Editorial Writing Essentials

This video tutorial by Andrew Johnson provides an introduction to writing editorials, discussing their traditional and modern forms, purposes, and tones. It explains various types of editorials, such as explain/interpret, criticize/persuade, and praise/commend. The tutorial outlines steps for writing an editorial, emphasizing the importance of purpose, audience, and structure. It also compares different approaches to editorial writing, highlighting the need for a strong lead, structured argument, and punchy conclusion.

What is the main goal of this video tutorial on editorial writing?

• To teach how to write a novel

• To provide an introduction to writing editorials

• To discuss the future of digital media

• To explain the history of newspapers

Traditionally, where did editorials appear?

• On television

• In magazines

• In newspapers

• On social media

How has the role of editorials changed with the rise of the internet?

• They are more biased

• They are now only found in print

• They are now often found online as blogs or vlogs

• They have become less important

What is a key characteristic of a well-written editorial?

• It should be humorous

• It should be well-researched and authoritative

• It should be very long

• It should avoid any opinion

Which type of editorial focuses on explaining new laws or social movements?

• Praise/Commend

• Explain/Interpret

• Entertaining

• Criticize/Persuade/Reform

What is a less common type of editorial?

• Criticize current policies

• Praise a decision

• Mark special events

• Explain new technology

What is the first step in writing an editorial?

• Ignoring the audience

• Publishing the draft

• Choosing a topic

• Writing the conclusion

What does Ken Riter emphasize in his approach to writing editorials?

• Focusing on the middle section

• Ignoring the conclusion

• Hooking with a strong lead and ending with a punchy conclusion

• Using a lot of personal opinions

What should you consider when choosing an approach for your editorial?

• The number of sources

• The audience and purpose

• The length of the editorial

• The type of paper used