An editorial column is an article that shares an opinion about a current event or social issue. It’s written by on-staff journalists or experts from outside the publication and contains commentary and opinions that are backed up with evidence and arguments. An effective editorial aims to persuade readers and inspire action. It should have a fresh perspective, be well written and leave a memorable impression on the audience.
In the context of journalism, an editorial is the official position on a particular issue that a publication takes. It is often titled “Our View” or similar, and it’s generally not signed. It usually appears at the top of the front page, and it’s a good idea to include an opposing viewpoint in the same newspaper so that readers can decide for themselves.
A column is a regular feature in a newspaper that reflects a writer’s personal viewpoint, personality or expertise. It is typically not the official voice of a newspaper, and it’s more like an insider’s conversation with the reader. A good columnist should be able to use the latitude offered by the medium to choose a profoundly personal topic or give the reader a chuckle. A good columnist will know how to make the topic relevant to the daily life of the readers and make it engaging.
As the name suggests, a column is arranged in columns that have many lines of text. This type of layout is used in newspapers because it’s easy to read and allows space for multiple viewpoints on an issue.