Editorials

Editorials are most frequently defined as officially expressed opinions on a matter by a publication's editorial board. These statements, often found on an editorial “page” of a newspaper or magazine, represent the consensus viewpoint of the editorial staff of the publication.

An editorial is sometimes referred to as an “oped.” In its original usage, an op-ed was a newspaper page with featured commentary, “opposite” of the editorial page. Though considered improper by some, it is now common for people to refer to an editorial as an “op-ed,” by substituting the word opinion for opposite. In addition to including the official stance of the publication, editorial pages may contain political cartoons, syndicated columns, and/or letters to the editor. These items are also sometimes referred to as editorials. Editorials of all kinds are much more [Page 199]common in print media, which are not constrained by any regulatory requirements to provide equal time or balanced coverage.

Editorials are typically constructed by a group of members of an editorial board, which may include the publisher and editor of the newspaper as well as other members of the staff. By not including a byline, these articles are meant to show solidarity of message and purpose among the staff. Organizations such as the American Society for Magazine Editors and the American Business Media Guide have designed sets of ethical guidelines for the creation and dissemination of editorials. For instance, both organizations emphasize the importance of clear divisions and distinctions between advertising or promotion materials and the actual editorial content.

Inspiration for editorials generally arises from current events. As opposed to the neutrality and objectivity that characterize articles written by journalists, editorials are subjective and may attempt to be persuasive. Some researchers have found that newspaper coverage of an issue will be reflective of editorial coverage, contrary to the notion of journalistic neutrality.

Numerous classification systems have been used to typify editorials. Editorials are frequently categorized as being either explanatory or persuasive. An explanatory editorial seeks to interpret the meaning of news stories and provide context to the reader. Alternatively, a persuasive editorial may argue a particular point of view, offer solutions, or call readers to action.

During political campaigns, newspapers may elect to endorse a particular candidate through use of an editorial. Research in communication, journalism, and political science has produced mixed results as to whether editorials are likely to influence the vote choice of readers.