Parts of Editorial Page

a. Editorial Paper: The article that is considered to be soul of a newspaper or magazine. It is an

article that gives the conglomeration of opinion of the members of the editorial board on the
hottest issue of the day.
b. Column: A column is recurring piece or article in the paper it is primary written by a columnist
who is well acquainted with a subject. Where differentiates a column form other forms of
journalism is that a column makes each of the following criteria:

a) It is a regular feature in a publication.

b) It is personality-driven.
c) It explicitly contains an opinion or point of view.

c. Op-ed: an op-ed, abbreviation of the opposite editorial page (though often believed to be
abbreviated from opinion-editorial), is a news paper article that expresses the opinion of a
named writer who is usually unaffiliated with newspaper’s editorial board. These are different
from editorials, which are usually unsigned and written by editorial board members. Op-eds are
so named because they are generally printed on the page opposite editorial.
d. Letter of Editor: Letter to the editor sometimes abbreviated LTTE or LTE is letter or the letters
are intended for publication. In many publications, letters to the editor may be sent through
either conventional mail or electronic mail.

The subject matter of letters to the editor varies widely. However, the most common topics
include:

i. Supporting or opposing an editorial stance, or responding to another writer’s letter to

the editor
ii. Commenting on a current issue being debated by governing body local, regional or
national depending on the publication’s circulation.
Often, the writer will urge to elected officials to make their decisions based on his or her
viewpoint.
iii. Remarking on materials (such as aa news story) that he has appeared in a previous
edition or release. Such letters may be either critical or praising.
iv. Correcting a perceived error or misrepresentation

e. Editorial Cartoon. An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is caricature containing
a political or social message that usually relates to current events or personalities.
f. Folio. Usually written on top of the page, this is composed of the page number, date of
publication and name of the newspaper. Notably, this part runs through all the sections in the
campus paper.
g. Masthead. This is also called flag. It shows the publication’s name, the volume and number
release, the names of the staff and their respective positions.
 The Sports Page
The sports section of a newspaper features information on local sports events, like high school
sports teams. College level sports are also covered in this section, both on regional and national
level. Often, sports page in Philippine campus papers accommodate stories about intramurals
and relevant national sports issues. Student writers may consider writing sports analysis, sports
editorials, backgrounder, prophetic sports news and the like.
As regards reporters on the other new beats, sports journalism involves investigating the story,
rather than simply relying on press release s and prepared statements form the sports team,
coaching staff or players. Sports journalist verify facts given to them by the athletes, teams,
leagues or organizations they are covering.

Selection of the Publication Staff

Notably, there are no hard and fast rules on how to organize the staff and to the editors. Each school
should therefore work out a system best suited to its particular set-up.

There are common mind-boggling questions for the publication head or moderator of the campus paper
like: how are the editors and staff members choose? How long should they serve? How big should the
staff be? Should they be paid? To whom are they responsible?

First, there should be a moderator or an adviser who must possess the following qualifications in the
order of their importance, 1) with a degree in journalism bachelor, master or specialization, or one with
degree in English – bachelor master or specialization. 2) with experience in newspaper’s work or with
more than ordinary experience in journalism or school paper work. Other school consider in with
moderator. The Campus Journalism Act, has a different basis for choosing the adviser. Selecting an
adviser is also optional for the tertiary level.

For the traditional and beginning campus paper system in the DepEd, the principal or the head of the
school, with recommendation of the adviser may designed the members of the staff or may pick them
through a competitive examination. The candidates should posses writing ability, leadership and
previous experience in school publication in such order. Whatever the criteria are in choosing the staff,
the method should be systematic, objective and fair.

Whether the editors and staff members are chosen through recommendation competitive examination,
the following pointers are recommended:

1. The candidate should have at least one year residence.

2. The candidate should not be in probation list.
3. He/she must not have any disciplinary case against him/her, because there is likely chance for
him to be drop or to be suspended.
4. The chief, associate, and managing editors should not hold other major position in school
organization, especially in the student council or student government. The press is supposed to
be objective and non-partisan.
The most democratic way to select the staff’s is through a competitive examination followed by
an interview. However, there are certain drawbacks. If there are a qualified teacher who will
evaluate the entries in the competitive examination, they will not be worthwhile. If a big
number of students join the competition, the evaluating will take a long time. Another question
is; In what phases of journalism would test be? Newswriting, editorial writing, lay outing, or
actual press work? If the test is in editorial writing only, is not that just one phase of the work?
Because of these drawbacks, the adviser resorts to designation. The drawbacks here is
favoritism.

The adviser should not rely on result of the examination. They should also look for people who
did not take the examinations but have writing skills. They should ask them to join the board,
but should they refrain by taking students in to the staff who have more activities in their hands
than they can handle. They should be aware of the students who only love to see their names in
the masthead or editorial box.

The choice of editors should be based on who obtains the highest average in the examinations
and who possesses the most personal qualities or traits like leadership, manager skills, sound
judgement and flexibility. Consequently, advisers should file and publish in the bulletin board
the results of the examinations and the comments of the judges.

How large should the staff be? A manageable staff should not be more than ten, as follows: (1)
chief editor (2) associate editors; (3) managing editor; (4) feature editors; (5) literary editor; (6)
sports editor; (7) reporters (one of each class-senior, sophomore, freshmen).

There are other members of the staff who may simply be appointed: the typists, the layout
artist, the staff artist, the photojournalist and the circulation manager.