Writing Columns

COLUMNColumns, like features, come in many forms. They are defined by ownership; the column "belongs" to its author who has that ultimate journalistic luxury, a slot, guaranteed space over which he or she presides and has, in some cases, near total control over content.

Writing a column requires:

• Clarity of thought, the ability to communicate a message clearly and simply, and an engaging style.

• The column must be planned so that the writer knows before he or she starts just what they are going to say. There must not be too many ideas (two or three will usually suffice).

• Columns are there to get a reaction - agreement, disagreement, amusement, enlightenment.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

• Friendly atmosphere

It is the objective of the column writing to make a friendly and amicable atmosphere, without any intermediary between the direct contacts with the columnist. The readers feel a newness, freshness and friendliness in the writing and reading of columns of diverse nature.

Essence of Experience

The columnists undertake to mingle their life-long experience and knowledge in their columns, in friendly tones and amicable atmosphere. The columnists mold and mobilize the readers to sustain a fair amount of desirability to go through the columns.

True genuine public opinion

To enrich their knowledge, information and to form a strong habit for reference, cross-reference and repeated consultation are carried out. A personal column based on wisdom  and worldly and religious knowledge assists the columnists for true and genuine public opinion.

Individuality

The tinge of personal and individual inclination is predominant present in the column-writing. 

Propagation of supreme values

Mainly current affairs and the issues of the times are the subjects of these columns. The art and the demands of the column-writing are to present the issues by detailed explanation and explanation. 

QUALITIES OF A COLUMN WRITER

PersonalA columnist must possess some qualities at the personal level, as these are essential for him to be knownas a better individual as well.

ProfessionalSomeone with just personal qualities is never a successful professional, until he possesses certainqualities, which are a must for any professional.

Highly Educated

they have mastered the traits of columnists and they are now heavily paid by the newspapers. 

Well-versed in Language

It is very important for a writer to present ideas in better language. For columnists, it is a must that they write in the best language.

Quality reporter

A columnist has qualities of a good reporter, columnists move around and look at the society besides seeing through the news to get insight.

Complete knowledge about laws and ethics of journalism

They must know the laws, and keepsjournalistic ethics in mind besides never relegating the editorial policy to redundancy.

Sense of humor

Humor makes a columnist popular, but it is a must for him that he never uses gross language or dirty jokes. Good sense of humor making the column looks softer in its outlook.

TYPES OF COLUMNS Reporting-in-Depth Columns "I Think" or Opinionated Columns Essay Columns Personality Diary Columns Gossip Columns Humorous Columns

Reporting-in-Depth Columns

Background, perspective, and interpretation are given to various happenings, usually already presented in hard news. In these columns, current newsevents are related to the past and also to the future.

"I Think" or Opinionated Columns

Either because of extensive training, long time observations, or sheer lack of modesty, Columnists setthemselves up as experts and then expound their opinions for the general public. They try to compensatein heat for what they cannot provide in light.

Essay Columns

These require perceptiveness or possibly just and overpowering interest in people. All authors do not possess this.

Personality Diary Columns

The Diary columns come from public figures, who are talking about their interesting incidents with others.

 Gossip Columns

A column contains little except its unquestionably titillating value; this needs not be the writer's exclusive domain. No daily newspaper carries a gossip column and its natural habit is the film magazine, which flourishes on gossip, some malicious, some harmless but unquestionably titillating.

Humorous Columns

These spotlight an event more clearly than thousands of words of expounding and explaining, which contain some satirical comments.These columns are contain some satirical comments.