comments

contents

preface

introduction

the author

 

 

isbn:
9781891136092
2004
400 pages
paperback

suggested list price: $75.00
price to college bookstores:
$60.00

The Why, Who and How
of the Editorial Page

fourth edition

Kenneth Rystrom
Virginia Polytechnic and State University

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.

Reviewed in The Masthead, the quarterly publication of the National Conference of Editorial Writers (NCEW), Autumn 2004.

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.

To see the table of contents, please click on this text line.

To read the preface, please click on this text line.

COMMENTS FROM PROFESSORS

"The text gives my students an authoritative resource. It provides background on editorial writing, and on how to research and write. And I like the examples in the text."
Repps B. Hudson
Washington University

"I continue to regard Ken Rystrom's text as a fine piece of work written by a real pro.... It's the best text I know on editorial writing."
Sam G. Riley
Virginia Tech

"It worked well for me.... Students seem to agree that the book fit their needs."
Sharon Stringer
Lock Haven University

"The practical and theoretical approaches that Dr. Rystrom brings to the subject are major strengths."
Coke Ellington
Alabama State University

"Its strengths are its thoroughness and clarity."
John J. Breen
University of Connecticut

"Its thorough research is terrific. Its history is most interesting and informative."
Gerald B. Jordan
University of Arkansas

"The nine steps chapters are very worthwhile as is the general approach."
William A. Fisher
Winthrop University

"Overall, it's a good book.... The organization is good; the exercises are excellent!"
Charity Lyon
Northwestern Oklahoma State University

"Simple, clean, logical."
Brian Thornton
Northern Illinois University

"Functional and comfortable."
John McClelland
Roosevelt University

"It has everything that I need."
Tim Hanson
Francis Marion University

"Best available text."
George Fattman
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

"Best book possible."
Joe Mirando
Southeast Louisiana University

COMMENTS FROM JOURNALISTS

"It is an excellent all-around basic book on the subject of the editorial page and its role in the newspaper. It covers most aspects of editorial writing and many aspects of running an editorial department. The author's experiences clearly helped him cover all the bases with expertise and understanding."
Susan Albright
Minneapolis, Minn., Star Tribune

"Rystrom's description of editorial writers is both flattering and challenging. Just when it verges on the unrealistic, he tempers it with a dose of reality. He sets a high bar, but one that is attainable."
Dan Radmacher
Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune

"Rystrom's book certainly represents well the present-day standards, practices and aspirations of our editorial page and is thoroughly steeped in the standards and practices of the craft in general. Anybody using this book would be well served."
Bob Caldwell
Portland, Ore., Oregonian

"Well done—well written.... It's a good book."
David Feldman
San Diego (Calif.) Union-Tribune

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

The third edition of this book was reviewed in The Masthead, the quarterly publication of the National Conference of Editorial Writers (NCEW).