Dear Sudents,
I would suggest to also add a reference of some of the popular columnists to make it more relevant.
We can also think of adding the impact of such columns on the audience/ reader.
Think over it!!!
A column is a regular piece or an article in a newspaper, magazine or any publication. Sometimes it is published daily or it appears weekly. This piece of writing contains the writer's opinion or point of view. A spot is allocated to the writer in the editorial page and often it is also named 'Opinion' where his or her write-up containing his or her opinions or views on a particular topic or subject appears. The column endows the writer with an opportunity to give his or her opinion freely.
I would suggest to also add a reference of some of the popular columnists to make it more relevant.
We can also think of adding the impact of such columns on the audience/ reader.
Think over it!!!
A column is a regular piece or an article in a newspaper, magazine or any publication. Sometimes it is published daily or it appears weekly. This piece of writing contains the writer's opinion or point of view. A spot is allocated to the writer in the editorial page and often it is also named 'Opinion' where his or her write-up containing his or her opinions or views on a particular topic or subject appears. The column endows the writer with an opportunity to give his or her opinion freely.
A column is a voice or a viewpoint of a columnist not the newspaper and it is generally written using first person singular or third person singular. It speaks about the hot issues in society or politics or even displays the experiences of the writer about a specific subject. The reader is free to agree or disagree with the opinions of the columnist. The columnists can make or break anything. Most of the time, their experiences go in a right direction and their sources bring up the correct information, which reveals the hidden facts.
Major types of columns can be divided in to the following:-
a) Reporting in depth column
a. To this type of column – background, perspective and interpretation are given to various happenings, usually presented in hard news.
b) Opinionated columns
a. The columnists, either because of extensive training or long-time observation set themselves up as experts and then expound their opinions for the general public. The self- opinionated experts try to compensate in the heat for what they cannot provide in the light.
c) Gossip columns
a. One whole field of column writing is built on these characteristics, because almost everyone likes a bit of gossip. The column contains little except its titillating value; this need not be writer’s exclusive domain.
d) Humorous columns
a. In this type the columnist tries to find the humorous aspect in life and write an article that will amuse readers. Sometimes these columns spotlight an event more clearly than thousand words of expounding and explaining.
Columnist, the author or editor of a regular signed contribution to a newspaper, magazine, or Web site, usually under a permanent title and devoted to comment on some aspect of the contemporary scene. Essentially a column is a reflection of the writer’s individual tastes and point of view.
The word columnist is of relatively recent origin, apparently dating to about 1920, but columns themselves came earlier. Today, development of the Internet greatly expanded the reach of individual columnists to a global audience.
The columnist’s subject matter is frequently short- term in interest and may appeal to a limited geographic area as well but at its best it fulfils an important educational function—and it is often a favourite feature with readers of the publication in which it appears.
Researched by-
Ishhva Praveen
Journalism Hons
2019-2022
References –
1. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2020, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336020403_Column_-_What's_It_All_About_and_Its_Role_in_Journalism
2. Naveed, F. (2019, November 9). COLUMN, Definition, Types of Column & Writing Column. Retrieved April 11, 2020, from https://www.masscommunicationtalk.com/column-definition-types-of-column-writing-column.html
3. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2016, October 25). Columnist. Retrieved April 11, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/columnist
Ishhva Praveen
Department of Journalism, LSR, Batch of 2022
Disclaimer: Shared in the interest of the student community during Covid-19. Views expressed are personal.
16 comments:
Very helpful content from the exam point of view. In my opinion we could add qualities of a good columnist to this article.
Qualities of a Good Columnist
1. Have originality, creative ability and imagination.
2. Writing style must be flexible and persuasive.
3. Ability to observe keenly
4. Clear and logical thinker
5. Resourceful
6. Have a sense of fairness
7. Must have sense of humour
8. Must follow the ethics of journalism
The article is well written and precise, Ishhva. Although, I would like to suggest that you could some information with special emphasis on column writing in India. Also, how columnists have used this platform to voice out their opinions in crucial times, bringing about radical social reforms.
Excellent article 👍
I'd just like to add that daily column reporting and a column by a profound columnist are two different aspects that could be elaborated in this article.
-Agrima Gulati
Department of Journalism, LSR
This article is very informative and precise. This is a very well-structured answer.
A few suggestions:
The types of columns mentioned are very few. Some more types of columns are:
Advice column
Book review
Community correspondent
Critic's reviews
Editorial opinion
Fashion column
Features column
Food column
Gossip column
Humor column or causerie
Music column
Sports column
Opinion column
Also, we can add the name of some famous columnists. Following is the link for the same:
https://www.ranker.com/list/notable-columnist_s)/reference
Also, more knowledge can be gained on this topic via the following link:
https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/journalism/n81.xml
Hi, Ishhva! This is great article! You can add upon its texture by also identifying the reader-type each column caters to. What kind of people read specific columns, and how often? What are the techniques columnists use, or can use, to increase readership? Which columns/columnists have become so popular that they do not really have a defined readership? It'd be really helpful if you could also supplement the article with statistics.
The article is well written . However , I suggest that the history of how columns were invented , by who must have been inuded . It would have educated the readers note.
Hey, Ishhva! The article is very informative and to the point. However, I believe that a few major drawbacks of columns and columnists could've been added. For instance, a biased opinion of a columnist leading to the propagation of that particular perspective amongst the readers or the masses.
The article is very helpful and great. Also I would like to add some more points to the article:
1.A column should always carry the writer's by-line and where necessary, photographs can be used.
2.Columns appear at regular intervals and usually in the same location of the publication in order to facilitate the reader.
3.The style as well as approach is neither serious nor compulsive. A column can be written on various topics like entertainment, sports, politics etc.
4. A column may pass the judgments, make recommendations and may write freely without following the accepted boundaries of news writing.
Thank you :)
The article is very informative and will definately help during exams also you may add types of columnist
Advice columnist
Critic
Editorial opinion columnist
Gossip columnist
Humor columnist
Food columnist
Thank you
Cheshta
Great article Ishva! However, one can add various types of columns. Fashion columns, food columns, sex columns etc can be seen often! Moreover, one can also delve into how a column is personalised because rather than completely factual reporting, column reporting is a lot more specific to the person writing it.
This is a good article giving a glimpse to the meaning of columns and columnist but more details related to the difference between articles, columns and editorials can be thrown light upon.
You can also include the pointers related to writing a good column.
I'm sharing a link for the same : https://www.masscommunicationtalk.com/column-definition-types-of-column-writing-column.html
Hope it helps!
Thank You
- Deepika Saini
-Lady Shree Ram College
Hey Ishhva,
Article is really good and well written. Bt I suggest that you can also include about radio and television as well. Like,Newspaper columnists of the 1930s and 1940s, such as Franklin Pierce Adams (also known as FPA), Nick Kenny, John Crosby, Jimmie Fidler, Louella Parsons, Drew Pearson, Ed Sullivan and Walter Winchell, achieved a celebrity status and used their syndicated columns as a springboard to move into radio and television. In some cases, such as Winchell and Parsons, their radio programs were quite similar in format to their newspaper columns. Rona Barrett began as a Hollywood gossip columnist in 1957, duplicating her print tactics on television by the mid-1960s. One of the more famous syndicated columnists of the 1920s and 1930s, O. O. McIntyre, declined offers to do a radio series because he felt it would interfere and diminish the quality of writing in his column, "New York Day by Day."
Hope it's help!
Arya Krishnan
Fist year
Department of journalism,LSR
This article practices brevity yet isn't short on any important information. Great research. Would like a bit more elaboration on limitations faced by a columnist. I appreciate the addition of the reference section- it can be helpful for future use. Thank you.
- Vasudha Raina
I would also like to add that how do you write a column?
Purpose
Why are you writing? Is it to inform the community about an event? Does the paper's editor, the community or co-workers want it? Are you entertaining, informing or educating? Do you seek an identity or exposure?
Audience
Whom are you trying to reach? Who are you reaching? Decide on your audience. Write in their language, at their level, about things the audience needs to know or wants to know.
Content
What will your column discuss? How will you discuss it? Answering why and how will help determine what. Remember, columns should be based on facts and should be accurate.
Names are crucial in a personal column. Personal columns may be informal; yet accuracy and sourcing material counts.
Structure
How will your message get to your audience? There are other types of columns besides the personal column, too. Some of these cover specific topics or types of information. They can be "question and answer," "new ideas," "how-to-do-it" pieces or "calendars." Personal columns often have departments. These departments help you to write your column. Departments can be "coming events," applications, notes or some of the categories suggested for the non-personal columns.
Before writing, decide on the purpose, content, audience and structure.
Thanks Ishva for your well researched article.
Komal Singh
Department of journalism ,first year
Hi ishhva your article is great and short easy to grasp and read some emphasis could have been on importance of column and it working, how its used and its relevance.
Great job
Quite a through and structured article here, Ishhva! Though while reading it, I found myself wanting to know a little bit more about the history and in the origin of the terms 'Column' and 'Columnist', a little more expansion in that paragraph would have been a great addition to an already well-written article!
- Mamta K
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