Skills and Challenges of Column and Opinion Writers in Contemporary Pundit

Columnists write opinion pieces for publication in newspapers or magazines or on news, general
interest, or special interest Websites. Some columnists work for syndicates, which are
organizations that sell articles to many media at once. Columnists can be generalists who write
about whatever strikes them on any topic. Most columnists focus on a specialty, such as government, politics, local issues, health, humor, sports, gossip, or other themes. The purpose behind this type of creative writing is not only to inform but also to use specific examples to convince readers to support a particular viewpoint to bring about change in society.

Before writing a Column, think about and decide on the purpose, audience, content and structure.
At the same time you must know, Why are you writing? Is it to inform the community about an
event? Does the paper's editor, the community or co-workers want it? Are you entertaining, informing or educating? Do you seek an identity or exposure? You must also know whom you are trying to reach, and decide your audience. Lastly, write down your concept and structure.
Writing a column requires, in addition to knowledge of the subject matter, the ability to project a personality that engages with an audience and establishes rapport with it.

Writing a successful opinion piece is not as easy as it may seem. It requires careful planning, research, argumentation, and style to persuade and engage readers. To become an effective writer
in the opinion and column section, First you must have a deep understanding about the certain
topic you want to write. In-depth knowledge will help the writer to create and write well known
points. Staycurrent with facts, statistics, and relevant nformation. Solid research lends credibility to your opinions and strengthens your arguments.

Writing an opinion piece requires clear and engaging language that conveys your personality,
passion, and perspective. To make your writing more effective, use short and simple sentences
and paragraphs that are easy to read. Incorporate active voice and strong verbs to demonstrate
action and agency. Link your ideas with transitions and connectors to create a smooth flow. Appeal to the reader's emotions and imagination with rhetorical devices, such as metaphors, analogies, anecdotes, or questions. Humor, irony, or sarcasm can add some spice and personality to your opinion piece - if used appropriately. Lastly, avoid jargon, clichés, or vague terms that
confuse or bore the reader. Avoid being mild-mannered, tactful or diplomatic, as well as offering
both sides of the story. An argument is much better than a discussion.

But, just like anyone, Columnists and Opinion Writers also face challenges in terms of their job.
Writers face challenges such as fake news and misinformation, declining trust in journalism,
digital transformation, financial sustainability, threats to press freedom, ethical dilemmas,
information overload, mental health and well-being, balancing objectivity and advocacy, and the
need for continuous learning and adaptation.

Traditionally, journalists have been considered gatekeepers. They report the news objectively to
the masses, while leaving their own beliefs and opinions behind once they enter the newsroom.
However, in today’s society, the idea that journalists act as gatekeepers has been questioned.
According to a survey Business Wire Blog, 46% journalists see a lack of trust in the news as
the biggest challenge in modern journalism. This represents a significant threat to the value of
media. It keeps the door open for bias in news coverage and for the "fake news" narrative to feed
on the crisis of confidence in the journalism industry. Trust in journalism has been on the decline in recent years. The rise of biased reporting, sensationalism, and the perception of media
organizations being driven by corporate or political interests have contributed to this erosion of
trust. Journalists must be Transparent, accountable , and uses ethical reporting in crucial times to rebuild the trust of the audience in journalism.

One of the most significant challenges faced by journalists in today’s digital age is the
proliferation of fake news and misinformation. With the ease of sharing information on social
media platforms, false narratives can quickly spread like wildfire, undermining the credibility of
journalism. Journalists must combat this challenge by adhering to strict fact-checking protocols
and verifying sources before publishing any news story. Just like in writing opinion based
articles, writers must know first what they are going to write, always double check the
information before putting and uploading it online or publishing it in a newspaper. Because,
when a writer put something wrong and people already read it, there are times that they misunderstood and believed it.