Laura’s Blog

This is Part 10 in a 12-part e-course about the types of blog articles.

As I was researching issue-oriented articles, I came across a tongue-in-cheek article titled, “How to Write About Africa.”

When writing about Africa, the author advises, “Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African’s cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat…

“The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa…

“Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty…

“Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires…

“Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).”

This article illustrates the main thing you must remember when writing an issue-oriented article: balance.

And in order to achieve a balanced story you must dig deep into your topic so you avoid painting a stereotypical or idyllic picture.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ISSUE ARTICLES

Blog articles that focus on issues are challenging and time-consuming to write. They require:

1. research and interviewing
2. careful presentation of facts
3. thorough examination of the issue’s pros and cons

The element that differentiates issue-oriented blog posts from an issues-based newspaper articles is that you can inject your opinion into a blog post. But unlike radio talk show hosts who spew venomous rants about their pet issues with little substance to back up their words, bloggers can (and should) put care into the words they choose.

In a blog post about the issue of talking on cell phones while driving, conservative political blogger Michelle Malkin intersperses dry, witty commentary with direct quotes, statistics, a case study, a historical overview of the issue. She states her case about the issue behind the issue: the cell phone czar’s “hidden agenda.”

In the popular blog, The Huffington Post, Steve Parker, a reporter who specializes in covering the auto industry, predicts how General Motors could “easily fall into many of the same bad habits which resulted in their first, recent bankruptcy.”

He structures his post as a list article, comparing and contrasting GM vs Toyota, citing insider conversations he’s had with auto industry execs, and peppering his article with his own analysis.

GROW THICK SKIN

If you plan to write issue-oriented articles – or to devote your entire blog to hot-button issues – be prepared to receive lots of hate mail and antagonistic comments.

Be prepared to welcome lots of avid fans, as well.

The more controversial your topic (and your opinions on that topic), the more polarized your readers will be.

ARTICLE TOPICS

Issue articles aren’t limited to politics, but they almost always address controversial topics.  Here are some possibilities:

• How stress can be good for your health

• Can men and women who work together be just friends?

• Why legalize marijuana?

• Should people who are medically diagnosed as obese be allowed to claim federal tax deductions for doctor-prescribed weight loss programs?

• Trend of interfaith marriages

• Social networking sites that leave people vulnerable to solicitations from online predators who mask their true identities

ISSUE ARTICLE POINTERS

Timely

Your article should pertain to a current or recent issue or event.

Specific

Focus on one issue or one aspect of an issue.

Concise

State a strong argument in your introduction and conclusion. Write succinctly.

Factual

Support your opinion with examples, quotes, statistics, and well-documented facts.

Logical

Arguments and examples must build on one another.

Professional

Don’t make personal attacks. It’s okay to criticize – constructively – but your job is to attack the issue, not to demean person behind the issue.

Forward-thinking

As you make your case, include practical suggestions or solutions to resolve the issue.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. What issues curdle your blood?
2. What issues in your industry or niche push people’s buttons?
3. Create a file folder for the issue you’re most interested in writing about. Start collecting articles, facts, statistics, and names of key players.
4. In one sentence, state your opinion about that issue.
5. As you draft your article, make sure every sentence supports your one-sentence opinion.
6. In the Comments area, share the issue that you plan to blog about.

Coming next:

How to write a Personal Essay

Previously in this Series:

• How to Write a Calendar Article (E-Course Part 1)
• How To Write a How-To Article (E-Course Part 2)
• How to Write Case Studies (E-Course Part 3)
• How to Write a Review (E-Course Part 4)
• How to Write a Roundup Article (E-Course Part 5)
• How to Write a List Article (E-Course Part 6)
• How to Write a Link Article (E-Course Part 7)
• How to Write a Profile Article (E-Course Part 8
• How to Write a Q & A (E-Course Part 9)