The editorial column is the heart of journalism’s persuasive side. These articles, along with op-eds and commentary, shape public discourse. Whether they’re expressing an opinion on a breaking news event, praising someone who has done well in their field or just making the reader chuckle, these pieces are crucial to the health of any publication. However, it’s important to keep these different types of opinion pieces separate from one another. This will allow you to better understand their purpose and how they fit into the larger picture of journalism.
Editorials are a publication’s official stance on an issue. They often feature a single writer, but may be authored by experts from outside the newspaper as well. A good editorial is both balanced in its analysis and crusading in its thrust. It also has a literary style, in that the thought is clothed well in language, but not drowned in it.
A commentary is an opinion piece based on the facts of a specific topic or event. It’s a good way to bring attention to an issue and encourage debate.
An op-ed, or “opposite the editorial page,” is a piece that shares a viewpoint that’s contrary to a newspaper’s own. It’s an ideal way to get the opinion of experts from all over the world into a paper and create conversation on an issue. All of these articles play a critical role in any newspaper, and they’re all part of a writer’s toolkit for informing, persuading and entertaining readers.