Writing Columns

COLUMN• Columns, 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), but plenty of opinions; the bland, obvious or fence-sitting must be ruthlessly expunged. Columns are there to get a reaction - agreement, disagreement, amusement, enlightenment.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

• Friendly atmosphereIt 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 ExperienceThe 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 opinionTo 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.

• IndividualityThe tinge of personal and individual inclination is predominant present in the column-writing. We usually notice few names of columnists in all the newspapers and periodicals, whose columns enjoy popular approval. Their writings and sayings are given proper importance and weight due to individuality and personal address.

Propagation of supreme valuesMainly 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 known as 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 EducatedIt is a fact that not all columnists are well-read or educated. In Urdu journalism, we find that there aremany columnists who are not highly well-qualified, but with the passage of time, they have mastered thetraits of columnists and they are now heavily paid by the newspapers. No doubt, they have definitelywell-read now. Those who are not into reading, expose themselves, sooner or later.On the other hand, degrees do matter now, as these have become a pre-requisite to the introductionbecause time has changed. Now people definitely see who is talking and what, especially when the media is progressing day and night; hence making it pertinent for a columnist, to be well-read and educated.It is deemed so because he will understand the changing times, and will be able make readers comprehend too.Secondly, it important for him to having knowledge of the related fields for which he is writing.

• Widely ReadReading is a must for every one, but for a columnist, reading of almost all subjects is a necessity becauseknowing everything around him and mastering one can do. One subject, he must know it thoroughlybecause a columnist acts as a preacher-cum-opinion maker; hence he must know things to put them in a proper perspective.

• Well-versed in LanguageGood command of the language is also a must for a columnist, whereas a reporter or an editor can do withsimple language, but a columnist has to play with words to create humour, situation, criticism, argumentand conclusion. So it is very important for a writer to present ideas in better language. For columnists, itis a must that they write in the best language.

• Sense of humorHumor makes a columnist popular, but it is a must for him that he never uses gross language or dirtyjokes. Some columnists, mostly of the Urdu newspapers and English rarely, use jokes but to good avail.Actually, in the process, they are making comparisons, which is again popular with Urdu columnists.Good sense of humor making the column looks softer in its outlook.

• Quality reporterA columnist has qualities of a good reporter, as City diary or personal columns cannot be based on newsitems. The columnists move around and look at the society besides seeing through the news to get insight.Moreover, they are also looking for a scoop and think and probe like a reporter, while analysing thingslike a columnist.

• Complete knowledge about laws and ethics of journalismHuge responsibilities are on a columnist' shoulders, when he is writing. He knows the laws, and keepsjournalistic ethics in mind besides never relegating the editorial policy to redundancy.A responsible columnist never creates a problem for the editors by being oblivious to the above.He also knows the readers well, and always give due respect to their religious feelings and nationalistic sentiments.

TYPES OF COLUMNS

• Reporting-in-Depth Columns

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

"I Think" or Opinionated ColumnsEither 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.

Gossip ColumnsEverybody likes to learn a juicy bit of gossip. One whole field of column writing is built on thischaracteristic. Such a column contains little except its unquestionably titillating value; this needs not bethe writer's exclusive domain. The uncovering of a government scandal may have profound (andbeneficial) ramifications. No daily newspaper carries a gossip column and its natural habit is the filmmagazine, which flourishes on gossip, some malicious, some harmless but unquestionably titillating.

Humorous Columns• Columnist tries to find the

humorous aspects in life to amuse readers. Sometimes, these spotlight an event

more clearly than thousands of words of expounding and explaining. Many papers still shy of havingregular daily humorous column. Columns are much liked, which contain some satirical comments.Many papers still shy of having regular daily humorous column. However these columns are much liked,which contain some satirical comments.

Essay ColumnsJust as nature and color editorials have appeal for many a metropolitan daily editor, so the columnist,who arouses a similar nostalgia and mood in his writing, attracts attention. These require perceptivenessor possibly just and overpowering interest in people. All authors do not possess this.This type of column is rare today. Students of English literature will recognize the essay columns ofJoseph Chesterton and A.A. Mime. As an essay, it has style. Its range is unlimited but it must stick to onerigid rule-it must never be deductive or dull.

Personality Diary Columns

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

How- to-do or Advice Columns

These educate the readers, as there is a gentle instruction written in such a way as not to appear to be alesson. These columns usually appear on magazine and daily pages.

Sports ColumnThere was a time when some leading newspapers had their daily sports columns, but this is getting to berarer these days. However, event-based article-cum-columns are there. Some newspapers try to make-upfor the dearth this way. Perhaps it is still a field less trodden

Question and Answer Column

This column comes in various colors. It could be a medical column in which a qualified doctor answersqueries on health.

Standard ColumnThis type of column handles editorial subjects of lesser importance and deals with each in a paragraph ortwo. They are unsigned and are frequently the work of two or more members of the editorial staff.Outstanding columns in this category are `Topics of the Times" in the New York Times.

Political columns

These are an extension of the Standard Column, but it is considered of very serious nature. This isespecially done in pursuance of the Editorial policy of the newspaper, and these are considered to be oneof the most-read columns

The Middle ColumnThe `middle' is so-called because it occupies a position on the editorial page between the main article andthe standard column. Its sole purpose is to lighten what could otherwise be serious reading, which aneditorial page normally is and is expected to be. It is generally humorous and in any event it should beentertaining and is usually written in a lighter vein. In length it is about 500 words and the more off- beatit is the better.

The Hodge-Podge Column

Here the columnist presents to his reader a Hodge Podge of stuff a little or no consequence on theprinciple that variety is not only the spice of life but a sure formula to catch reader's interest.

Editorial ColumnIt is properly called the signed editorial column. In it we find what resembles an editorial in form, but aneditorial so palpably personal that it is a cross between an editorial and a column. When an editor writes apiece under his own name he is trying to lay his prestige on the line.These do not necessarily depend on humorous elements only. They are and can be handled efficiently bythe experienced and stylish writer of columns. Its demands are different than the other forms of columns.In it are included one's personal views and opinions on any subject or topic in the world like an editorialin any style.

Specialized Columns• These types of columns are generally limited and confined to

a single subject or topic, with the underlyingpurpose to render better and detailed service to the subject or topic under study and examination. It maybe confined to a single department of life or learning. Specialized Columns are arranged in accordancewith the circumstances. Under specialized columns are included the columns like, "Legal Column"."Religious or Deeni Column", `Astrology' or Palmistry Column", `Sports Columns", "Fashion Column",Medical Column", "Women's Column", `Students, Laborers" or Children Column". In the specializedColumns, there is simplicity of language and style and no literary tastes are added unnecessarily, nor dothey reflect any personal or individual trends. Specialized Columns can be called "ProfessionalColumns".

Miscellaneous Columns

These mainly comprise of commentary and criticism on books, Criticism columns on films and theatre,columns on performance in sports, columns on the study of the impending and actual changes in thedifferent walks of life.