Writing columns
- 2. COLUMN • 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.
- 3. • 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.
- 4. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION • 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 read ers feel a newness, freshness and friendliness in the writing and reading of columns of diverse nature.
- 5. • Essence of Experience The columnists undertake to mingl e their life-long experience and knowledge in their colum ns, in friendly tones and amicable atmosphere. The col umnists mold and mobilize th e readers to sustain a fair amo unt of desirability to go through the columns.
- 6. • True genuine public opinion To enrich their knowledge, infor mation and to form a strong habit for reference, cross- reference and repeated consultation are carried out. A personal column based on wisdo m and worldly and religious knowledge assists the columnists for true and genuine public opinion.
- 7. • Individuality The tinge of personal and individual inclination is pre dominant present in the column-writing. We usually notice few names of columnists in all the newspapers and perio dicals, whose columns enjoy po pular approval. Their writings and sayings are given proper import ance and weight due to individuality and personal address.
- 8. Propagation of supreme values Mainly current affairs an d the issues of the times are the subjec ts of these columns. The art and the demands of the column- writing are to present th e issues by detailed expl anation and explanation .
- 9. QUALITIES OF A COLUMN WRITER • 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.
- 10. • Professional Someone with just personal qualities is neve r a successful professional, until he possesse s certain qualities, which are a must for any professio nal.
- 11. 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, s ooner or later. 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 tal king and what, especially when the media is progressing day and night; hence making it pertinent for a colu mnist, 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.
- 12. • Widely Read Reading is a must for every one, but for a columnist, reading o f almost all subjects is a necessity because knowing everything around him and mastering one can do. One subject, he must know it thoroughly because a columnist acts as a preacher-cum- opinion maker; hence he must know things to put t hem in a proper perspective.
- 13. • Well-versed in Language Good command of the language is also a must for a columnist, whereas a reporter o r an editor can do with simple language, but a columnist has to play with w ords to create humour, situation, criticism, argument and conclusion. So it is very important for a writer to present ideas in bet ter language. For columnists, it is a must that they write in the best language.
- 14. • Sense of humor Humor 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 humor making the column looks softer in i ts outlook.
- 15. • 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 through the news to get insight. Moreover, they are also looking for a scoop and thi nk and probe like a reporter, while analysing things like a columnist.
- 16. • 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 editori al 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 due respect t o their religious feelings and nationalistic sentiments.
- 17. TYPES OF COLUMNS • Reporting-in- Depth Columns Background, perspective, and interpretation are give n to various happenings, us ually already presented in hard news. In these column s, current news events are r elated to the past and also to the future.
- 18. "I Think" or Opinionated Columns Either because of extensive training, long time observat ions, or sheer lack of modesty, C olumnists set themselves up as experts and then expound their opi nions for the general public. They try to c ompensate in heat for what they canno t provide in light.
- 19. Gossip Columns Everybody likes to learn a juicy bit o f gossip. One whole field of column writing is built on this characteristic. Such a column contai ns little except its unquestionably ti tillating value; this needs not be the writer's exclusive domain. The u ncovering of a government scandal may have pro found (and beneficial) ramifications. No daily n ewspaper carries a gossip column a nd its natural habit is the film magazine, which flourishes on gossi p, some malicious, some harmless b ut unquestionably titillating.
- 20. Humorous Columns • Columnist tries to find the humorous aspects in life to amus e readers. Sometimes, these spo tlight an event more clearly than thousands of words of expounding and explaining. Man y papers still shy of having regular daily humorous column. Col umns are much liked, which contain some satirical comments. Many papers still shy of having regular daily humorous co lumn. However these columns are much liked, which contain some satirical comm ents.
- 21. Essay Columns Just as nature and color editorials have appeal for many a metropolitan daily edit or, so the columnist, who arouses a similar nostalgia and moo d in his writing, attracts attention. These r equire perceptiveness or possibly just and overpowering interes t in people. All authors do not possess this. This type of column is rare today. Student s 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.
- 22. Personality Diary Columns The Diary columns com e from public figures, who are talking about t heir interesting inciden ts with others.
- 23. How- to-do or Advice Columns These educate the read ers, as there is a gentle instruction wri tten in such a way as n ot to appear to be a lesson. These columns usually appear on mag azine and daily pages.
- 24. Sports Column There was a time when so me leading newspapers ha d their daily sports column s, but this is getting to be rarer these days. However, event-based article-cum- columns are there. Some n ewspapers try to make-up for the dearth this way. Perhaps it is still a field less trodden
- 25. Question and Answer Column This column comes in v arious colors. It could b e a medical column in w hich a qualified doctor answers queries on health.
- 26. Standard Column This type of column handle s editorial subjects of lesser importance and deals with each in a paragraph or two. They are unsigned and are frequently the work of t wo or more members of the editorial staff. Outstanding columns in this category are `Topics of the Times" in the New York Times.
- 27. 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 c onsidered to be one of the most-read columns
- 28. 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 purpos e is to lighten what could otherwise be se rious 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.
- 29. The Hodge-Podge Column Here the columnist pre sents to his reader a H odge Podge of stuff a li ttle or no consequence on the principle that variety is not only the spice of lif e but a sure formula to catch reader's interest.
- 30. Editorial Column 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 h andled efficiently by the experienced and stylish writer of columns. Its demands are different than the oth er forms of columns. In it are included one's personal views and opinion s on any subject or topic in the world like an editorial in any style.
- 31. Specialized Columns • 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 Colum n", `Sports Columns", "Fashion Column", Medical Column", "Women's Column", `Students, Laborers" or Children Column". In the specialized Columns, there is simplicity of language and style and no literary tastes are added unneces sarily, nor do they reflect any personal or individual trends. Specialized Columns can be called "Pro fessional Columns".
- 32. Miscellaneous Columns These mainly comprise of commentary and criticism on books, Critici sm 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.