As part of its Press Pass Student Journalism and News Literacy programme for secondary school students, NewsBrands Ireland held a virtual journalism workshop with TY students from Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny this week.
We were delighted to have Leslie Ann Horgan, Sunday Independent Life Magazine Editor, with us to speak with the students and English teacher Jack O’ Connell about how students can use their unique voices to write an impactful opinion article.
Below are some of the nuggets of advice which Leslie Ann shared with the students:
Unique Angle: For your opinion piece to be impactful, you need to provide a unique angle or new insight on the subject you are writing about. This could be talking about your own personal experience or adding a new perspective to a subject area
Informed Opinion Vs Reaction: There is a difference between a reaction and an informed opinion. An informed opinion can be gained through researching information about the subject, talking with people who have expert knowledge, or your own personal experience. Reflect on this knowledge and then make up you mind what your opinion is on the matter.
Facts Matter: Back up your opinion article with facts to support your argument and make sure you are getting your information from a reliable information source (check out www.bemediasmart.ie and the Press Pass book for advice on accessing trustworthy information)
During the workshop, Leslie Ann also advised the students about revealing deeply personal experiences in opinion articles.
Write it, Pause and Reflect, and then make your decision as to whether you want to see the piece published.
Remember to think about how your family or friends may react or how you might feel about the article in years to come.
Do not be afraid to be brave, by sharing your personal experience you could offer a lot of inspiration and support to people in similar situations.
NewsBrands Ireland are now rolling out a series of TY journalism workshops to interested schools. Please contact Lisa Buckley, NewsBrands Ireland if you would like your class to take part.
The closing date for entries to the Press Pass Student Journalism Competition is March 22nd 2021. Entries will be judged by a selection of national newspaper journalists and editors.
For more inspiration on your entry, read opinion articles in your local and national newspapers and news websites or check out examples on awarding winning opinion writing on www.journalismawards.ie. Which opinion writers appeal to you? Do any of them really challenge your own opinions?
Don’t forget to also read the Opinion section in the Press Pass booklet.
For more details go to www.presspass.ie
