Interesting Collection Of Famous Editorials That Readers Liked

Since the media serves the role of watchdog and acts as a medium to represent the collective voice and opinions of a nation, its independence from any external influence is fundamental to running an effective democracy.

The truth, however, is quite the contrary; press independence is in a downward spiral primarily due to the lack of balance in our democratic organs. Power is vested largely in the political actors of the government and too little in those that oversee the acts.

Even though the media's reputation fails to stand up to expectations at times, as the fourth pillar of democracy, some newspaper agencies like the New York Times and Washington Post have taken up the reins to facilitate the dissemination of unbiased information in their news. Media has been one of the most powerful tools of democracy.

It is the perfect medium of communication between every section of society.

The limitations suffered by the press are largely due to anti-media policies of political leaders across the world.

To avoid the voice of the public and to stay away from problems of citizens of the country, the political authority binds the independence of the press. But, some problems solve themselves internally as was witnessed when over 350 newspapers joined hands in the defense of media independence against the President of America, Donald Trump's, anti-media stance.

Keep reading to learn interesting facts about famous editorials!

What are editorials?

Also classified under the heading 'opinion', editorials are articles written by the chief editors or publishers of a news company.

A particular page dedicated to editorials, often called editorial or opinion pages, feature letters written to the editors by the citizens of a country expressing their point of view on various subjects. The published answer to each letter reflects the editor's opinion into a brief essay about the matter.

Although very unlikely in the English Language press, editorials may even appear on the front page of a newspaper, depending upon the intensity of the issue.

Essentially, each editorial that is published anonymously pictures the viewpoint of the entire publishing house by reflecting their news policies.

Additionally, an editor is responsible for shaping a country's outlook at large, by persuading the readers to think similarly and share similar opinions. In a way, an editorial is the core attraction of a newspaper.

The editors enjoy the freedom of speech and are free to share their doubts or criticize or appreciate certain ongoing issues of the world.

Without an editorial column, newspapers would lose their essence as the fourth pillar of democracy. It acts as a link between a country's citizens and its government.

Ideally, an editorial should be evocative yet debatable at the same time.

Being well-clothed in language, an editorial can perhaps be considered as a literary piece without its scientific or factual content. Articles, on the other hand, are devoid of editorial judgment and contain only factual and scientific content.

In conclusion, a good editorial must express opinions but may not be opinionated, while having the power to enlighten and transform without being pedagogical or evangelical.

There are four main types of editorials. An Interpretational Editorial only addresses facts and important details of the issues without citing any personal opinions unlike a Criticism Editorial, where the editor shares both the good and bad aspects of the issue while providing opinions or solutions.

An Editorial of Appreciation is written to extend appreciation and encouragement to the deserving candidates as well as the general audience while an Entertainment Editorial is written in a light tone addressing topics that would interest and entertain the audience, especially the youth.

Features Of Editorials

Differences of opinions have arisen regarding what can be considered a good editorial. Needless to say, various famous editors have tried to define and lay a structure that would deliver a good editorial. However, none has been successful in explaining what an editorial is. Here is another attempt to define and elaborate on the aspects that characterize an editorial.

The most significant difference between an editorial and other forms of news stories such as columns or articles is that the former expresses personal opinions while the latter is devoid of them. However, all forms of news stories are compilation facts and scientific data.

The most important fact that all editors unanimously agree upon is the brevity of an editorial. A brief and concise editorial is extremely convenient and less time-consuming to read while landing upon all the important aspects of the news story.

Like any news story, an editorial has an introduction, body, and conclusion.

It opens by addressing an issue followed by an objective explanation of the same. A concrete background of the issue is built based upon the history and different perspectives provided by the editors of other agencies.

Opinions of the rival editors play a crucial role in creating a ground for debate. This raises doubts and questions in the minds of the readers and further engrosses them into reading more works by the newspaper and/or the editors, more like wanting your favorite dessert after a meal every day.

The conclusion usually expresses the judgment of the editor and leaves room for the audience to review and provide feedback.

Reader feedback is treated with great importance as it oftentimes leads to the birth of another potential editorial in the future.

The editors should be responsible while expressing their arguments packed with verified factual and scientific data. This, too, successfully engages the audience and sustains smooth readability.

Although mildly cloaked in persuasion, the tone of an editorial should be formal with appropriate use of language. The use of foul or offensive statements will perhaps cost the agency to lose out on potential audiences.

As editorials have created a legacy of inspiring and engaging lives, an assertion with a bowl of encouragement can be considered as the perfect little recipe for a successful editorial!

The Importance Of Editorials

Had there not been poetry and the press to criticize the war, the human community would never learn the value of sentient lives.

Even though the cruelty of war is over today, the circus that goes on in the name of animal protection doesn't get the attention it deserves.

Evidently, some of the best editorials published by the New York Times, World Street Journal, USA Today, The Guardian, New York Post, and Boston Globe have been successfully influencing and engaging the creators and audiences alike.

Let us learn what led editorials to become the most significant section of a newspaper.

An editorial is capable of attracting readers as it can transform any serious or uninteresting news debatable. The empirical nature of editorials raises doubts and questions in the minds of its readers.

Being the fourth pillar of democracy, editorials have played a huge role in influencing the agendas and decisions taken by the political systems of the world. It has contributed to the birth and death of war through its explicit expressions and shaping and interpreting political events.

Expression of similar views on the same issues by different newspapers can perhaps have a huge impact on the political system as well as influence the citizens to build their judgment and encourage one to take prompt action on a certain issue.

That being said, a hindrance to editorial independence can lead to the death of the intellectual well-being of an empirical journal.

However, the least you can gain from reading editorials is an acute sense of reasoning and communication skills.

Fun Facts About Famous Editorials

The sharp use of wit inevitably leads to a subtle play of words and to revisit an editorial published in the New York Sun 116 years ago on September 21, 1897, speaks volumes about the power of good journalism.

The humility that came out in the words of editor Francis P. Church when he claimed, 'Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus' in his answer to an eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wanting to know whether Santa truly existed through her letter, has become a timeless Christmas story.

No explanation is needed as to why it is cited as the world's most reprinted newspaper editorial in the English language as Church's answer above other things, seemed to be crafted with a bit of magical realism while writing.

The 416-word long defense of Santa Claus that appeared in the Q&A column of the New York Sun was initially published anonymously and the name of the writer was only disclosed after their death.

It was because Church himself did not adhere to any superstitious beliefs and didn't want his name out in the public. But there's no harm in prolonging a child's innocence by reassuring their beliefs.

Hence, the legacy of this famous piece remains not in any mindful truth or honest opinion but its remarkable message.

The irony?

It saw a hard-bitten atheist climb down to match the mental wavelength of an eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon and deliver exactly what she needed to hear.

The famous editorial 'What's the matter with Kansas' was published at the backdrop of a conflicted House of Representatives, led together by the Republicans and the Populists.

In 1896, at a time when the state of Kansas was faced with the crisis of population loss due to a rise in emigration and a rapid drain of businesses, investors, and resources, William Allen White of the Emporia Gazette blamed the People's Party for the downfall of Kansas and poured his contempt for the Populist Presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, in his editorial.

Then 29 years old and extremely bothered by the incompetence of the People's Party, William's editorial not only demanded a radical reform in policies but also forewarned the voting community against exercising their power in electing the wrong representative.

The editorial gained him worldwide recognition and the piece was used as a wild card political device in the national election campaign of Republican Presidential candidate, William McKinley, who eventually went on to win the elections.