Critiques

The Critiques Program

Through the Member Services Committee, NCEW offers critiques for editorials or columns and for editorial pages or sections. Broadcast critiques are available in conjunction with the Broadcast Editorial Committee.

Upon request from members or nonmembers, at least two committee members will provide you with written critiques by mail or, if you prefer, by e-mail or fax. This service is an extension of the critique sessions offered at NCEW conventions, which have been very useful in giving members an external perspective on strengths and on areas that need improvements. We offer full critiques and special critiques. The full critique involves sending us at least five editorial pages or editorials that have been published within a two-week period. The full critiques mirror the sessions at our conventions. The special critiques allow members to design the critique to fit their needs. That is, you may want a one-time-only review of a special project, such as a section on neighborhood redevelopment. Or you may want to be able to send just one or two editorials or pages off to a critique volunteer for feedback from time to time.

If you'd like a critique or are an NCEW member who would like to be a member of the committee, contact the Critique Chairman.

General Guidelines for Critiquers

Guidelines for Full-Page and Section Critiques

Below are some of the areas you might consider in doing critiques of a colleague's opinion pages. Emphasize the positive as well as pointing out troublesome areas.

Columns: How many local columns are used? Are they written by staff or by community members? Are they well written and well edited? What is the mix of local, national and international columns? Are a variety of viewpoints represented? Do the authors reflect the diversity -- gender, racial, ethnic, age -- of the readership?

Letters: What role do letters from readers play on these pages? Is there a vigorous dialogue in the letters' section? Does the paper invite readers to participate or seem to merely tolerate them? Are letters well edited and readable?

Editing: Are the columns, letters and editorials well edited? How clean is the copy-editing? Are headlines compelling, yet faithful to the writing? Design: Does the design of the page work? Does it lead readers into various elements of the page? What is attractive about it? What turns you away? Are the headlines sizes appropriate? Is the design consistent or does it vary from day to day? Is it boring or exciting? What tone does it set for the page?

Illustrations: Do these pages use illustrations to draw readers to columns, letters, etc.? Are graphics distracting? Are illustrations clear or confusing? Does the size of the illustrations fit the page or are they too small, too large or obscure?

Cartoons: What role do the editorial cartoons play? Are they stand-alone elements? Are they integrated? Are they local or national or a mix? How much artistic and philosophical variety is there? Are they dominant or a part of the editorial mix?

General: Do the pages reflect the region of the country they serve? Is there a sense of excitement about the pages? Is there any humor? What makes these pages effective? What areas are troublesome? Does paper dodge controversy?

Beyond the Critiques

You might want to comment on issues for general discussion in relation to the pages:

• How can a paper get more commentary from community members?
• How much should community writers be paid?
• How should rights be negotiated?
• How can you work with local authors to improve their submissions?
• Should reporters be writing for the opinion pages?
• How can a paper use a board of contributors?
• What are the values and pitfalls of phone-in comments for publication?

Critique Questions for Editorials or Columns

Below are some issues to think about in preparing critiques for colleagues.

Tone: What is the tone or voice of the editorials? Are they provocative, argumentative, bombastic, tightly reasoned, scolding, dull or boring, shrill? Does the tone work for you as a reader? Are there a variety of tones? Do they fit the topics?

Audience: Who are these editorials written for? Power brokers? Insiders? The general public? The converted or skeptical? How well do they reflect the concerns of the audience? How do they shape the concerns of the audience?

Argument: Is there sufficient information to support the conclusions of the editorials? Do the facts get in the way of the argument? Are editorials well organized? Is there ever any humor? Are opposing argument considered? Are the arguments logical? Are they overly complex? If action is called for, does it say who should act or how? Does writer dodge controversy?

Leads: Do they invite readers to continue? Are they concise? Do they tell you what the topic is and where they paper stands?

Writing and structure: Are editorials well organized? Do they have a beginning, middle and end? Are sentences short and simple or long and complicated? Are they varied? Do they use an active voice? Are transitions smooth? Are there clichés?

Readers: Do these editorials draw readers in? How are elements used to invite readership, such as headlines, graphics, leads, length of paragraphs?

10/30/95