Writing Opinion for Impact, 2nd Edition

Introduction ix

Acknowledgements xii

Part One: Setting the Scene 1

1 The Responsibilities of Opinion Writers 3

2 Identifying Issues for Comment 23

3 Reporting and Researching Your Opinions 43

Part Two: Writing to win readers 63

4 Writing Newspaper Editorials 65

5 Writing Magazine Editorials 99

Part Three: Writing Personal Columns 123

6 Commentary that Hits Hard 125

7 Amusing, Entertaining or Making ‘em Cry 159

8 The Fun and Business of Sports 187

Part Four: Arts Reviews and Criticism 219

9 You and Arts Commentary 221

Part Five: Extra Dimensions in Commentary and Opinion 253

10 Specialty Columns and Comment 255

11 Commentary for Cyberspace and Broadcast 281

12 On Campus Today: How it’s Done 299

Part Six: You and the Law: Write Defensively 321

13 Avoiding Legal Traps for Opinion Writers 323

Name Index 343

Subject Index 353