Focus on the newspaper opinion

Analyzing Editorials; Letters to the Editor; Political Cartoons

While the news stories are objective and do not overly express a viewpoint, many newspapers have special pages reserved for presenting opinions. The opinion pages contain subjective views. Here is what you’ll usually find on them:

1. Editorial articles that contain the views of the editorial board of the newspaper and of other journalists who write for the paper. The newspaper is often known for having a certain political slant, for example, favouring a certain political party. This slant, or viewpoint, is usually clearly expressed in editorials. The editorials will often explain the reasons for a point of view.

1. Political cartoons that illustrate by means of a drawing a view on issues in the news.

1. Letters to the editor, submitted by readers stating their views, often in response to news and opinion articles that have been printed in the newspaper.

EDITORIALS

While the headline in the news section might read “New Government Bill on Education,” the opinion section would contain articles that evaluate the new education bill. The headline in the opinion section might read “Revisions Needed to Make Education Policy Effective.” The headline and the accompanying article present a judgement on the event. They take a position on the issue in the news. Taking a clear position on an issue is what distinguishes opinion articles from other articles in a newspaper.

Sometimes opinion pages present opposing views on the same news event: “Bad Planning on Education Policy” one article may read, while another may say “New Education Bill a Good First Step.” This helps readers see both sides of an issue and perhaps clarify their own ideas on the topic.

Exercise 1: What’s the Opinion?

Analyze an editorial or any other opinion article by answering these questions.

Analyzing an Editorial/ Opinion Page

1. Who wrote the article? Does it express the opinion of an individual or of the newspaper? How do you know? 2. What key words in the headline or first paragraph let you know the opinion expressed in the article? 3. What is the issue discussed in the article? 4. Is the scope of the issue local, national or international? 5. What is the opinion of the newspaper or the writer about the issue? 6. What are the reasons the newspaper or writer gives to support the position taken? 7. What is your opinion on the issue?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the editor provide readers with a forum in which they can express their ideas on issues in the news or on the opinions expressed in the newspaper.

Exercise 2: What Are People Talking About?

Look at current issues of the newspaper for letters to the editors. List three issues that currently interest people, judging from the letters to the editor.

Exercise 3: Get in the News

Draft a brief letter to the editor about a subject in the news about which you have an opinion. Remember to express a clear main idea and provide reasons to support your opinion.

POLITICAL CARTOONS

Political cartoons illustrate some aspect of a political issues, often in simplified terms. Yet often a picture can be very effective in dramatizing an issue. One device commonly used in political cartoons is caricature, in which physical features of a person in the news are exaggerated.

Exercise 4: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Find a political cartoon in a recent newspaper or magazine. Answer these questions.

Analyzing a Political Cartoon

1. Who drew the cartoon? 2. Who or what is pictured in the cartoon? 3. What is the language of the cartoon? Is there a caption on the cartoon? Are they words spoken by the character(s)? How do the words help you understand the cartoon? 4. What is the issue presented in the cartoon? 5. What position on the issue does the cartoonist take? 6. Is the cartoon humorous? satirical? Explain your answer. 7. Did you find the cartoon hard to understand? If so, what information about current events do you need to understand the cartoon?

Exercise 5: Do You Get It?

Clip a cartoon from a recent newspaper or magazine. Discuss your cartoon in small groups. Use the questions in exercise 4 to help you analyze the meaning of a cartoon.