Chapter six summary

Chapter six focuses on what it means to be a columnist and how it differs from general editorial writing.

Being a columnist is the most coveted job in journalism, according to Conrad Fink, who says that it is also one of the hardest jobs to acquire.

To be selected as a columnist, the editor of the paper must determine that there is enough space available in the paper, you have strong writing and reporting skills and that you have an opinion that people will want to read.

While it is still difficult to become a columnist, the opportunities are increasing because readers are becoming more and more selective and savvy in what they read. They want to know how the news affects them.

To achieve this, editors are using more columnists to deliver news-analysis without the typical left wing or right wing slants--but rather a populist one favoured by the columnist.

Column writing also differs from editorials in the use of personal experience and anecdotes to deliver a point. Writers such as the late Lewis Grizzard of the Atlanta Journal-Constituion were experts at but life stories and hyperbole to bring across an important message in an entertaining way.

They will attempt to write stories in differing ways in order to increase their audience and marketability.

However, columnists must not fall into the trap of using overly light language when dealing will certain serious or tragic subjects.
This again is where they can interject themselves and the stories of others to reach people.

Columnists also share the similarities to other journalists already mentioned--they must have strong reporting skills, solid background knowledge on the subjects they write about and reliable sources so they can deliver hard-hitting news in a timely manner.