Lessons on how to write editorials

Was my one-month experience at the Op-Ed section worth the while? Undoubtedly yes. I learnt that editorial ideas are subjected to great scrutiny before they are adopted as usable topics in the section. Sometimes, the discussions get too heated that one would fear they may degenerate into personal confrontation. But eventually, a consensus is reached – on what arguments should go into an editorial before it is decided who the writer would be.

After returning from the midterm seminar at The Poynter Institute, two of my ideas were subjected to such scrutiny and passed the test. They features a Kenya-U.S. "Open Skies" agreement and the trouble in Zimbabwe.

Accepting the idea then opens the way to writing the editorial. Usually, the writer has a word limit of about 300 words to make a point that would have otherwise been narrated in more than 1,500 words. This, my teacher Barbara Shelly told me, means that the writer must choose words carefully and be focused on what is important to push an argument forward in an editorial.

The idea, at The Star, is to put the opinion of an argument right at the top. A few more sentences would help support the opinion before shedding some background on the topic.
I found this a suitable way of writing editorials. It helps one to be more forceful in influencing an opinion about the theme of an editorial.

But there was soccer too in the last week of June. The Euro Cup was coming to a close with a showpiece match between Spain and Germany, which I had to preview. It had become fun to write about soccer since I delved into the section. I have made many friends in and outside of the newsroom, especially at the Overland Park where I play soccer every Monday and Tuesday. Last week, a reader sent me a good idea to write about upon reading one of my stories. I now feel pretty comfortable writing on sports, with an international view, a thing I want to carry home when I return next month.

Other than writing, I held a talk before more than 50 members of the International Relations Council (IRC), Kansas City on June 18. The Star’s Director of Strategic Development Randy Smith, and Ruth Rodriguez, professor of journalism at Pomeu Fabra University in Madrid, Spain, spoke about foreign policy and the 2008 U.S. elections.

The IRC is the region's leading organization for world affairs programming. Since its founding in 1954, IRC has hosted many world leaders, including cabinet level officials, ambassadors and leaders from business, media, politics, government and education.

Its members, both individuals and organizations, participate in numerous events throughout the year. The organization also provides significant resources for teachers and schools.
At the June 18 function, we fielded many questions from participants ranging from America’s image abroad, work for journalists in our home countries and how this year’s U.S. elections were being perceived abroad.