts
– Rick ReillyRick Reilly
– Maureen DowdMaureen Dowd
– Gene WeingartenGene Weingarten
– Others?Others?
 How do you teach column writing?How do you teach column writing?
– Not easy (is it a gift?)Not easy (is it a gift?)
– I regularly print a column for my staffI regularly print a column for my staff
meetings, have kids read it, and discuss whymeetings, have kids read it, and discuss why
it worksit works
– Being published in the Gazette op-ed sectionBeing published in the Gazette op-ed section
is COMPETITIVE!is COMPETITIVE!
– Try to avoid too many first-person, ChickenTry to avoid too many first-person, Chicken
Soup For the Soul-style essays – the bestSoup For the Soul-style essays – the best

8. What aboutWhat about
letters?letters?
 Yes, you want letters to the editorYes, you want letters to the editor
 No, you don’t want to get into aNo, you don’t want to get into a
pissing match with readerspissing match with readers
 Let readers have the final sayLet readers have the final say
 How to lose a libel judgmentHow to lose a libel judgment
 The publication cannot hideThe publication cannot hide
behind a defense of “we didn’tbehind a defense of “we didn’t
write the letter, we just publishedwrite the letter, we just published
it”it”
 Limit the length of letters – 250Limit the length of letters – 250
words?words?
 Decide in advance how you’ll dealDecide in advance how you’ll deal
with grammar, spelling, etc.with grammar, spelling, etc.
 We edit letters the same way weWe edit letters the same way we
edit columns and editorials – it’s aedit columns and editorials – it’s a
bit of a cheap shot to make letterbit of a cheap shot to make letter
writers look stupidwriters look stupid

9. OtherOther
ideas/issuesideas/issues
in yourin your
op-edop-ed
sectionssections ForumsForums
 Heard on the Bay (onHeard on the Bay (on
the street Q&A)the street Q&A)
 Editorial cartoons–Editorial cartoons–
single panels andsingle panels and
stripsstrips
 Thumbs up, thumbsThumbs up, thumbs
downdown
 Point/CounterpointPoint/Counterpoint
 Design issues: BigDesign issues: Big
illustrations, columnillustrations, column
mugs, drop caps, etc.mugs, drop caps, etc.

10. Thanks!Thanks!