POWER TO MOVE

writing strong editorial

and column articles
CAN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

YES!
WE ARE CAMPUS JOURNALISTS.
Traditional reporting
Writer should strive to be neutral. They should not
to have an opinion or to advocate a point of view.

PLAIN FACTS
Op-Ed (Opinion + Editorial)
Writer should have a point of view. They use facts to persuade
people to change their minds, or to confirm their opinions, or to
get people to do something or to stop doing something.

PLAIN FACTS +
OPINION
Where is it found? What is the purpose?
Editorial or Opinion page Contribute to community
conversation
What are its “voice of the
different parts? What is an newspaper”
-can inform
Editorial Op-ED? -can stimulate
Opinion Column thinking
-can mold
Letter to the editor opinions
cartoons -can move the
staff box people to action
How to begin?

1. Identify the audience and purpose of writing.

2. Organize information. Use outlines.

3. Conceptualize witty, catchy, and strong title.
4. Research.
How to organize an
Op-ed?
Four steps in organizing Op-ed:
1. State the subject and your position on the subject in the
introduction
2. Discuss opposing points of view.
3. Prove your position with supporting details
4. Draw a conclusion
S State the problem of situation (news peg).

P State position.

E Provide evidence to support your position.

C State and fute the position of the other side in the conclusion.

S Offer posisble solutions to the problem.

I Introduction

P0 Point of Opposition

RO Rejection of Opposition's point

SA Strong Arguments

c Conclusion
Anyone can have an opinion,
but good op-ed writers make
arguments

An OPINION is simply your view on an

issue.
An ARGUMENT is an opinion that is based
on facts, evidence, and logical reasoning -
not just feelings and preferences.
Does pineapple go well on pizza?
OPINION: No. It does not taste right.
ARGUMENT: No. Pineapple is not
acceptable pizza topping because it
is not Italian.
OPINION: Yes. It is delicious.
ARGUMENT: Yes. Pineapple is
acceptable pizza topping as long as it
is balancrd and not overpowering. It
actually gives texture to the pizza.
Op-eds should not
only contain an
opinion. They must
also be backed up by
evidence.
Types of Evidence:
!. Example and illustrations. describe or report events,
phenomena that exist
Example: 'Kulungin ko silang lahat' Pres.
Duterte dare critics to file an
impeachment complaint against him for
allwoing the Chinese fishermen to
venture into the waters where the
Philippines has exclusive rights.
Types of Evidence:
2. Statistics: numerically represent information about people,
events, and phenomena. They may be expressed in raw
numbers or summarized in percentages and averages.
Example: In January 2019, tehre were 1, 249 newly
confirmed HIV-positive individuals reported to the
HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines. Sixteen
percent (196 cases) had clinical manifestation of
advanced HIV infection at the time of diagnosis says
DOH Epidemiology Bureau.
Types of Evidence:

3. Arifacts: actual exhibits of such things as object,

audiotapes, and videotapes, photographs, and diagrams.
Types of Evidence:

4. Premises: are factual claims that exist as evidence on the

basis of their being accepted as such reflections of human
belief or experience. In other words, these are rules of
wisdom such as “Monkey see. monkey do” or “ What goes
up, must come down.”
Types of Evidence:
5. Scientific evidence: reports the results of field and
laboratory experiments on the effect of one variable on
another.
Example: A study by internet cybersecurity firm
Kaspersky Lab revealed that web-based
infections in the Philippines increased by 230
percent at 31,89 in 2018 compared to 9.49 M
in 2017 which were scanned and blocked by
its products when users accessed websites or
downloaded files.
Types of Evidence:

6. Expert testimony: is interpretive and

evaluative statements made by an expert in a
field regarding factual information relevant to
thet field.
Where to find sources:

1. Do not just rely on google.

2. Visit the library and ask the librarian.
3. Interview experts.
4. Research.
Acceptable sources:

1. Wikipedia is NOT an acceptable source.

2. Personal homepages and blogs are NOT acceptable.
3. Just because it ends in 'org' does not make it a good
source

4. Make sure your expert sources are credible.

Tips for writing Op-eds:
1. Keep it tight. Do not ramble or preamble. Have a point
and get to it. Aim for 300 to 500 words total.
2. Keep it relevant. You should choose current, newsworthy
topics. Choose topics taht people ought to care anout.
Editrial on obscure topcs have limited impact. Do not shy
away from controversial topics.
3. Take a position. Argue for a certain side, cause, or
position. Develop a strong thess statement.
Tips for writing Op-eds:
4. Attack issues, not people. Avoid ad hominem attacks. such
as name-calling.
5. Keep your cool. It is good to be passionate about an
issue but try not to come acreoss as angry. Angry people
usually do not think logically, and tend to base their
arguments on emotions. and not facts, which is less
effective.
6. Old rules apply.
S The bypassing of Commission on Appointments (CA)
of Gina Lopez’s reappointment as Department of

P
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary
is an act of peevishness.

E
Gina Lopez as a staunch anti-mining advocate would
place the DENR to a better position since this would
mean a keener and stricter formulation and
implementation of mining guidelines and polices. Her
strong appeal to stop egregious practices of mining
cannot be undermined. It would entail great
consideration to the preservation and conservation of
our natural resources.
Aside from this, in general, miners welcomed Lopez's
appointment. Jose Leviste, Oceana Gold Philippines
Inc. Chairman, said that they are willing to work with
the president and the secretary-designate. Gerard H.
Brimo, CEO of the country's biggest nickel miner
Nickel Asia Corp., on the other hand, expressed his
desires to uphold responsible mining claiming that
thier mining operations are ISO compliant for
environmental management systems and are world
class.
In a local magazine, Rogue, an article even revealed
that Lopez used to be a missionary in India, Portugal,
and Africa. Leaving all the comforts of wealth and
richness, she already has developed her love for the
poor and the environment years before she has been
offered the position. She considers that taking care of
the environment is taking care of the people in it.
However, Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, professor of geosciences
at the University of the Philippines, in an interview,
pointed out that since the Lopez family is into the
renewable power industry, possible conflicts of
interest may rise. This stirs a lot of issues among the
members of the CA. Aside from the fact that Lopez
lacks scientific knowledge on mining.
C Mining, undeniably, is an integral part of a country’s
progress. However, there should be considerations. Lopez’s
as the secretary would bring forth a balance discussion of
the issues and probable mitigating measures to address it.

S The CA should reconsider the re-appointment of Lopez in

the DENR and should set aside personal biases. Anyway, this
would be advantageous to all parties, especially that Lopez
has expressed her willingness to work with the mining
companies in order to formulate feasible and viable mining
policies in the country. It is about time for our government to
be one in taking care of the country we all live in.
EXERCISE TIME
Editorial Column
Point of view of an individual regarding a
certain topic.
Editorial column:

1. Column name
2. Name of the writer

3. More personal
Miss M
Melanie Mae N, Moreno
The Patriot
Division of Imus City