News commentary is the need to deepen news reporting. Because of its depth, its writing is more complicated than news and communication, and it needs a certain amount of pen power to write well. However, writing comments does not mean that there are no rules to follow.
Topic selection problem (subtitle)
Writing reviews, like writing other articles, needs to solve the problem of "what to write" first.
"What to write" of course refers to "what to write" and "what to write".
The success of the topic is the premise of the success of an article.
But the topic itself has two basic premises: if it is not a personal news event, it must be guaranteed that the quoted news is fact rather than fiction; Secondly, we can't take news facts out of context and distort the facts stated in the original news. If these two points cannot be guaranteed, the current review will not be tenable from the source. (There were a lot of fake news last year)
On the basis of ensuring these two points, what is the next step?
If you choose a topic like mountain climbing, what kind of "mountain" should you choose to climb? First of all, when writing comments, we should dare to write hot and difficult issues of social concern. The so-called "knowing that there is a tiger in the mountain, it is biased towards the tiger mountain." If you dare not touch hot topics, comments will lose the value and significance of survival, because the mission of comments is to solve various social problems; If you dare not touch hot topics, the commentator himself is a failed creator, and it is difficult to gain a foothold in the comment circle.
At the same time, as a "mountain" with too much risk, "Tiger Mountain" should be climbed carefully. Walking to "Tiger Mountain" means that you can kill the "tiger" or bypass the "tiger" and cross the mountain easily. If you can't do these two things, you'd better not climb. This is the so-called "know yourself and know yourself" and do what you can.
Generally speaking, a high-risk "mountain" needs to make great efforts in conception, angle and language expression, and it takes great efforts to climb it. Some themes, influenced by political, social, customs and other factors of the times, are avoided by the context of the times. Such a "mountain" should not be touched in the end-if some restricted things "melt" after a period of development, it is not too late to write again.
Secondly, avoid climbing mediocre and featureless "mountains". It is difficult to see new ideas in a mediocre "mountain", so commentators should avoid such a "big stream" For example, some time ago, Shanghai standardized the development of road stalls, and a batch of manuscripts came to talk about the significance of standardized development of road stalls to people's livelihood-it is still worth talking about the first big city to adopt such an approach; But after a while, Zhengzhou lifted the ban on the road market again, and as a result, a group of authors flocked to write this again, but the theme was still the same as yesterday, which was not very interesting.
"The mountain is no longer high, and a fairy makes its name." Although some "mountains" are not high, they are very distinctive and interesting to write. Su Shiyan said: "It's a pity that Suzhou Tiger Hill won't go!" In fact, Tiger Hill is only more than 30 meters, but "Mountain" is rich in cultural heritage, and "Climbing Mountain" is also very exciting!
In a word, dealing with the problem of "topic selection" is the first step to the success of current review writing.
Writing Angle (Subtitle)
The angle problem belongs to the category of "how to write"-it is the first step of "how to write"
Angle is a question of "where to start" or "how to treat a news fact".
"Looking horizontally, the ridge edge becomes a peak, and the distance is different." A mountain, with different perspectives, will draw completely opposite conclusions and opinions.
For example, Mount Tai, you can say that it has geological scientific value-the rock strata are relatively old, and the Archean metamorphic rock series is the oldest rock on the earth, which has been 2.5-2.8 billion years ago; It can be said that it has cultural value-from ancient times to the present, there are a lot of stone carving calligraphy and poetry; You can say that it is a mountain of religion, with Taoist and Buddhist buildings, Buddhist scriptures and Taoist priests; You can say that it is the mountain of kings. When you stand on the top of Mount Tai and see a mountain like an arch, you will know why emperors of all ages like to go to Mount Tai to attend the amenorrhea ceremony ... So, you will make different comments on a mountain from different angles.
It should be noted that a "mountain" that could have been climbed, if the angle is not well chosen, may still not be able to climb it.
If you have a better image, you can also compare the angle of writing articles to the path of climbing mountains, which is easy to understand. A "mountain" has gentle slopes, cliffs and cliffs. Although it is steep in some places, it can still be climbed. When writing a review, it is not "all roads lead to the top of the mountain". Because, which mountain to climb-that is, the topic-has a "high-voltage line" problem, and which road to climb to the top-no matter which angle you choose to write an article, there is still a "high-voltage line" problem. The "precipice" is the "high-voltage line", and such a road should be avoided from the beginning when climbing the mountain.
For example, Mount Tai, from Hongmen to Zhongtianmen to slate to the top of the mountain, can be; But the back hill is a precipice, which is not easy to climb.
Climbing a mountain, there are roads that everyone is used to, and there are also remote and strange roads. Which way should we choose? I think, don't climb the road that others have taken, but choose a new road that others have not taken-this new road that others have not taken is actually a "new angle" problem. Try to find such a new way to climb when writing comments.
This "new road" must be "walkable and can reach the top of the mountain".
Writing Problems (Subtitle)
How to write is the second step of how to write. It is also the process of writing the whole article on paper.
As the saying goes, "Be upright and sing". But I think it is good to write the novel Qu, not to write a review.
The so-called "no song" means that the point of view is straightforward and clear, and the logic of argument is clear: the structure of the article is clear, and there is no need to beat around the bush. "What to do, why to do it and how to do it"-the three parts of the article are best clear at a glance. In other words, deduction is much more used than induction, which is determined by the "news nature" of news comments and is also the need of fast food era.
For example, the mountain you choose to climb is a bare mountain (what is it); You have to consider the reason why this mountain is bare, which is caused by man-made logging. Or is it caused by soil and rocks? Or is it caused by improper planting methods? Or is it caused by poor management? Or is it caused by water shortage? Whatever the reason, find it; After you find out the reason, put forward a green prescription (how to do it) according to the reason. If it is caused by a certain reason, a solution can be put forward for this reason; If it is a comprehensive reason, then there are several reasons, and you have to propose several solutions.
To write a review, we must first master such a simple structure-that is to say, we are not excluding other structural logics, because there is no definite method for writing, and the more styles, the better, but the reviewer had better master this simplest writing mode first. The problem now is that some authors want to run when they can't get away, and as a result, the articles are written in a fog, which makes people confused.
Besides structure, another problem in writing is the language expression of commentary. When writing a review, the structure of the article should be "straightforward", but the language style should be "tortuous" and euphemistic-at least do this: say what you want to say, but let people feel that there is nothing excessive.
"Qu" is not to pretend to be mysterious, but the language should be clear, smooth and concise. Pay attention to using fewer attributes and adjectives; Use more short sentences and simple sentences, and less long sentences and complex sentences-Chinese is different from English, and short sentences and simple sentences are more beautiful and clean.
When commenting on the tone of the whole article, we should also pay attention to Zhang Chi's moderation and avoid nervousness.
Nowadays, it is a national problem that the language of comments is not ideal, and the phenomenon of improper words, unsmooth sentences, carelessness, excessive venting and irrational language in correspondent's contribution is more serious; It can be said that it is difficult to find a manuscript with smooth writing, steady style and no need to change-this may be related to the overall environment of "emphasizing foreign languages over Chinese" and the unscientific teaching methods of Chinese as a whole.
Context of the Times (Subtitle)
Finally, it emphasizes the issue of "time context".
In the first part of this paper, the author mentioned the concept of "time context". In fact, we must attach great importance to the "context of the times" in the whole process of comment writing.
The so-called "context of the times" is the freedom of language expression allowed by the public opinion environment of the times. The language expression of the commentary must be accurate and appropriate.
Every society and every era has a specific "context". The "context of the times" determines whether the theme can be touched, whether the perspective of the problem is feasible, and whether the language expression is relaxed.
It is the last word that the manuscript can be sent out. It is precisely because the "context of the times" determines the three major problems in writing an article, so if the "context of the times" is not clear, it is impossible to write an article; Even if it is written, it is written in vain, because it is difficult to send it out.
In times of peace like ours, what society needs is more rational and constructive words, not destructive impulses. Confucius said: 70 and do what you want from your heart, and don't overstep the rules. When writing a review, it is my lifelong pursuit to achieve such a "old-fashioned" state.
It is easy for a manuscript to do what you want from the heart, but it is difficult to do it often-because we all live on the earth and have secular desires, and it is too difficult to be rational forever.
Therefore, when writing a review, no one can take advantage of it or get lucky, but need to cultivate "current review", which is the abbreviation of "current political review" and "current affairs review". Including news comments, you can take news as the material, and you can also express your views on the surrounding things or the author's heart. After the reform and opening up, with the advancement of the democratic process and the rise of market-oriented newspapers, distinguishing right from wrong, enhancing understanding, criticizing the shortcomings of the times, guiding public opinion and inspiring people's wisdom have become a bright spot in the revitalization of the newspaper industry. This point, as early as the United States 1979, has become academic knowledge-"The viewpoint function of news media has become an inseparable demand of news consumers, because they are now overwhelmed by information." Therefore, professional commentators have become a rare human resource for the survival and development of the newspaper industry, and also become the backbone of promoting social progress. Where is the visual center of gravity of the commentator, and where is the social responsibility of the commentator? More than half of them are reflected in the theme they chose for this review. Taking Yan Lieshan as an example, this paper analyzes the characteristics of topic selection of news commentators in China.
Yan Lieshan is now a senior editor of Southern Newspaper Media Group and the editorial board of Southern Weekend, and has published more than ten comments and essays. In 2004, he won the Lu Xun Literature Award for his prose "One's Classics" and became the only award-winning writer in this year's Lu Xun Literature Award. (2) Now, in addition to maintaining a high-yield record of more than 100 comments in the paper media, a large number of blog posts have been written in various portals. Almost every blog post of his has more than one million hits. His works alert readers and shock the society, forming a kind of "Yan Lieshan phenomenon" that people dare to speak quickly.
Why can Yan Lieshan's comments inspire the atmosphere, uphold justice and make people think deeply? Yan Lieshan said: "The pursuit of my writing is: great theme, unique perspective, speculative color and cultural meaning." These sixteen words highlight the characteristics of Yan Lieshan's topic selection and can be summarized as "one vertical and two horizontal".
Topic selection process: see the micro-knowledge
This is a longitudinal description of the value judgment process of commentators' topic selection. "Seeing the micro-knowledge" means seeing things at the micro-end and then knowing their meaning. This involves two actions: one is "seeing the micro-knowledge" and the other is "knowing".
As a commentator, "seeing the micro-knowledge" is to be highly sensitive to news events and have a subtle insight into the changes in life. The reason why Yan Lieshan can "see the micro-knowledge" is that he has always had the consciousness of "citizen writing". Yan Lieshan deliberately "positioned" the "citizen" nature of the writing subject, and the focus of attention was "people's livelihood and national progress". Since he is a citizen of People's Republic of China (PRC), it has nothing to do with him: "I am me, not me. What I see and think, what I think and think is nothing more than enjoying and slightly fulfilling my due civil rights and obligations." In this way, the mind will naturally loosen and enter the realm of freedom. Therefore, he has a wide range of topics, which can be selected from the spirit of superiors, such as "the relationship between Japan's state and people"; You can choose a topic from social practice, such as "dogs hate wine and say' leftover women'"; You can choose topics from news reports, such as "don't always want to take a typical path"; You can also choose a topic from discussion and contention, such as "Who owns the copyright of No Lies, No Truth"?
"Understanding the book and understanding the truth" is a follow-up activity of "understanding the works from the micro", which needs to be realized through comprehensive analysis and rational thinking on the basis of "understanding the works from the micro". Therefore, it is actually a process from perceptual knowledge to rational knowledge. On the basis of obtaining rich perceptual knowledge materials through observation, we need to get rid of the false and retain the true, and get a broad understanding law from the outside to the inside and from here to there. However, not everything can be regarded as small. What little things can tell the truth? What ordinary things have unusual significance? This is actually a process of value judgment. For example, in the mid-1990s, the popular songs "The Tracker's Love" and "Xiao Fang" were very popular and were widely sung in the streets. However, Yan Lieshan saw the falsehood of the former and the hypocrisy and selfishness of the latter, so he had doubts about "thinking of American soldiers from a small side" and "the tracker love of which dynasty and which generation". These two comments dialectically found the hidden problems behind pop music in the same media applause, which really awakened the dreamer in one word.
Topic content: call a spade a spade
"Call a spade a spade" means to speak out bravely without any taboo. This is the requirement of seeking truth from facts, enhancing the news value of current commentary and finding the best fit point between cognitive structure and news facts. Only when the topic is bold, under the premise of adhering to the four basic principles of the party, and within the scope permitted by law, can the function of public opinion supervision of the current review be fully reflected.
The comments of excellent commentators often hit the nail on the head and point directly to the core of the problem, which is shocking. For example, the article "Don't tell all the lies, don't tell all the truth" was written by Yan Lieshan based on the speech of the leader of his own unit. This article is dialectical and does not shy away from the authority of the leaders of this unit. There are many similar examples in Yan Lieshan's comments. According to statistics, on Yan Lieshan's blog, since 2008, * * * has 595 commentary articles, among which 480 are outspoken topics, accounting for 8 1% of his total blog posts.
Speaking frankly and criticizing the shortcomings of the times is no longer an individual phenomenon that exists in individual excellent commentators. In recent years, some experts found in the survey that more than half of the media clearly emphasized in the manuscripts with commentators that the manuscripts must be objective and rational comments on news events, rather than empty discussions based on the lack of news facts.
Topic selection strategy: the sword goes sideways
"The sword is biased", which emphasizes that the commentator's topic selection must have his own unique perspective and cannot blindly follow the trend. In today's fierce media competition, it has become a new feature for commentators to solve the problem of homogenization of topics and find the point of convergence between media and audience.
How can we avoid the homogenization of comment topics? This requires a strategic vision. Experienced commentators use the following methods:
First, keep up with the news trends and capture the blank of current comments. For example, Yan Lieshan's Don't Always Want to Take the Typical Road, which was published in the beginning of 20 10, is a typical satirical comment written according to a report in China Youth Daily. On July 20 10, the article "People's Complaints Reflected by Dwelling Houses" was a review based on the banned TV series. The news trends he pays attention to are often not the current political news, not the focus of current media attention, but the unpopular outside the focus. However, Yan Lieshan found their value in it. Therefore, his topics come from a wide range of sources, and he is not limited to hot spots, but also full of strong characteristics of the times and pertinence to practical problems.
Second, people are unwilling to check, and people are afraid of writing. What things people don't want to study, and what articles people are afraid to write? There is no doubt that it is those topics that have been "edged" under the policy.
Third, from life, from experience. According to Yan Lieshan, news commentary includes "news commentary", or "news commentary" is its "subset". In other words, "commentary" can passively comment on news events and people based on news, or express opinions on "things around you" and "things in your heart" without relying on "instant" news. As long as it is about the present (present continuous tense), it is a "current review". ⑤ Yan Lieshan often thinks about local things everywhere and finds out local problems. For example, 20 1 1 wrote in Yunnan at the beginning of the year, "Social environment is not a reason for individuals to be exempted from exams." He will also learn about new experiences in local development. For example, 20 10, after his visit to Japan, he wrote "Japan's state-to-people relations".
label
A good topic selection is half the battle to write a review. Yan Lieshan's topic selection is vigorous and covers a wide range, which is the representative of the topic selection of contemporary commentators in China. Through the analysis of the characteristics of Yan Lieshan's comments, we can see the strengthening of news, the prominent function of supervision and the competitive strategy of the media.