The Why, Who and How of the Editorial Page

Today’s editorial writers and editors face new challenges. Their audiences have more education, more sources of information, and access to a wider selection of media than ever before. To succeed, opinion writers must be better prepared and better informed—better writers—than their predecessors.

The Why, Who and How of the Editorial Page explains what it takes to be a successful opinion writer. It explores the social and political impact of editorials. It discusses the background, knowledge and skills editorial writers need to produce stimulating editorial pages, deal with publishers and news staffs, and handle potential conflicts of interest. Perhaps most important, it provides step-by-step instructions for writing editorials and shows how letters, columns, cartoons and design contribute to a lively editorial page.

Authoritative, practical and current, The Why, Who and How of the Editorial Page is widely regarded as the major text for editorial page writers and students.

FEATURES OF THE NEW EDITION

Expanded scope: discusses signed columns and other opinion writing, as well as providing step-by-step instruction for writing traditional newspaper and broadcast editorials.

Many new examples: includes more than 100 editorials, opinion pieces and excerpts from a wide variety of newspapers and other sources.

Innovations: reflects new approaches that keep opinion pages vital and appealing to readers.

Internet resources: explores new research tools and opportunities.

Current issues: draws on recent studies and on comments from editorial writers and editors to illustrate contemporary issues and challenges.

Kenneth Rystrom has spent 20 years in the newspaper business and 20 years teaching journalism. He has written and edited editorials on the Register in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Columbian in Vancouver, Wash. He has taught editorial writing and other journalism courses at the University of Montana, Washington State University, the University of Redlands and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, a master’s degree from the University of California–Berkeley and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California.

Rystrom has been recognized for his contributions to journalism, journalism education and scholarship. For his contributions to journalism and journalism education, he was awarded a life membership in the National Conference of Editorial Writers, an organization for which he has also served as president. For his scholarly work in journalism, he has four times received the Henry M. Grady Award. Upon his retirement, he was awarded professor emeritus status at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is now living in Florence, Ore.