ABSTRACT
Critics say the people are presumptuous to editorialize on issues of public policy and to thus tell readers what they should think. Nevertheless, almost without exception, publications of significance regard editorials as an important public service. Consequently, writing editorials could be part of the people early career in journalism. Codes of ethics in journalism single out four broad areas of responsibility for editorial writers: Serve the public in all that people do, Create a forum within the marketplace of ideas where readers, community and nation can conduct the public dialogue, Be society’s watchdog and walk patrol on behalf of people public and Write to inform readers and guide them in causing change. National magazines and newspapers — particularly the New York Times and Wall Street Journal —are cited frequently as providing inspiration for editorials. Strong editorials don’t emerge from a rigid writing formula as a delicious apple pie emerges from strict adherence to a recipe.
