EDITORIAL WRITING: AN ACADEMIC

AND PROFESSIONAL APPROACH

BY

ANDREW ASAN ATE

 TABLES OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Forward

Acknowledge

Chapter One

Meaning of Editorial

Editorial Writers

Chapter Two

Types of Editorials

Functions Editorials

Chapter Three

Persuasive Techniques in Editorial Writing

Propaganda Techniques in Editorial Writing

Chapter Four

Sourcing for the Editorial materials

Editorial Audience

Chapter Five

Classification of Editorials: The debate

Classification of Editorials

Determinants of Editorial subjects

Chapter Six

Things to avoid during Editorial Writing

Key concepts in editorial Writing

Chapter Seven

Effective column writing

Bibliography
 CHAPTER 1
MEANING OF EDITORIAL
The mass media as a social institution is a court of public opinion.
Through Radio, TV, Newspaper expressed to members of the public. The mass
media also serve as an avenue for marketing of ideas as they determine public
thinking and set agenda for public discourse. The media is a tool for altitudinal
change and public orientation.
Editorials in print media especially newspaper have profound powers of
bringing robust change in the society. This chapter takes a look at the meaning
of editorial.
The term editorial is defined by different scholars and professional from
different perspectives. A veteran Newspaper editor, William Allen White once
described editorial as “an expression of opinion based on factors which present
truth in a new light; something that everyone knows which no one ever thought
of.”
Lion Flint in his book, The Editorial sees editorial as an expression of the
editor while M. Spencer captured the subject matter as “a presentation of facts
and opinion in concise, logical, pleasing order for the sake of entertaining or
interpreting significant news in such a way that its importance to the average
reader will be clear.”
The opinion function of the mass media has made editorial writing a
celebrated concept for serious-minded newspapers just as news commentary is
to broadcast media. From historical angle, the term editorial used to mean an
article written by the Editor. In the early part of the nineteenth century, a notion
of journalistic objectivity was developed. It was reasoned that there was need to
separate news from the editor’s opinion. This was to enable the reader to be
exposed to news without fear or favour and to give the opinion column
appropriate labeling.
 As far back in 1830, the term editorial was used as a label to designate a
statement of the editor’s opinion. Later in the 20th century, the history of
editorials witnessed a remarkable breakthrough. Around this period, newspapers
across the globe had designated a separate editorial page for editorials and
letters to the editor.
This distinctive location or positioning of the editorial page around this
era is worth noting. It is always in a left hand page, usually in the front section.
Today, modern newspapers have expanded, dignified and enriched the
editorial page to an extent that they use the facing page for lengthier opinions by
columnist and guest writers. This is known as op-ed, meaning, opposite the
editorial page.
Editorial as a concept conveys deeper meaning. Iyorkyaa (1996) defines
editorials as “a journalistic essay which attempts to: (a) inform or explain; (b)
persuade or convince; (c) stimulate insight in an entertaining or humorous
manner.”
Okoro, N &Agbo, B (2003) looked at editorial as “a critical evaluation,
interpretation and presentation of significant, contemporary events in such a
way as to inform, educate, entertain and influence the reader.” According to
them, an editorial affords a publication the opportunity to be more than just a
“work factory”, something more than a common information carrier. This
opportunity enables the publication to exercise a positive force in its area of
circulation.
Simply put, editorial is a corporate opinion, voice or expression of media
organizations on topical issues of public significance. It is a robust article by a
news organization, which expresses an opinion rather than attempting to simply
report news. Because of this, an editorial is supposed to be devoid of biases.
A lot of factors determine the taste and direction of an editorial in a
newspaper set-up. Interpretation of opinion in newspaper industry is
fundamentally guided by the policy and philosophy of the newspaper.
Ownership influence is also a cardinal factor that determines the direction which
an editorial canoe could be paddled to.
It is important for us to take a look at two editorials, for a deeper
appreciation of the subject matter.
Sample 1: Unlimited Campaign Expenses
No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any
candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to
the election expenses of any candidate at an election – section 221 of the 1999
Constitution.
The implications of the law quoted above are obvious. The spirit of the
law must have been to make the electioneering terrain more even for all and not
allow money to dominate politic which should essentially be a battle of ideas.
How were these laws observed in these elections? They were serially
breached as was the case in the elections since1999. The Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, which is meant to effect compliance, seems
unaware of the law. Obviously, many of the presidential candidates, many who
sought office of governor, and legislators smashed the limits.
Noting will happen to the offenders because INEC has not been prompted
about the importance of this law. or is INEC concerned the law would affect
some of the favoured candidates? INEC’s lack of interest in this law, is contrary
to its tenacious contention of some constitutional provisions, of a draining
engagement that contributed immensely to fracturing the elections?
INEC again turned a blind eye to the violations of these provisions. The
result was that there were various groups raising funds for the benefit of some
candidates, in the same way that Corporate Nigeria did for President Olusegun
Obasanjo in 2003.
It is not just against the law for candidates to unleashed humongous
amounts of money on campaign; it also foretells the tendency of such candidate
if they get into office. How else will they recover their investment or reward
those who contributed to their war chest?
Another salient issue would be the source of the money. How would we
be sure that money from dubious sources was not mobilized for the elections?
Sections 225 and 226 of the constitution mandates INEC to audit the accounts
of political parties annually and gives INEC powers to seize funding from
abroad. Has INEC done these? Why is it uninterested on how parties and
candidates are funded?
INEC’s self-appraisal that has awarded it high marks, for conducting
elections that it would appear INEC was reluctant to execute, is an indication of
the laxity with which INEC approached an important assignment.
If INEC knew the Constitution’s expectations from it, it would bury its
head in shame over its conduct of these elections that have marked Nigeria out
again as an undeveloping nation. The most nauseating part of it is that INEC is
really celebrating this success.
Source: Vanguard, Wednesday April 25, 2007
Sample 2: Etteh and the multi-million Naira renovation scandal
Less than three months after assuming office, the speaker of the House of
Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, is already in the midst of a
sickening scandal. She is alleged to have spent a whopping N628 million to
renovate her official residence, as well as that of her deputy, Babangida
Ngurojeh. Amidst the crossfire, the Chairman, House Committee on
Information and National Orientation, Dino Melaye,said that an approval of
N232 (not N238 million or N628 million) was sought and got for the renovation
of the speaker’s official residence alone. This claim has been debunked.
Even then, what is the difference if the issue is that the amount
(whichever of the two) was spent on renovation? That contract for the jobs were
allegedly advertised only on the notice board of the National Assembly
compounds the situation.
 But a scandal of such magnitude should have no place in this era of
transparency. It therefore should not be a surprise that some other members of
the House of Representatives are angry over the matter, with some threatening
an earthquake (in a country which has never experienced this kind of natural
disaster) when the matter is brought before the House for discussion after its
recess on September 4.
Even if the official quarters renovated were of Arabian-night standard in
terms of opulence and size, they should not have gulped the amount of money
expended on them. Would it not have cost the nation far less to build, outright,
new apartments for the two principal officers?
Even if Melaye’s claim of an approval of N232m were true, there is still
something fundamentally wrong with the way public funds are wasted or stolen,
especially through inflated contracts.
This renovation imbroglio stinks to high heavens, and only a diligent
probe can remove the odour. Right now, the buck has been passed to Mr.
President to clear the filthy air, that is to say how much he knows about this
buzzing, booming confusion and tell us whether he approved of this colossal
expenditure for the renovation as claimed by some of Etteh’s supporters. It is
not the problem of the House alone as the president claimed.
The real problem in this ugly episode is people’s over-reliance on
government largesse. Chief Obafemi Awolowo has said it all when he advised
people never to enjoy in government what they cannot enjoy in their private
lives. It is very unlikely that any national person would want to spend as much
as that to renovate an official residence if such money were to come from a
private purse. All public officials must imbibe Awo’s stated ideal as the
beginning of wisdom as far as spending of public money is concerned.
This scandal is a litmus test for the House of Representatives resumes
today from recess. This is not a ‘family affair.’
Source: The nation, Tuesday, September 4, 2007
 EDITORIAL WRITERS
Editorial writing is not a one-man show. It is a product of collective
deliberations arrived at through the consensus of editorial board member.
In some newspaper establishments, editorial writing is mainly the task of
Editorial Page Editor who is assisted by other editorial writers within an
organization. This therefore means that if a writer is assigned to write an
editorial, he/she must submit the piece to the editorial page editor who in turn
edits it before it gets published. The Editorial Page Editor is usually an
experienced and knowledgeable fellow, a tested and acknowledge person in the
art and science of editorial writing.
In some newspaper organizations, editorial writers are usually drawn
from different professional and intellectual backgrounds. They are pooled
together under the auspices of editorial board members. Such men of high
intellectual prowess are appointed by media establishments based on their
reputation and analytical powers of complex and topical issues.
Under such arrangement, the editorial board chairman, usually appointed
on merit often preside over the editorial board meetings. The editorial board
chairman assign topics to other editorialists and also edits their works. As a rule
of the thumb, the editorial board members must submit their write-ups to the
editorial board for microscopic scrutiny before publication.
Whether editorials are written internally by in-house board members of a
newspaper outfit or written by external board members, one thing is certain: the
topics mu8st be topical. The topics are usually selected and discussed at
brainstorming sessions after which they are endorsed for publication by editorial
board members.
Editorial board members, especially the external ones, are entitled to
certain allowances or honorariums depending on the financial strength of the
media organization.
 Generally speaking, a good editorial writer must posses the following
qualities:
i. Intellectual curiosity:- This refers to the ability to probe issues from
academic and critical point of view.
Samples 1: The ASUU strike: A post-mortem
Following the personal intervention of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,
the prolonged and debilitating strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU) to press home its demands for improved working
conditions was suspended during the weekend. In the words of the ASUU
President, specially, the last strike declared on March 26, 2007 “is the direct
outcome of consistent Nigerian Governments’ neglect and refusal to pay the
necessary attention to education particularly the University system”, now on the
verge of collapse.
Across the country, undergraduates and parents heaved a sigh of relief.
Parents who had been distraught over their wards’ prolonged stay at home were
indeed relieved that the Ya’Adua administration with support from other well-
meaning Nigerians, had managed to persuade without concretely addressing the
issues in contention. It is possible a deal was reached between the President and
the Union.
Source: Extract from the Guardian’s editorial, Tuesday, July 5, 2007.
ii. Analytical mind: The editorial writer must be able to look deep at the
pros and cons of an issue and harmonies both the opposing and supportive
variables in an editorial superstructure.
Sample 2: Naira and Soludonomics
Three years after Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of the Central
Bank of Nigeria, CBN, announced a bang that compressed the number of
Nigerian banks from 89 to 25, he has come with another shocker, probably more
resounding and shocking than the first.
 While consolidation, as the firming up of the capital base of banks to 25
billion naira was known, was a policy in the files of CBN before Soludo’s
arrival, its quick implementation against vociferous oppositions, from those
who reminded him that he was not a banker bore the marks of Soludo. Nigerians
were introduced to Soludonomics, a brand of economics with soludo’s
signature.
Source: Extracts from Vanguard’s editorial, August 20, 2007
iii. Mastery of language:- An editorialist must have a good command of the
language in which the editorial is to be written: For English speaking
audience for instance, a good command of English language is a non-
negotiable factor. It is, indeed, a child of necessity.
Sample 3: Between Honour and Sychophancy
In recent times, President Ibrahim Babagida has been a recipient of
several awards, commemorations and proposed honorary degrees. In many
states of the federation, many major streets and public buildings have been
named after him. Monuments of historical significance have also had their
original names replaced with President Babagida’s name. When a leader is so
recognized, he and his programmers are assumed to be popular .Every leader
craves for such recognition.
Source: Extracts from The Guardian’s editorial, June 9, 1991
iv. Care for details:- In editorial writing, issues are supposed to be
logically and meticulously trashed. It is only people who care for details
that can unveil tiny but significant molecules underlying any conceptual
phenomenon under probe.
Sample 4: Happiest people on Earth
The recently published study, by the British New Scientist magazine,
which rates Nigerians as the happiest people on earth, appeared at first glance to
be funny. On closer reflection, it is curious, thought-provoking, confounding
and at the same time controversial. How on earth can you anyone conduct a
study and come up with a determination that the happiest people in world live in
Nigeria? This is a country that is fast attainting the status of a failed or failing
state. This is a country where nothing seems to work. This is a country where a
lot natural resources and huge human potential which is for 43 years have been
so mismanaged as to render majority of citizens among the poorest in the world.
No other country perhaps surpasses Nigeria in the record of confounding and
bizarre events. These range from murder of a federal attorney-general, to the
unconstitutional abduction and attempt to remove an elected governor. This is
also the trivializing of serious national issues as “family affair”, bribery and
corruption in high places and of course, protracted inter-ethnic wars as wells as
frequent anti –people policies that tend to deepened the abject poverty in land.
Nigerians are presently embattled with high prices of fuel, which nonetheless is
unavailable. Yet in the midst of penury, a handful of elite live a glamorous and
extravagant lifestyle comparable with the richest and the best in the world. The
list of ludicrous episodes in the country is endless. Such incidents occur with
striking regularity and frequency that is rare.
Source: Extracts from the Guardian’s editorial, October 12, 2003.
v. Good knowledge and professional skills of writing for the mass media:
The fact that somebody is a professor or a doctorate degree holder in an area does
not automatically make him/her a good editorial writer. In-fact, there are some
academics who can make a monumental mockery of editorial writing if they are not
drilled in the art of writing for the mass media. An editorial writer ought to
understand the workings of mass media outfits including the house style of the
establishment he/she is writing for. The knowledge of writing for the mass media is
very crucial for any editorial writer.
Sample 5: The President, Media and Nation Building
If reports in the media of a recent meeting between President Olusegun
Obasanjo and the Nigerian Guild of editors are anything to go by, the meeting
obviously was one-sided. The president reportedly told the visiting editors that
their media organizations are still involved in “militant journalism” the era of
which according to the number one citizen is gone. The president used the
occasion to advise journalists against practices that are not in the interest of
Nigeria. He specifically canvass for development journalism, stressing that as
an instrument of nation building, the media should form a partnership with the
government in fostering peace, unity and development in the country.
..It would seem that the publication of these public reactions along with
analyses and interpretation by the media is what government considers “militant
journalism.” The government ought to realize however that the media work is
incomplete if it only reports government to the public without reporting the
public to government.
From Mr. President’s tone, government would rather that the media did
not report public reactions. This is not feasible.
Source: Extracts from the Guardian’s editorial, November 7, 2003
vi. Rational Reasoning: Editorial writing is a serious-minded business for
serious-minded people. It is a house that cannot be built on bricks of
emotionalism which cannot stand erect in the sea of reasoning. Strong and
profound editorials can only be built on rational and logical raw materials mixed
with concrete facts.
Sample 6: JAMB and remedial programmes
The announcement by the Registrar of Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde that remedial
programmes in Polytechnic, monotechnics and Universities will no longer be
accepted for admission of students into higher education for many young
persons.
Professor Ojerinde says this has become necessary in order to protect the
integrity of the admission process. While the point about integrity is
inconvertible, the country should be more interested in broadening access to
education. Constricting the already limited space should be an option as we
strive to develop the education sector.
..The matter is not as simple as the JAMB registrar has made it to appear.
JAMB should be more interested in raising the integrity its examinations and
confidence in its ability to conduct reliable tests. Too many of our qualified
young men and women have been frustrated by procedural difficulties that they
encounter in sitting for JAMB examinations. The NUC, JAMB and the higher
institutions should work towards expanding the space for thousands who want
to enjoy the benefit of a university education, without compromising standards.
Source: Extracts from the Guardian’s editorial, August 23, 2007
 CHAPTER 2
TYPES OF EDITORIALS
Generally, editorials fall into four broad area namely: news, policy, social
and special. However, just as a typical editorial parade three major parts the
introduction, the body and the conclusion. Three types of editorials can be
identified. These are:
1. Interpretative Editorials
2. Controversial Editors
3. Explanatory Editorials
1. INTERPRETATIVE EDITORIALS: These kinds of editorials are
written primarily to explain issue at stake by placing facts and figures at the
door post of readers for proper illumination of the day’s intelligence. Here, the
editorial could be positive, negative or even neutral in posture or approach.
Sample of Interpretative Editorial: Nigeria’s future
A report by a US intelligence agency on the future of Nigeria by 2020
has generated concerns. The global report of the US National intelligence
Council examined the social, political and economic future of countries and
continents, identified areas of strengths and weakness worth consolidating or
redressing, and made some projections.
Specifically, the report predicted that Nigeria might break up within 15
years disregard people’s wish and insist on an unworkable union. According
to the report, the country’s “leaders are locked up in a bad marriage that all
dislike but dare not leave.” The document expresses the possibility of “a
junior officer coup that destabilize the country to the extent that open warfare
breaks out in many parts in a sustained manner;” adding rightly that a failed
Nigeria will be difficult to reconstitute.
The report also notes that Africa’s hope of benefitting from
globalization will depend on the extent to which each country improves
governance, reins in corruption, resolve conflicts and firms up the rule of law.
Leadership, the report says, will be the key to progress for sub-Saharan
countries that are lucky to evolve it. The report does not spare the US, which
it says might lose its global economic dominance to upcoming China and
India.+
While dismissing the report as a ‘’glib talk” by detractors, president
Olusegun has confessed that the gloomy forecast poses a serious challenge
to him and all Nigerians. He has, therefore, passes the report to the national
Assembly for action.
There is no doubt that almost everyone wants a united Nigeria. But
the injustices that precipitated the 30-month civil war in 1967 appear to have
grown deeper and more widespread. Over the years, successive governments
have failed to forge a national identity. So, the citizens still feel more
comfortable sticking to their ethnic identities. Since democracy reemerged in
1999, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in ethno-religious
crises that sprouted from the unsettled national question over indigene/settler
dichotomy. There are standing ethnic militias in the north, south, east and
west. Just recently, President Obasanjo reportedly gave out several millions
of naira as ransom to stave off the threat to blow up oil installation by a Niger
Delta militia group.
Expect the deceitful ones, therefore, only a few would require a US
intelligence to predict that Nigeria’s fragile unity may snap if urgent steps are
not taken to redress a flawed and unjust structure that has only fueled mass
poverty and frustration. For now, the ruling class may continue to delude
itself that there are no dangers ahead. Blinded by the filthy reward they get
from a corrupt and dysfunctional system, the nation’s unruly politicians often
wrongly assume that the citizens will forever tolerate injustice via rigged
elections; executive rascality in flagrantly disobeying Supreme Court verdicts;
and abuse of incumbency powers to brutalize or kill political opponents.
Obasanjo ‘s anger that government’s ongoing promising reforms were not
reckoned with in foreseeing a brighter future for Nigeria is instructive. But
the truth is the reforms are half-hearted and so yield slow, insignificant and
unnoticeable returns. Six years of reforms, for instance, has produced a more
epileptic regime of power supply, posing a serious threat to industrialization
and job creation. That is just one indication that the nation‘s economy is far
from being export-oriented and, therefore, vulnerable to the adverse impacts
of globalization.
To prevent the doomsday forecast from being fulfilled, the nation’s
leaders must be bold enough to dismantle an unjust fiscal structure that has
alienated the constituent parts. The nation’s unity depends on how quickly the
centre is whittled down for a truly federal Nigerian state to emerge.
Source: The punch, June 2, 2005.
2. Controversial Editorials: Controversial editorials are written with the
particular mission or mandate to propagate a particular or specific point
of view. Such editorials attempt to convince the reader on the desirability
or inevitability of a particular issue while painting the opposing side in
bad light. These kinds of editorials are either positive or negative. There
is no room for neutrality in such editorials because they can out rightly or
support or oppose an issue with all vehemence. Sample of Controversial
Editorial - Kalu’s Comedy of Errors
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is undoubtedly a big party. Its
bigness derives from a lot of variables. These variables include, size,
geographical spread, membership and even quality of individual members. For a
country whose previous democratic collapse could be party traced to the failure
of electoral politics, the PDP held hope for the sustenance of democracy in
Nigeria.

Yet, its strength contains the ingredients of its weakness. As a rainbow

coalition, it was an amalgam of all-corners. There was no attempt to use the
factor of antecedents to sift membership. The resultant effect is the emergence
of some leaders who ordinarily should not be admitted into a serious party.
More embarrassing and depressing is the fact that some of them hold offices
that can make one equate them with the party.
Such a person is Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State. Right from the
beginning, he comes across as an undisciplined party-man. He seems to have an
inflated opinion, not only of his popularity in his state of Abia, but of an
erroneous position in Nigerian history. He plays all forms of pranks to
reconfirm his fable of historical expectation. He situates his ambition on very
faulty premises and dishes out to himself over-seasoned salad of political
relevance. Ordinarily, one should not be bothered about such illusion except for
the Yoruba adage which counsels that if your neighbor chooses to eat dangerous
insects and you refuse to caution him, his restlessness at the dead of the night
would disturb your own sleep.
Governor Kalu’s latest antics relate to an alleged assassination threat on
his life by Chief Tony Anenih, the Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP. An
accusation of murder or threat of it, is so grievous that the ingredients of such
accusation must be unassailable. In Kalu’s case, he said his Deputy Governor,
relayed to him the threat of assassination after meeting casually with Chief
Anenih. The Deputy Governor has since denied that he relayed such a message.
In fact, his memo to Governor Kalu on the chance meeting with Anenih does
not contain such an accusation.
 But Kalu’s bag of mischief and character assassination seems
inexhaustible. He had earlier accused the same Anenih collecting over N300
billion Naira as minister without anything to show for it. Official figures
revealed that within the period of his ministerial responsibility. Anenih
collected a little over N200 billion. One would ordinarily expect a state
governor to speak with reliable facts and figures in honour of respect of the
office he holds.
Even on the assassination threat, Kalu added a cheap shot seek the
support of the Yoruba people by alleging that Anenih said he would deal with
him, the way he dealt with a short chance meeting to be so frivolous and
flippant like a chatter-box to let loose. More so, when the meeting was in the
presence of other people.
A simple dictum in law is that, he who asserts must prove. The onus of
proof lies on Kalu. But it seems to us that he has not, and cannot, discharge such
a burden of proof. The problem is compound by the juvenile reliance on his
mother anytime he chooses to run into problems. When he engaged in an undue
adversary relationship with President Obasanjo sometimes ago, it was his
mother who was raising the olive branch for peace. In the current one, the flag
of surrender is being raised by his mother. Governor Kalu as a public officer
holder must be told to grow or at worst, be made to grow. The image of a baby
who causes problems outside and runs to mama home is repulsive at this of our
political development.
The Hope believes that Governor Kalu’s dangerous drama can heat up the
polity and even perhaps dislocate it. The PDP as a political party should by now
have an effective machinery of disciplining its members irrespective of how
highly placed. The PDP for now holds in its hands the destiny of this country
and the action or inaction of any of its members can truncate the democratic
experiment. This is why it must urgently cage Kalu and polish him to measure
up to the image of a matured state governor.
Source: The Hope, March, 23-31, 2004.
3. Explanatory Editorials:-As the name suggest, explanatory editorials
only open-up thought provoking issues of socio-political and economic
interests for the attention of readers and allow them to judge. Such editorials
only identify a problem and leave it to the reader to find solution to it.
Media expect in contemporary society are negatively disposed to this
kind of editorials. Their argument is hinged on the fact that it is unreasonable to
identify a nagging problem of any magnitude without proffering solution to it.
Explanatory editorials which only photocopy problems as they appear are
gradually fading out of the mass media because they are seen by most media
professionals as no editorials.
Sample of Explanatory Editorial – Taylor and the Interpol
Since the united nation –backed special court for the trial of those who bear the
greatest responsibility for the war crimes in Sierra Leone indicated and issued a
warrant of arrest on Charles Taylor of Liberia, several curious twists have
dogged the development. The indictment and the warrant of arrest were made
on Taylor in June, last year, while he was still a sitting Liberian President
attending peace talks in Ghana on his country’s civil war. His status as a sitting
president presented a dilemma for his arrest, for it would contradict the law of
nations to arrest an incumbent president. Of course, Nigeria, Ghana and other
African leaders in attendance at that meeting rightfully ignored the order and
never arrested Taylor.
Subsequently, owing to the pressure for peace in Liberia, Nigeria,
reportedly backed by the United States’ government offered asylum to Taylor in
order to remove him from the Liberation political scene and create some
prospects for peace. During his tour of four African countries in July, last year,
President George W. Bush was reported to have said that Nigeria’s offer of
asylum to Taylor was timely and the best solution to the Liberation conflict.
In fact, the peace that is gradually returning to that country today is partly
a function of the removal of Taylor from Liberia via his asylum in Nigeria. But
the curious twist and irony to it all is that the same United States government
implicitly flawed the asylum by offering a $2 million rasnsom on Taylor.
Although the ransom on Taylor has been fruitlessly denied by the US
government, the International Police, Interpol, has followed the US footsteps to
issue a warrant of arrest on Taylor. And since interpol’s own warrant of arrest, a
Britain firm has offered to kidnap Taylor in Nigeria.
Without prejudice to the merit of the special court’s case against Taylor,
what we caution here is against using it to trample on Nigeria’s independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity. By putting a ramson on Taylor, and by
subsequent warrant of arrest by the Interpol, an encouragement is being given to
international brigands to violate Nigeria’s sovereignty by illegally abducting
Taylor has become a sufficient albatross to the Nigerian government, great care
should be taken to ensure that he is not forcibly removed or abducted from
Nigeria by any gang, whether sponsored by a foreign government, organization
or not. Meanwhile, the Nigerian government should seriously spare a thought on
how to dispose off the Taylor matter in order to bring these undue wrangling
and harassment of Nigeria to an end.
Source: Daily Sun, Friday, December 19, 2003
FUNCTIONS OF EDITORIALS
Irrespective of whatever kind or type of editorials, the editor’s biases;
ownership and reader influence economic factors as well as competition among
magazines and newspapers are great determinants that often chart the course for
editorial decision. Having noted that, it is expedient to discuss the desirability
and inevitability of editorials in the mass media. Editorials in modern
newspapers and magazines perform numerous functions. They intelligently and
eloquently:
i. Criticize or attack socio-political, economic and moral dilemmas of
the society: An editorialist sometimes performs, the job of a human right
activist, raising alarm on blatant abuse or annihilation of certain norms
 and acceptable social order in the society. Exploitative and autocratic
government policies can also be attacked by editorials. On the side of the
governed, when a particular section of the society decides, for instance, to
take laws into its hand, editorials are bond to criticize such as anomaly.
Sample 1: Abacha as the parties candidate
….The way and manner the parties have gone about recruiting Gen.
Abacha is objectionable. It is lacking in common sense and decency. It is an
affront of all known rules of equity. Just a few weeks ago, the UNCP, for
example, sidelined some well-meaning aspirations whose credentials are
excellent any day for the National Assembly. Such aspirants, the UNCP
claimed, had not been in the party for up to 12 months and have also not made
“substantial contributions” to the growth of the party. And yet, the same party
has turned 360 degrees to alter its constitution and has adopted a non-party
member to represent it in an election. What do this party member to represent it
in an election? What do these party leaders take Nigerian for? That we can be so
gravely insulted and kicked?
Source: Extract from The Guardian’s editorial, May 5, 1998
ii. Illuminate the day’s intelligence: Editorials perform this function by
throwing more light on complex issues of the day. Editorials often try to
look at the two sides of an issue. They highlight and analyze the strength
and weaknesses of public issues while proffering solutions to complex
issues of public concern.
Sample 2: To tackle corruption
The Catholic Bishop and Obasanjo are both right on target. Corruption is
largely responsible for the seeming collapse of everything we hold dear in the
society. It is not only systemic, it has become so institutionalized that no aspect
of our national life is spared. Corruption starts in the minds of men. It is
propelled by greed, cynicism and a determination to cheat the system. It
manifest in real terms, in form of the destruction of standards. The erosion of
constitutional checks and balances by protracted military rule has, in fact made
transparent government impossible. Public offices are seen as avenues for self
enrichment, other than service. In the private sector, being successful in
Nigerian terms means living above one’s means. We lack, in consequences, the
public spirit: every other player in the economy is seeking to build a comfort
zone for himself there has been no more dramatic illustrations of this
phenomenon, in the recent times, than the sordid revelations of corruption at the
highest levels during the Abacha administration.
Tacking corruption ought to be a starting point for strengthening our
relationship with the international community. It is regrettable, but it is true, that
Nigerians are regarded the world over as con-men and scam artists. Investors
are afraid of being funds to Nigeria because they are afraid of the system that
we have created. Visiting foreigners are openly asked for bribe at the nation’s
ports. Year after year, Nigeria is listed as one of the most corrupt nations in the
world. For two years running, the country had the distinction of being in the No.
1 position on this list of infamy. Nigeria search for a position of respect in the
world will depend on how well it tackles corruption and restores confidence in
its system.
Source: Extract from The Guardian’s editorial. May 18, 2003
iii. Bring to fore debatable issues and provide an intellectual compass for
society to discuss and resolve burning issues:-
Sample 3 – Call for an Oil Minister:-
… The country needs an executive authority for the petroleum that we
can be held accountable if things go wrong. Well defined structures ought to be
put in place to oversee all aspects of petroleum production refining and
distribution to replace the somewhat arbitrary arrangement that currently exists.
The president of Nigeria at helm of an evolving democracy is not in the best
position to additionally take on the tasking role of the minister of petroleum for
which there is a statutory provision. Also, it is remarkable that of all the OPEC
members, Nigeria, the sixth largest in the group, is the only one without a
substantive oil minister. By calling for an effective and responsible authority to
oversee the nation’s petroleum industry, the legislators have made the in
controvertible point that the current arrangement is unsatisfactory. Alhaji
Rilwanu Lukman who is the adviser on petroleum is also the Secretary General
of OPEC, a busy job that keeps him away from Nigeria most of the time. In the
nature of things, he cannot split his abilities in such manner as to provide
qualitative service in both positions as either calls for the full exertions of an
officer. Doubling as Secretary General of one of the world’s most active
organization whilst at the same time acting as a quasi minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria is not the best way to optimize ability. Nor is the
president’s position in this matter acceptable. Last Monday, he had declared
during a television media chat that he would not appoint an oil minister. “We
are in the presidential system. I am the executive of all ministries. That is what
executive president means. I appoint a minister where I think a minister is
necessary” the president said. We think he Is wrong…
Source: Extracts from The Guardian’s editorial, March 1, 2001
iv. Defend the underdogs in the society:- In every given society, there
exist different dimensions of natural and artificial economic gaps between the
rich and poor, the powerful and the powerless, the educated and the uneducated,
etc. When the rich for instance, tends to unjustly exploit and manipulate
the poor, editorials rise up in defense of the latter. The relationship among
different members of the society is often monitored by the media and an
advocacy role is been played by editorials to defend the cause of the wretched
of the earth. That is, the lumpens.
Sample 4- The scare of secessionists
The organization in the south-west insists that Nigerian federation is
unjust and unworkable and is, therefore, in urgent need of negotiation. The
refusal of the government to recognize these core issues has driven more people
into various forms of vanguards. It is unhelpful to crimalize these reactions as
“secessionists “plots.
The situation in the Niger-Delta and south political zone provides a more
indicating evidence against the government. The injustice against the region
cries to the heavens. A 30 –year-old plunder of oil and gas resources has
rendered the area impoverished. President Obanjo’s administration was
expected to bring urgent succour. This has not happened. Even the payment of
the 13 percent derivation funds guaranteed in the constitution is being subverted
through arbitrary cuts. After more than a year, the Federal Government cannot
point to one substantial project that could bring jobs and improved income to
the people of a region that accounts for over 95 percentage of public revenue…
….It is not enough for the president to express alarm about the existence of
aggrieved groups. The populance wants to see what government is doing to
ameliorate the conditions that generate the protests. An obdurate law-and- order
approach will not help, nor will the invocation of Nigeria’s potential greatness
and indivisibility. There are deep-rooted structural, economic and political
issues. The government continues to ignore calls for national conference to
address these matters. Rather than condemn them, the president should dialogue
with aggrieved groups and convince them that democratic rule can improve
their a lot. That was what he was elected to do.
Source: Extract from the Guardian‘s editorial, July 27, 2000.
v. Endorse or support an issue of public significance:-
Editorialists are not dogmatic set of barking and biting professionals,
whose stock in trader is only is to attack, they also support noble causes of
public concern. For instance, any time policy formulators and executors are on
the right track, some editorials acknowledge and applaud their efforts. In
supporting or endorsing a policy, there might be some grey areas where the
“supportive “ editorials may call for fine-tuning. The Nigeria government
owned media establishments are fond of supporting the policies of their
proprietors through their opinion column for public acceptability.

Sample 5 - A new Bank for Farmers

...The government is right in re-establishing a financial institution for
agriculture. It is all the more worthwhile that the new body is formed from the
reorganization of similar agencies that were handicapped in the carrying out of
their tasks. Even with increasing oil revenues, agriculture remains one of the
few viable options through which the government can push for early economic
recovery. It is an industry that has a large pool of people with abundance of
basic skills and is probably the biggest employer of labour in the country.
Agriculture provides more than 70 percentages of the nation’s food
requirements, offers employment to most of our rural and semi-urban
population, serves as the market for products from industry and in turn provides
raw materials for that sector. It is, therefore, so strategic to our national survival
that no degree of official support can be considered excessive. In fact, the
problem has been that of inadequate government investment. In industrialized
countries, agriculture receives tremendous backing from governments through
tax breaks and other subsidies…
Source: Extracts from The Guardian’s editorial October 25, 2000
Vi To influence policy formulation or decision making on certain
issues:- Editorials galvanise policy makers to set proactive agenda for good
governance of the society.
Sample 6- Retirements Benefits for former leaders:-
Three days to his exit from power, General Abdulsami Abubakar
endorsed the supplement of official Extra-ordinary Gazette 33 which announced
a new warfare package for all former heads of state. Each of them will now earn
N350, 000 a month. He will also be provided with three vehicles, which will be
replaced every four years. Similarly, previous vice- presidents or chiefs of
general staff will get N250, 000 month. The gazette also makes provision for the
families of deceased heads of state and vice- presidents, who are to receive a
yearly stipend of N1 million and 750, 000 respectively. All former leaders are
also entitle to free medical care, paid vacation and free office accommodation
with telephone services.
…Nigerians should have no difficulty rewarding a good leader. Some have
argued that the former leaders do not need the facility because they were already
wealthy by the time they left office. This is an unhelpful generalization. All over
the world, past office holders at such national level are well cared for. Our
leaders deserve no less attention. This is the thinking behind the policy. We
welcome it, provided it applies only to democratically elected leaders.
Source: Extracts from The Guardian’s editorial, June 25, 1999.
vii. Appeal or Persuade:- Editorials appeal or persuade the readers to
accept the rightness or wrongness of an issue. Some editorials often woo
individual members of the society, corporate bodies or government to accept a
particular course of action for the interest of the society. Such editorials are
sandwiched with concrete facts and spiced-up with tantalizing persuasive
technique which create indelible marks on the psyche of readers.

Sample 7 –Ending the Reign of Guns

The Federal Government’s plan for a nationwide disarmament exercise to
reduce the number of small weapons in the country is a welcome and timely
move. It is believed to be part of a strategy to steam the tide of communal
violence and armed robbery both of which have been an alarming upsurge in
recent times. The decision was apparently informed by the spate of communal
and ethnic conflicts involving communities n Aguleri-Umuleri in Anambra,
Tiv- jukun in Taraba, Tiv-Hausa in Nasarawa, Ijaw-Itsekiri in Delta, yoruba-
Hausa in Ogun and Kano , Ijaw-Yoruba in Lagos. The carnage in jos, the
Plateau state capital during which thousands of people lost their lives is also a
 background to disarmament plan. The menance of armed robbery has continued
unabated. It is not only in the economic nerve centers that robberies occur. The
incursion of bandits through the North Eastern flank of Borno, Adamawa,
Taraba and other border areas are also part of these dangerous and disturbing
trends
Source: Extracts from The Guardian’s editorial, October 2, 2001
Capturing the characteristics of editorial in harmony with the aforementioned
functions, Idemili (undated) in Uwakwe (2005) observers:
a. That the editorial helps the reader to bring order out of chaos of news.
b. That on the editorial page, special reporters or columnists have a place for
the explaining behind- the-scene events and that freedom of style and
deep back grounding is permitted.
c. That the editorial can fight battles for the newspaper reader.
d. That the editorial plays agenda setting functions or role: exposes public
debate, the good and bad ideas in circulation.
e. That the editorial page should give readers the opportunity to air their
views by providing space for letters to the editor.
f. That the editorial makes it possible for the editor to express his views
and:
g. That the editorial serves as a source of personality to the newspaper.
 CHAPTER 3
PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES IN EDITORIAL WRITING
Persuation is a process that occurs when the communicator (sender) influences
the values, beliefs, attitudes or behaviours of another person (receiver); Weaver,
R and Hybels, S (2001).
For editorials to be arresting and catchy, certain literacy techniques must be
employed in their usage: introduction, comment and conclusion. Some of these
techniques which I prefer to call “editorial essential balms” are as follows:
1. Keeping writing simple but mature and corporate: Don’t write to
intimidate the reader with bombastic grammar. Write to communicate. An
editorial should be simple and compact for easy understanding by the audience.
2. Mind your language: Language is the pillar of communication. Even
though the editorial audiences are mostly sophisticated in terms of education,
the editorial writer has to mind his/her language in order not to censor the barely
literate out of communication. The language must be unambiguous, punchy,
concise and meaningful.
3. Create a remarkable first impression: The introduction or opening
paragraph of an editorial must not be dull. It should not be sleepy or lifeless.
That would put the readers off. The first, second and third paragraphs of an
editorial must be inviting so as to “transport” the audience to the body and
conclusion of the opinion piece.
4. Sustain the first impression: Having created a remarkable first
impression in the opening paragraph of an editorial, the writer must sustain the
piece with solid and concrete facts drawn from credible sources and authentic
documents. An editorial would potently sustain the interest of the reader if it is
rooted in uncontestable facts. The first impression therefore can be sustained
with undiluted facts; the use of parallelism and proper enumeration.
5. Say exactly what you mean: Don’t beat about the bust or meander into
the forests of ideas or semantics before delivering your message. If you
do that, you may loose some impatient readers.
6. Make use of repetition: Salient points in the editorial must be re-echoed
again and again to ensure that the reader is at home with the message.
Caution: This persuasive technique if not well employed can be abused
by inexperienced editorialist. The technique must therefore be used
tactically and intelligently.
7. Use of a lot of literary devices: Literary devices polish the tone, style
and approach of the editorial. Devices like metaphors, similes, to mention
only a few, should be used judiciously in an editorial in order to achieve
the desired effects. The essence of using these devices according to
Iyorkyaa (1996) is to “create a permanent mark on the mind of the
readers or the audience so that they will have one thing remember you
for. If they fail to remember you for the worth of facts, for the
parallelism, for enumeration, they should at least remember you for the
congruent style for which you have used or the approach.”
8. A strong closing appeal: for the average editorial reader to be
persuaded, the piece has to change him/her up. The construction of strong,
memorable appealing words towards the end of an editorial persuasive dose to
call your audience into action. You must leave them with something to giggle
about. It must be extremely arresting and highly captivating.
Propaganda Techniques and Editorial Writing
A part from persuasive techniques, every good editorial writer must be
conversant with the use of propaganda techniques. Although propaganda
techniques may not be ideal tool for editorial writers because of their
manipulative effects, understanding them would in no small measure widen the
logical and mental horizon of the editorialists. This gesture, by extension, may
be an added advantage in editorial writing which deals with case making.
 Okoro, N & Agbo, B (2003) argued that effective editorial writing
requires a thorough knowledge and mastery of the techniques for propaganda.
The propaganda techniques according to them would enable the editorial writer
gain superior edge over competition and win support in the process of crusading
a cause or executing a campaign.
Ukonu, M (2005) defines propaganda as “the (rational) use of argument
as well as (sound) emotional appeals to influence behaviours or thoughts either
for good or for bad. It is information manipulation to sway people over to a
predefined course of action.”
The fact that propaganda can be put to positive uses, Ukonu (Ibid) agreed
that the editorial writer may apply its techniques in persuasion but advised the
writer to “be careful not to portray bias and empty argument by blindly
misrepresenting issues.”
Let us examine some of the propaganda techniques.
1. Glittering generalities
2. Name calling
3. Cards tacking
4. Bandwagon
5. Testimonial
6. Transfer device
7. Plain folk
8. Appeal to popularity
9. Appeal to sympathy
10. Appeal to special interest
11. Appeal to change
12. Appeal to status quo
13. Appeal to bread and butter
14. Appeal to truth
15. The attack strategy
Glittering generalities: This propaganda technique is usually used to make a
broad report about an entire group. During the dark days of late Nigerian Head
of State, General Sani Abacha, one Kanu, the then co-ordinator of the Youth
Wing of Abacha’s self succession categorically stated that all the youths in
Nigeria would go on hunger strike if Abacha refused to continue in power. That
was a sweeping generality. Not all Nigeria youths were contacted on the issue
but they were scooped by the generalization.
Again, some white men often describe Africa as a dark continent where crime
and cannibalistic atrocities abound. This, also, is a glittering generality. Again,
words like national interest, motherhood, bachelor-hood, etc used as glittering
generalities.
Name calling: Name calling technique could be used either negatively
positively.
According to Okoro, N and Agbo, B (2003), “bad name is given to whatever the
propagandist wants the public to reject or condemn without examining the
evidence. For example, the opponents may be labeled detractors, labour union
executives as destabilisers.”
On a positive and softer perspective, names like honey, sweetie, darling, and my
dear to mention only a few carry strong torrents of love, which flows from the
addresser to the addressee.
Cards tacking: This device or technique is the act of presenting one side of the
coin. The propagandist advertises or highlights some aspects in an issue he
wants the public to know and covers up or down plays those he doesn’t want the
public to know.
Here, strong and concrete facts, vivid illustrations and profound statements are
used in achieving the desired effect.
Bandwagon: This technique is anchored on the belief that if you can’t win
them, join them. It is the act of joining the Jonesses, following the crowd, the
reigning idea or thing.
Testimonial: This takes place when you have a celebrity or well known person
in society to endorse a product, idea or an issue. This is an appeal to authority of
the personality involved in an issue. Editorial writers can make use of
quotations from powerful and celebrated personalities at the national and
international level to put across their message with high fidelity and credibility.
Transfer device: Certain symbols communicate the prestige and authority of
some things. The propagandist should identify and interpret those symbols with
a view to putting across his message. The propagandist here have to transfer the
prestige in the symbol and bring it to bear on his message.
Plain folk: This strategy entails coming down to the level of the people you
want to win their affection and presenting yourself as one of them. You identify
their aspirations and yearnings of the people and play, weep and laugh with
them where necessary.
Appeal to popularity: This entails judging a person, an idea or an issue based
on successful past experience. “He had done it before, therefore, he will do it
again. Let’s follow him.” Appeal to popularity can trigger the fire of bandwagon
effect, as people are likely to join the winning man, party, idea, etc.
Appeal to sympathy: The use of words like marginalization, monitorities,
discrimination, e.t.c is a deliberate strategy of invoking sympathy. A politician
who makes a pledge before women gathering to dismantle male chauvinism if
voted into office is likely to win the sympathy of the woman folks. The editorial
writer can use this technique to lunch his message into the heart of readers.
Appeal to special interest: This is a kind of appeal which goes to a special
group of people who have common interest which the editorial writer is trying
to defend or protect.
Appeal to change: This is the opposite of appeal to change. Here, the editorial
writer is satisfied with the socio-political and economic order in motion and
votes for its continuity. It is an appeal to religiously keep and preserve the old
order.
Appeal to bread and butter: This has to do with addressing some basic
economic problems like provision of jobs, reduction of prices of commties like
fuel, garri e.t.c. appeal to bread and butter may also include provision of free
health services, education and so on.
Appeal to truth: There are certain universal facts, truths and beliefs which both
individuals and the society hold sacred in the course of their dissemination of
message as any form of violation of the truth will offend the feelings and
sensibilities of members of the public.
The attack strategy: This is predicated on the notion that attack is the best
form of defence. Here, the propagandist and editorial writer attacks views or
ideas that are not in conformity with his.
 Chapter 4
SOURCING FOR EDITORIAL MATERIALS
Editorial materials can be sourced primarily from topical events that are
reported from the mass media. It could be from Radio, TV, Newspapers or
magazine. The reported events must be explosive and of public interest.
Also from the mass media, “letters to the Editors ” column in a well read
newspaper can serve as barometers to measuring public opinion. Issues raised at
the feed-back column could directly or remotely influence an editorial topic
among other considerations.
In writing an editorial, the writer can also do justice to the topic by
discussing with experts especially if the issue under consideration is a technical
one. A newspaper organisation, for instance can clear certain legal controversial
issues from a legal practitioner before writing in order to avoid sailing in
troubled waters.
In this jet age, internet is a good facility for editorial writers to source for
materials. Interest contains a bazaar of information on virtually all the topic
under the sun. Editorialist can browse through the internet and down-load useful
materials to “cook” an editorial menu of high public taste.
The position of research in editorial writing cannot be underestimated. A
good editorial is no doubt the product of good research. To be able to create a
meaningful impact in the market place of ideas, an editorial subject or topic
must be thorough researched right from the conception, gestation up to the birth
stage. That would enable the editorial audience to appreciate the source of the
running-fever issues that may explode for public attention.
By so doing, the editorial writer must have unearthed in a deeper
perspective the pros and cons of an issue and illuminate same for the interest of
the society.
Because an editorial is the corporate voice of a newspaper organization,
everything humanly possible should be done to ensure that it is error free. This
is because, the editorial audiences are the sophisticated type of people who often
question the content, style and grammar of the opinion piece among other
variables. Any mistake on the editorial page or column of a Newspaper
irrespective of its magnitude would be seen as a corporate mistake of the media
establishment.
To avoid unpardonable mistakes, authoritative book like dictionaries,
thesauruses and encyclopedias should be consulted when one is in doubt.
Editorial is a serious-minded issue. It should not be written based on
hear-say or scoops from mere throw-away dialogues from members of the
society. Analysis of issues from knowledgeable and expert quarters either in
media or non media situations would oil the wheel of editorial writing.
A good editorial as a matter of fact must have news peg or nuances. Be
that as it may, the mass media whether of fact must have news peg or nuances.
Be that as it may, the mass media whether print or electronic are the best
sources for editorial materials.
Journals, books, government gazettes, biographies/assembly proceedings,
constitutions and other authoritative sources can be useful in editorial writing.
EDITORIAL AUDIENCE
Mass communication by its nature is the process of transmitting
messages, opinions, values, attitudes, beliefs, more e.t.c to the relatively large,
heterogeneous and anonymous audience simultaneously. The process is made
possible through the mass media-radio, TV, Newspapers and magazines.
The heterogeneity and anonymity of the mass media gives a clear
impression that the communicator is dealing with people of different ages,
sexes, educational, cultural and economic backgrounds. These people are
unknown to the communicator. That explains the ‘anonymity’ variable in the
definition of mass communication.
The above premise takes us to the issue of audience, which will be
examined here from the standpoint of editorial.
 From a broad perspective, newspapers and magazines have three
categories of audience. These are:
 The sophistical audience: These are serious-minded people who
patronize the mass media for serious articles on politics, economics and
editorials.
 The less sophisticated audience: These are people who buy newspapers
for light hearted and mundane stories. The category of people often finds
pleasure in things like pool betting, cartoon, love and entertainment
stories.
 Specialized audience: We have specialized audience in technical field
like sports, science and technology, business, e.t.c
Specialized audiences are lovers of their disciplines or areas of interest.
They buy newspapers to keep themselves abreast of latest trends, innovations
and personalities in their areas of interest. Anything outside their area of
specialization is unlikely to attract them.
Editorial audience can also be looked upon three perspectives or
dimensions. We have the following editorial audience:
1. The very skeptical audience: These are sophisticated audience with high
aura of excellent. They question facts, figures, grammar, tone, style and
content of every editorial until they are satisfied. They are the learned and
curious beings who are conscious of their fundamental human rights.
They believe in the power of public opinion.
2. The very selective audience: These are specialized audience who care
only about what goes on in their chosen fields. They are addicted to the
knowledge in their filed or disciplines and are glued to same without
bothering about things outside their area of interest or profession
attachment.
 For an editorial writer to meet the yearning and aspirations of this
group of people, he/she has to segment his market (editorial) in tandem with the
selectivity posture of this audience.
Experts argue that an editorial can hardly be for everybody at the same
time. Therefore, the editorial writer must mentally define his audience before
writing his piece.
3. The obscure or obstinate audience: This group of people are blind
critics. Anything that is said outside their frame of reference by someone else is
wrong. Their world view is very limited and does not go beyond their local
assemblies where they often feed on rumour mongering and worthless
abracadabras of the day. This group of people are more of intellectual lumpens
and they believe that holding an opinion is a transgression against pubic order.
They are mere chatter-boxes who read editorials not to learn anything but to
attack the writers with blind, worthless and uncondinated criticisms.
According to Iyorkyaa, (1966) this group fortunately “does not belong to
power. It does belong to the group shaping Beer Parlour Policy (BPP)”.
That means that this group of people is irresponsible members of
homosapiens who are fond of analyzing public policies from the shallow and
alcoholic point of view.
In writing an editorial, the writer should outrigthtly jettion this group of
people. This is because, obstinate audience are no audience and cannot
appreciate the robust illumination of public policies and case making stuff
which editorials deal with.
 CHAPTER 5
CLASSIFICATION OF EDITORIALS: THE DEBATE
One major debate among mass communication scholars and professional
journalists bothers on why and how editorials should be classified.
It is important to note that editorials need to be classified for three major
reasons. One, the classification will assist journalism and mass communication
students to appreciate and distinguish various forms and types of journalistic
write-ups from editorial. Two, the development will equip media practitioners
to establish a clear-cut distinction and relationship between opinion writing and
factual news reporting. Three, the classification will empower mass
communicators to locate the exact domain of editorial writing and establish its
relationship with other write-ups.
There is a school of thought which sees editorial as a pure independent
subjective write-up. However, some professionals and scholars of mass
communication vehemently oppose that line of argument. Such people believe
that the best approach to classify an editorial is to view the concept as a
systematic graduation of other journalistic write-ups to an advance and higher
realm of writing. Proponents of this school of thought see editorial not as an
independent super structure but as a continuum of both factual news reporting
and other opinionistic write-ups. This view is opposed to the contentious
objectives-subjective dishotomous classification of the subject matter.
From the diagram above, it is clear to stress that virtually all editorial
stuffs have news nuances. An editorial topic or subject cannot emerge from the
blues. It must be a topical issue that has been reported in the mass media (print
& electronic) either by way of hard news or features. Such an issue must attract
public attention and debate.
In some cases, thought-provoking letters to the editor are often used to
guage public opinion. When critically exploited, letter to the editor could serve
as useful raw material in constructing an editorial superstructure. This is
possible because some letters to the editor can give an editorial writer some
useful insight into emerging controversial and topical issue of public
significance.
An editorial should be seen as a continuum of other journalistic write-ups
because it has its blood flowing from the veins straight forward news reporting
and other subjective write-ups. If an issue does not emerge as hard news and
generate attention by way of features, opinions or co certainly, it cannot be
editorialized upon.
It can be stated clearly that other journalistic write-ups often smoke out
issues which are thoroughly feasted upon by editorialists.
Let us therefore appreciate the graphic illustration of the continuum
structure of an editorial:
 The arrows from A to B and B to C clearly show the continuum dynamics
of an editorial. The above illustration highlights the objective-subjective
portioning of journalistic write-ups and locates the place of editorial.
CLASSIFICATION OF EDITORIALS
For professional and academic purposes, editorial can be properly
classified in three major ways. These are:
 Classification according to part
 Classification according to purpose
 Classification according to types

Classification according to parts: Basically, a typical editorial has three parts.

These are (a) statement of the issue , subject or thesis (b) comment on the
problem and (c) conclusion which normally contains solutions to the problems
identified in the editorial.
It is instructive to note the arrangement of the parts of editorial is not a
dogmatic affair. Some skillful editorial writers may turn the above formula
outside down and begin the editorial piece with conclusion followed by
comment and then statement of the issue or thesis.
Another logic is that other writers prefer to integrate statement of
problem with comment in a single sentence or paragraph and then move to
conclusion.
Yet other editorialists believe that an editorial is having only two parts-
statements of the problem and comment. Their arguments are predicated upon
the notion that like an artiste, the editorial writer needs not provide solution to
the problems identified. Such editorials are bound to be unpatronising,
unattractive and unpersuasive because the central or cardinal instrument or
ingredient of persuasion is missing. The missing link, which can only be
appreciated from the standpoint of solutions to the problems, can affect in no
small measure, the body and soul of the entire editorial.
Classification according to purpose: For everything under the sun, there must
be a purpose. The same thing is applicable to the concept of editorial writing.
Editorials are usually packaged to meet multi-dimensional purposes. While
some editorials are designed to inform or explain an issue, others are crafted
with the burning desire to persuade, amuse or amaze the audience.
Editorials whose mission or purpose is to persuade are supposed to be
loaded with concrete facts so as to achieve the desired effect.
Classification according to types: This form of classification is closely related
to the second category of classification. Here we have three major types:
Interpretative editorials, Controversial editorials and explanatory editorials that
perform their unique functions.
DETERMINANTS OF EDITORIAL SUBJECTS
In writing an editorial for whatever audience, the writer must be guided
by the following factors:
1. Ensure that the topic is relevant and timely: In order to achieve this,
the editorialist must factor into consideration the way and manner people
converse with one another. In every society, people discuss basically in
three ways: (a) People talk about people (b) people talk about
things/events (c) People talk about ideas.
Editorials that focus on people discussing people are likely going to be
pedestrian in approach and may invoke the temptation of using fowl or abusive
language. Such editorials are hardly profound as they might provide avenues for
character assassination rather than opportunities for robust societal thinking.
Editorials that deal with people discussing things or events are a little bit
advanced and more preferable than the first people talking about people.
However, these editorials cannot stand erect in the market place of ideas
because they lack the fundamental oxygen that shapes public opinion or enliven
public discourse.
 The best kinds of editorials are those platforms are erected on ideas. Ideas
are vehicles that drive or move the society forward. Therefore, ideas-oriented or
anointed editorials are most profound, celebrated and acceptable in the mass
media.
2. The chosen topic might be local but the treatment should not be
parochial: In writing an editorial, a local, conservative and unusual topic
could be raised but its treatment should be sound and logical. The writer
should be able to bring out issues from the local event that are of national
or international significance.
For instance in 2005, there was an editorial in The Guardian, about the
extinction of wild animals from the University of Ibadan (U.I) zoo. Naturally,
the topic was local but its treatment was superb.
The piece traced the history of the U.I zoo as one of the first generation
zoos in the country and remembered with pains how the zoo used to attract local
and international tourists during its good days.
The editorial blamed the ugly development on the nation’s leadership and
society and wondered why a society that is unable to meet the yearnings and
aspirations of its citizenry would be friendly to animals.
The editorial called for urgent steps from stakeholders to redress the
injustice against the animal kingdom and warned that nature and posterity
would judge our generation for its hostility against wild and special species of
animals.
3. Editorial topics should be drawn from socio-political and economic
issues: This would enable editorialist to juxtapose thorough background
of the event with clear illumination of the day’s intelligence for the
enrichment of public opinion, forecast the probable out-come of some
issues and pass a moral judgment on same.
4. Topics could be borne out of the desire to amaze or amuse: There is
no gainsaying the fact that editorial writing is a serious-minded affair. However,
it is not all the times that the writer would feed the audience with serious-
minded stuff. There are some situations where an editorial topic could be given
light treatment with a view to entertaining the audience while feeding them with
concrete facts. This is done to ease their tension and dilute the stress, which
usually goes with analysis of burning issues.
 CHAPTER 6
THING TO AVOID DURING EDITORIAL WRITING
It is not everything that can be harnessed and husbanded in an editorial
writing. In writing a professionally acceptable editorial, the following things
must be avoided:
A. Avoid Afganistanism: The concept of Afganistanism presupposes a
situation where the editorial writer focuses on issues in far-away places
that had little or no relevance to the people he/she is writing for. Such a
practice is unacceptable. There must be geographical and psychological
proximity between the editorial audience and the topic.
B. Avoid being seduced by public Relations Men: The job of Pubic
Relation (PR) men is to ensure that their organizations are always
captured in good light by media practitioners. To achieve this, publicists
often embark on overt and covert lobbying strategies to ensure that press
men including editorial writers are always on their side. One of these
measures is the offering of gratification to journalists to guarantee
favorable mention of their establishments in the media. The editorial
writer as an activist and social crusader must avoid the temptation of
dancing to the rhythm or tune of PR men by refusing to be censored by
any posture of inducement.
C. Avoid the temptation of falling flat in the name of being timely: Just
like news is timely, editorial writers are also fond of presenting their facts
and arguments in a timely manner. However, most editorialists in their
quest of being pace setters or emergency experts fall into this temptation.
They rush to write editorials on emerging news issues without carefully
examining their pros and cons. This could be dangerous and
counterproductive as such a practice might prevent the editorial writer
from digging deep into the heart of an issue.
D. Avoid making predictions about issues pending in a law court: The
judge will not take it kindly with any interference in his area of
jurisdiction. The editorial writer must know that passing a judgment on
issues that are pending in the court is an act of subjudice, an offence
against the court. Since nobody is above the law, the editorial writer
should steer clear of such an act.
KEY CONCEPTS IN EDITORIAL WRITING
There are many concepts that are useful in the analysis of editorial as a
subject matter. Let’s take a look at some of them.
A. Policies and Orientation: Editorial policies and orientation refer to the
beliefs of a media organization which it would like to manifest in terms
news coverage. A policy by way of definition, is a definite course of
action selected from among alternatives to guide and determine present
and future actions.
An editorial policy according to Okoro, N and Agbo, B (2003) refers to
the overall attitude, position or outlook, which governs a publication. It is a path
a newspaper elects to follow as it answers two basic questions:
i. What shall we publish?
ii. How shall we publish it?
Newspaper policies and orientations may be influenced by the following
factors:
The readers’ interest; personal interest; the socio-political and economic
environment in which the media establishment is operating and competition in
the industry.
The editorial policy could be determined by:
- News stories the paper carries
- The paper’s slogan (motto) which is often carried in the nameplate or
below the masthead.
- Explanatory editorials usually written as occasion demands to restate its
editorial policy.
- Platform code in which the paper enumerates the number of projects or
principles for which it stands. (Okoro, N and Agbo, B 2003).
The important question now is, how can a newspaper express its editorial
policy?
A newspaper can express its editorial policy through the following
means:
i. First editorial or leading article, news story published by a
newspaper: Is the paper going to have a local, regional, national or
international out-look? All these things are part of the editorial policy.
ii. Editorial cartoons: These are caricatures that reveal the editorial
dimension or direction of a newspaper. Editorial cartoons are editorials in
pictorial form with high level of editorial elegance. According to Okoro,
N and Agbo, B (2003), editorial cartoons communicate editorial
messages “forcefully and graphically…..the leading editorial page feature
uses editorial cartoon which is an adaptation of the comics techniques to
an editorial topic.” The desirability and inevitability of editorial cartoons
is that they have the power to extend readship to illiterates. Editorial
cartoons can appeal to both the sophisticated and mundane audience.
According to Ukonu M (2005), cartoon may argue, criticize or explain an
issue or a phenomenon.
iii. Platforms: Platforms are other avenues where a newspaper may convey
its policy or philosophy to its heterogeneous audience. Platforms are
usually published at the beginning of the editorial page often under the
“flag” or “masthead.” They usually enumerate a number of projects or
principles for which the newspaper stands (Okoro, N and Agbo, B 2003).
iv. Slogan: An editorial policy can also be expressed through slogans, which
are remarkable statements of policy with significance, which often appear
on editorial pages and are expressed as the newspaper’s motto.
B. Editorial Credibility: This refers to the paper’s ability to trustfully
disseminate information to its readers. Editorial credibility has to do with
how believable the readers, listeners, or viewers are to the content of
editorial information that has been exposed to them. A trustworthy
reporter and editor would enhance the editorial credibility of his
newspaper by using truth as his guidepost. Editorial credibility
guarantees continued trust and patronage of a particular medium.
C. Editorial Appeal: Editorial appeal refers to the power of an editorial
piece to win the attention of the readers. Editorial appeal is a situation
whereby the newspaper message elegantly penetrates the emotions and
feelings of the reader thus having a place in his/her heart. Editorial appeal
is possible where the reporter employs persuasive techniques in putting
across his message to the audience.
D. Editorial Transitional Devices: Transitional device are words used to
achieve unity through different themes and paragraphs in a news story or
editorial. They enhance smooth flow of ideas in an editorial or story.
Transitional devices are connective words and phrases, which connect the
various paragraphs of an editorial in unity.
Types of Transitional Devices
There are different types of transitional devices in editorial writing. For
the purpose of this book, we are going to consider only four. These are:
1. Transitional device of time: This device stresses time in the editorial.
Example Earlier, therefore, soon after, meanwhile, thereabout,
simultaneously e.t.c.
2. Transitional device of contrast: This is a connective word of phrase that
binds two paragraphs by contrasting situations involved in an editorial.
 Example on the other hand, but, unless, in spite of, despite, yet,
nevertheless, however, in another development e.t.c.
3. Transitional device of place of contrast: This device emphasizes places
and locations used in an editorial. Example-back at home, locally, not far
away, at another point, in the same place, a few kilometers away.
4. Transitional device of action: This is a connective or linking word that
seeks to give the description of an action. Example-suddenly, all of a
sudden, losing gallantly, holding on to e.t.c.
 CHAPTER 7
EFFECTIVE COLUMN WRITING

COLUMNS & COLUMNISTS

INTRODUCTION
Columns in modern journalism have added editorial elegance in print
journalism. Columns promote individual journalism and establish a
psychological bond between the columnist and the reader. This window of
personal contact encourages friendship, comradeship and the likes.
Columns and editorials are like Siamese twins. They resemble in tone and
substance, especially public affairs colums. According to Onabajo (2000, p.
203), “Many public affairs columns will fit comfortably in the space given to
editorials in some newspapers and magazines.” However, he identifies a mild
distinction between columns and editorial. According to him, most editorials
have institutional flavours, while columns have personal flavours, a distinction
that goes beyond the use of ‘we’ and ‘1’.
Columns are desirable in print media because they can provoke an
insightful discussion of a public issue in a detailed and robust style. Through
columns, serious minded and disaster oriented issues could be presented in a
humorous, jocular and entertaining manner so as to evoke smiles on the faces of
readers. This brand of journalism characteristically expresses itself through the
author’s byline and personal style.
MEANING OF COLUMNS
A column is a kind of feature which exposes your personality excessively
to readers. The readers will always remember you for your expressions, your
styles and your treatment of issues in your own personal ways. (Duyile, 2005,
p.59).
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines a column as “an
article on a particular subject by a particular writer that appears regularly in a
newspaper or magazines.” Columns are therefore, specially written for
publication in the print media which wear the toga of writers.
TYPES OF COLUMNS
There are three major categories of columns. Firstly, we have opinion
columns which are based on concrete facts which the columnist believe could
tackle topical issues of public interest. Secondly, some columns have a gossip
posture or aroma. Such columns are usually crafted from the behind-the-scene
human scoops of the life of celebrities for public scrutiny. The third category of
columns is the humour type, which basically plays the entertainment function
for the readers.
Mott (1968, p.179) in line with the above outlines the following catergory
of columns:
1. The personal editorial or easy columns
2. The round about town or gossip department
3. The humour columns or “colyum”
Onabajo (2000) identifies five major forms of columns. These are:
1. Public affairs columns
2. Advice and forum columns
3. Anecdote, paragraph and gossip columns
4. Entertainment columns
5. Essay and humour columns
Public Affairs Columns: These dominate newspaper editorial pages, as
well as the pages opposite them. Public affairs columns, need not be
couched in such sober phrases, is to scare off many readers. Self-
conscious seriousness, should give way often to lighter presentations.
Advice and Forum Columns: Many advice columns are turned into
forums, with readers invited to respond to letters from other readers, or to
relate their own experiences. Forums also include:
a. Letters to the editor
b. Poetry corners
c. jokes
d. Anecdotes contributed by readers (short amusing stories about some real
person or event).
Anecdote, Paragraph and Gossip Column: Anecdote columns are full
fledged little stories about people. Whereas gossip items sometimes
consist of only a few words about well known persons, paragraphing is a
very brief editorial expression, usually two or three lines, making subtle
and usually surprising comments. It is usually humorous, not often
satirical or inspirational.
Paragraphing was once an art practiced almost exclusively by editorial
writers, but few paragraphs now appears among the more conventional
editorials.
Entertainment Column: Entertainment covers a wide range of subjects
and many newspapers now devote a page to cater for the entertainment
needs of its readers. Editors of this page are now referred to as
entertainment, life and style editors. This column offers tidbits on current
music, fashion, films e.t.c. as well as interview and their performances.
Essay and humour Columns: The leisurely informal essay are fast
disappearing on the pages of newspaper. Most editors prefer that
columnist use the little space they have for commentary that makes its
point immediately. Many personal essays that explore the writer’s
psyche are now more often presented as humours. Sometimes this
columnist can use ordinary events as basis for comments, however
showing his disgust in his commentary on the event.
Writing a column according to Duyile (2005, p. 61) calls for “in-depth
knowledge of events, and a meticular quizzical mind.” Good columns in his
views should build large readership. Duyile (2006, P. 61) gives the features of
good column thus:
 A good column should reflect the intelligence of the writer. It must be
newsworthy and should be interesting as to relax the nerves of the
readers….should possess a note of authority derivable from the personality
of the columnist, apart from its note of individuality
STYLES IN WRITING COLUMN
Writing a column is a rewarding exercise. This exercise according to
Duyile (2006, P. 60) calls for “dedication, patience and an ability to master the
use of English Language used by the newspaper to communicate. The ability to
write persuasively and the limitless acquisition of action………”
The question now is, what style can one adopt in writing column?
Duyile (2005, P. 62) recommends the anecdotal, the unified and question
and answer styles.
Anecdotal: The anecdotal style does what it says, when one has gathered
materials which the feature series of unrelated topics, he brings his anecdotes
together and examines them under subheadings and separates them from each
other with asterisks.
The Unified Style: This is applicable to a single thought, or just one topical
Idea or a single subject. When the writer wants to address his observation and
comments to only one central issue and writes on that issue only, either arguing
a point or trying to convince his reader on what course to take, he employs the
unified approach. It is a simple approach. It could be formal or informal. It is
used by political or sport columnists.
Question and answer: This style is used when the columnist has some
questions on an issue to answer for the information of the readers. They may be
questions sent to him by readers and answers are provided by the columnists
and directly printed under each question. They should not be mistaken for a
dialogue type or conversation. It is not.
COLUMNS AND EDITORIALS
Wosely and Campbell (1957, P. 411) define the editorial or column as “a
journalistic essay which comments on the news, its purpose being like so much
else in journalism: to inform, influence or entertain.” They argued that the
editorial and the column both provide the publisher with his greatest opportunity
to prove that he is not what they described as a cash register custodian but a
“keeper of the public conscience.”
Woseley and Campbell (1957, P. 411-413) classified editorials and
columns according to their purpose to inform, influence and entertain.
The y contended that informative editorials and columns define and
explain issues by “identifying persons and factors, providing historical and
geographical background.” Such editorials and columns according to them may
also examine the motives of persons or suggest the consequences of various
courses of action. Woseley and Campbell (1957, P. 412).
Editorial and columns that influence often wear argumentative toga.
While informative editorial and column define and explain a problem,
argumentative editorial or column according to Woseley and Campbell (1957,
P. 412) tells what should be done. They assert:
If the writer, uses the scientific method, he defines his problem,
examines all evidence available, and then, perhaps tentatively suggests
a solution. This, he may do by using the devices of any debater, orator,
or controversialist, by arguing generalization or analogy comparison or
contrast, cause to effect or effect to cause. He should be quick to expose
irrational observations and unwarranted assumptions.
On editorials and columns that entertain, Woseley and Campbell (1957,
P, 412) observe that “they evoke a smile, a chuckle, a laugh, and often have a
point gently and subtly suggested.” Such columns and editorials offer the reader
a relief from serious minded and disaster-laden stories, which are the major
stock in trade or newspaper.
 On a general note, columns and editorials are interwoven by way of
functions, however the former carries a personal flavor while the latter carries
institutional flavor.
COLUMNISTS
Qualities of good Columns
A columnist according to Agba (2003) cited in Ate (2007, P. 58) has “a
good deal of freedom to express personal views in a regular commentary on
local, national and international affairs.” Such freedom bestows certain powers
on columnists who write personally without recourse to the paper’s policy.
A columnist has a wider freedom to discharge his social responsibility
functions to the society. In 2004, I left the newspaper industry to Igbinedion
University, okada. I had a column known as Andew Asan Ate’s Mega vibes
with the Ondo State tabloid, The Hope, my former place of work. Because of
the freedom I enjoyed as a columnist, I was able to critically examine the
policies of the government of the day without fear especially the Federal
Government. The column because a hot cake at the local level and the
governor’s attention (Dr. Olusegun Agagu) was drawn to it by some praise
signers who felt uncomfortable with it. The governor then summoned both the
editor and the managing director of Owena Press Limited, publishers of The
Hope, and warned them about the column. According to the governor, “it is
better for somebody to attack my wife and I than to attack President Obasanjo to
that extent.” The editor called me and pleaded that I should dilute the column. I
was left with two option-to dilute the column and commit professional suicide
or to withdraw the column from the paper. Of course, I went for the last option
in other to maintain professional integrity in the eyes of my numerous readers.
A good columnist must possess certain qualities. These are:
i. Individuality: They must have definite philosophy or life and stand on
topical and controversial issue.
ii. Ability to discern or demystify complex issues: For columnist to achieve
this, they must “see” further than the readers. They must “circumcise
their ears what the readers could not hear.”
iii. Creativity and originality: Every columnist must be creative in thought,
ideas and arguments. They must be original in style and tone.
iv. High imaginative and analytical powers: A good columnist cannot afford
to be a mediocre in imagination and analysis of issues of the day. For
critical societal problems to be resolved their origins must be traced
analytically and solutions logically preferred.
Duyile (2005, P. 61) opines that a good column, should possess a note of
authority derivable from the personality of the columnist. According to him, it
should “be thought providing and should be capable of producing latent or
delayed feedbacks or immediate reactions.” A columnist with the above
qualities will surely deliver the dividends of personal journalism to the readers.
NIGERIA COLUMNISTS
In Nigeria’s media firmament, we have a good number of columnists who
have established a bond with their readers.
The above statement is true because Nigeria has been, and is, a haven of
gifted and reputatble columnist. In olden days, the likes of Alhaji Lateef
Jakande (John West); late Bisi Onabanji (Aiyekoto) Herbert Unuegbu (Unu-
Habib) Peter Pan and many others were famous in the art and science of column
writing especially on political issues.
Alade Odunewu who operated under the pen name of “Allah-De” in the
Daily Times of old was also an outstanding columnist. Duyile (2005, P. 59)
captured the attributes of Alade Odunewu:
His style was soft diction with a clever handing of sarcasm and other
figures of speech. Like Peter Pan, he had a large audience of fanatical
readers in his days. His was both a serious and at the same time high
hearted column…..
 Alade is currently the chairman of the Nigeria Press Council. Also
renowned during their days as columnist were Areoye Oyebola (“Omo-Oye”)
Daily Times. Ajibade fasina-Thomas (“Paul Pry”)- Daily Times, Gbolabo
Ogunsanwo-Sunday times, e.t.c.
Today, we have different good columnists who write for our local and
national newspapers. These are Eric Osagie (The Flipside)- daily Sun; Reuben
Abati (Cross roads)- The Guardian. Mike Awoyinfa (Saturday Press Clips)-
Sun, Funke Egbemode- Sun and Sam Omatyese (different newspapers)- Sun,
The Nation.
Others are Edwin Madunagu, femi Adesina, Lious odion, Olu Obafemi,
Dimgba Igwe and many others who are keeping the flag of personal journalism
flying in the nation’s newspapers.
Columns and columnists offer tantalizing delicacies to newspapers and
magazines in Nigeria and beyond. It is therefore expedient for journalism/mass
communication students and teachers to be conversant with the role of columns
and columnist in modern newspapers. This will ensure the survival of this
special breed of journalism.
 CHAPTER 8
BROADCAST COMMENTARY
Meaning of Broadcast Commentary.
A commentary according to Onabajo (2000: 175) is simply a descriptive
spoken broadcast account of an event or performance. It is an act of speaking on
an issue, sometimes expressing it the way it is conceived.
News commentaries are reasoned by Kombol (2008:1) clarify complexity
and gives depth to events reported in the news. A news commentary according
to him is a periodic (sometime daily) and opinionated piece of writing on a
topical issue that is aired at the end of the bulletin. Kombol (2008:2) explained
that the writer of the news commentary is identified at the end of the bulletin
and the opinion expressed is that of the writer.
To make the commentary authoritive, the writer usually presents concrete
facts to support his point of view to persuade the audience to accept his point of
view.
Distinction between Commentaries and Critical Writing
Broadcast commentaries and critical writing in terms of semblance are all
about opinions. Onabajo (2000:169) contend that “critical writing can be
equated with a news analysis of issues, policies and events in the broadcast
media, which have been properly conceptualized, articulated and documented
before they can be transmitted through the airwaves”
A commentary is an expression that is based on personal or expert
opinions. According to Onabajo (2000:178), such a comment may “be spiced
with some analyses that are based on educational background, experience and
interactive ability of the commentator.”
Where as, in critical writing, he argued that they are said to be objective
but “many at times, they are subjectively objective, because when experts views
are given, they are a product of the givers horizon, environment, exposure,
education and interactive ability.” In other words, critical analyses are based on
facts on ground.
Critical writing is deeper than broadcast commentary. It is a professional
and systematic way of looking at an issue from the perspective of strengths and
weakness based on facts available.
Critical writing transcends the boundary of broadcast media because
sound judgment of work of arts, music e.t.c can be accommodated in both print
and broadcast media, besides it is more demanding because it requires more
research, time, space and energy than broadcast commentaries.
TYPES OF COMMENTARY
There are different types of commentaries, which are used in the mass
media. In other to fully understand the nature of commentaries, Kombol
(2008:3-7) identified diverse types of commentaries in various academic fields.
These are:
 Book Commentary
 Broadcasting Commentary
 Scriptural Commentary and
 Events Commentary
Book Commentary
A commentary about a book is written to explain, criticize or illustrate a
given point about the book. In some cases, the book commentary is added to the
book and forms part of the preliminary pages of the book, while in other
instance, it is published in a separate journal or magazine.
Broadcast Commentary
Here we have: (1) News Commentary which is usually aired at the end of
news broadcast. It is based on a topical event. It is introduced with the
introduction of the writer and a brief description of the writer’s occupation. The
opinion expressed is the news commentary is solely that of the writer. Unlike
the newspaper editorial that expresses the views of the entire members of the
newspaper organization, the news commentary is solely the creation of the
writer. (ii) The sports commentary is useful to enable the audience at home
follow the games played on the field. The audience is not physically present at
the venue of the game. Thus, they rely on the sports commentary to follow the
game. The International Game Developer Association (2006:1) defines sports
commentary as a voice-over of spoken remarks that explain or enhance the
game sequence’s visual presentation. With the growth of sport on a global scale,
sport commentary is an integral aspect of broadcasting. (iii) Public Events
Commentary. Certain public events are of immense social significance that
members of the public need to follow proceeding of the event, thus they need a
commentary to guide through. Public event such as: Convocation; Swearing in
of government officials; Independence day; Children’s day; Democracy day;
State visits by Presidents and Monarchs e.g the US President, the Queen of
England, the Pope e.t.c. The proceedings of such events are followed by minute
commentary. (iv) Commentary on the internet. Special websites on the internet
offer surfers the opportunity to paste their own comments on the website for
others to see. These special websites are called blogs. Comments on the internet
are based on specific social issues. However, blogs are used for a variety of
other reasons. For example, a blog can be used by a team writing books that are
separated by distance. Some Nigerian websites allow surfers the opportunity to
paste their comments about current issues.
Scriptural Commentary
In religions and theology, commentaries are written about sections of the
various books found in the Bible, Koran, Thora (Jewish) and other sacred
scriptures. Innvista (2006:1) defines commentary in the religious sense, stating
that us a treatise in annotation or explanation of the Scriptures. Scripture
commentary throws more light on religious verses so that people have better
understanding of it.
 Social Commentary
Riverdable (2006:1) defines commentary as an organized group of
remarks or observations on a particular subject; an interpretation, usually of an
important social issue. Social commentary is that act of sharing one’s opinion
on the nature of a society to another person.
Events Commentary
Events such as wedding, birthday, child dedication, e.t.c employ some
form of commentary provided by the master of ceremony (MC). The MC directs
the occasion and tells people what is happening next. The audience follows
what the MC say because it gives direction and orderliness to the occasion.
WRITING NEWS COMMENTARIES
Essence of News commentaries
News commentaries according to Kombol (2005:1) clarify complexity
and have depth to the event reported in the news. He reasoned that news
commentaries and editorials may be first “cousins” but they have their
differences. Commentaries are therefore editorials of the air.
Stages in Writing a Broadcast Commentary:
There are three basic stages of birthing a typical broadcast commentary.
These are:(i)The preliminary stage (i.e before writing) (ii)writing stage proper
(during writing) and (iii) Editing stage (i.e after writing). Kombol (2005:17-24)
takes us through these stages.
1. Preliminary Stage (i.e before Writing)
The following steps should be taken in preliminary stage of broadcast
commentary writing:
 Identify a topic
 Collect information
 Collate gathered information
 The first task in writing a broadcast commentary is identifying a topic.
What will the commentary be based upon? Topics for broadcast commentaries
can be identified based on the following intra-personal personal processes:
a. Observation
b. Intuition
c. Conviction
The broadcast commentary writer must note that the topic should be
focused on issues that are though provoking. Furthermore, does that topic serve
overall public interest, or does it “stroke the egos” of only a few members of
society? The broadcast commentary writer should consider these questions
seriously. Apart from the intra-personal process listed above, topics for
broadcast commentaries are obtained from:
a. News Stories
b. Interaction with people in society
c. Government policy
d. Actions of institutions and corporate bodies
Once the topic of the broadcast commentary is identified, the writer goes
out to collect information on the topic. This important stage involves digging up
the facts wherever it lays hidden. The broadcast commentary writer should be
make sure that sources of information are trustworthy and that the facts gathered
are true. In gathering information for broadcast commentary writing, the
following tools are necessary:
- Personal interviews
- Book, Journals, Gazettes and reports
- The internet
- Newspapers and magazines
- Discussion programmes

[2] Writing stage proper [i.e during writing]

News commentaries have a basic structure namely;
[a] The Introduction
[b] The Body
[c] The Conclusion

However, it is important to note that the newspaper introduces the news

commentary before it is read [this serves as a cue in that prepares` listeners for
the news commentary] and after it is read, also gives a closing note. Examples
of introductory note [i.e. cue in] and closing notes are gives below:
Introductory notes
Example: Today’s news commentary is written by “Esama” 76th Iconomic
Birthday’
Source: Independ3ent Television, Benin City.
Closing Notes
Example: The news commentary was written by