Columnist

Description

Columnists research and write opinion pieces about news events for newspapers, journals, magazines and other media. They have an area of interest and can be recognised by their writing style.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to columnist:

food columnist
advice columnist
commentator
editorial opinion columnist
humor columnist
senior columnist
magazine journalist
gossip columnist
political columnist

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as columnist. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Columnist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Columnist career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to columnist.

foreign correspondent
business journalist
crime journalist
sports journalist
political journalist

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of columnist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of columnist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of columnist.

Editorial standards: The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
Writing techniques: The different techniques to write a story such as the descriptive, persuasive, first person and other techniques.
Rhetoric: The art of discourse that aims at improving the ability of writers and speakers to inform, persuade or motivate their audience.
Spelling: The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
Grammar: The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of columnist.

Participate in editorial meetings: Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.
Present arguments persuasively: Present arguments during a negotiation or debate, or in written form, in a persuasive manner in order to obtain the most support for the case the speaker or writer represents.
Study topics: Carry out effective research on relevant topics to be able to produce summary information appropriate to different audiences. The research may involve looking at books, journals, the internet, and/or verbal discussions with knowledgeable persons.
Evaluate writings in response to feedback: Edit and adapt work in response to comments from peers and publishers.
Stay up to date with social media: Keep up with the trends and people on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Consult information sources: Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
Apply grammar and spelling rules: Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists: Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.
Use specific writing techniques: Use writing techniques depending on the type of media, the genre, and the story.
Build contacts to maintain news flow: Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc.
Write to a deadline: Schedule and respect tight deadlines, especially for theatre, screen and radio projects.
Follow the news: Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of columnist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Political parties: The ideas and principles that political parties stand for and the politicians representing them.
Political science: The systems of government, the methodology concerning the analysis of political activity and behaviour, and the theory and practice of influencing people and acquiring governance.
Interview techniques: The techniques for getting information out of people by asking the right questions in the right way and to make them feel comfortable.
Economics: Economic principles and practices, financial and commodity markets, banking and the analysis of financial data.
Ict software specifications: The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
Multimedia systems: The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.
Stock market: The market in which shares of publicly held companies are issued and traded.
Desktop publishing: The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.
Press law: The laws concerning the licensing of books and the freedom of expression in all products of the media.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of columnist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Create online news content: Create and upload news content for e.g. websites, blogs and social media.
Apply desktop publishing techniques: Apply desktop publishing techniques and software to create page layouts and typographic quality text.
Check correctness of information: Check if the information contains factual errors, is reliable, and has news value.
Proofread text: Read a text thoroughly, search for, review and correct errors to ensure content is valid for publishing.
Interview people: Interview people in a range of different circumstances.
Manage writing administration: Manage the financial and administrative side of writing including making up budgets, maintaining financial records, checking contracts, etc.
Adapt to type of media: Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
Manage personal finances: Identify personal financial objectives and set up a strategy to match this target in seeking support and advice when necessary.
Promote your writings: Talk about your work at events and conduct readings, speeches and book signings; establish a network among fellow writers.
Ensure consistency of published articles: Ensure that articles are consistent with the genre and theme of the newspaper, journal or magazine.
Write headlines: Write” titles to accompany news articles. Make sure they are to the point and inviting.
Provide written content: Communicate information in written form via digital or print media according to the needs of the target group. Structure the content according to specifications and standards. Apply grammar and spelling rules.
Rewrite articles: Rewrite articles to correct errors, make them more appealing to the audience, and to ensure that they fit within time and space allotments.
Document interviews: Record, write, and capture answers and information collected during interviews for processing and analysis using shorthand or technical equipment.
Write captions: Write captions to accompany cartoons, drawings, and photographs. These captions can be humorous or explanatory.

ISCO group and title

2642 – Journalists

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Columnist – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022