We are pleased to present a new story in our series about how Columbia Journalism School has been training students to become leading reporters on politics. As the 2020 U.S. presidential election campaigns ramp up and as political movements and diplomatic challenges around the world make for front page stories every day, the work of journalists is vital for informing the public about the issues at stake, the local and global impact of policies on peoples' lives, the veracity of politicians' claims, and the historical and social contexts for international and domestic conflicts.
Today, we are spotlighting the class "Opinion Writing," which is often taught by
Jelani Cobb, the Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at Columbia Journalism School. The class provides
Master of Science Program students an education in how to write compelling, thought-provoking, and accurate opinion articles about political and social issues. Professor Cobb was the 2015 recipient of the Sidney Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis Journalism and was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Commentary.
"Opinion Writing" explores the origins of the op-ed and its evolution, the history and psychology of persuasion, and the best - and worst - practices for opinion writing today. Students in the class produce opinion writing for different formats, from broadcast ready soundbites to reported, narrative-driven columns. Guests include well known opinion writers, opinion editors of newspapers and websites, and issue advocates who will talk about the relationship between thought leadership and social change. Throughout the course, students produce weekly assignments that are critiqued and debated in class.
In the video below, Professor Cobb explains that his class teaches "what you can do to take a novel approach on a subject that may seem to be familiar to a reader. A lot of it is the nuts and bolts technical aspects of writing and we emphasize reading some of the masters of the craft of opinion writing."
As you consider the possibility of furthering your career as a journalist at Columbia, please explore our
website to learn more about Columbia Journalism School's
faculty members,
course offerings, and
career development services.
At Columbia, a top-tier journalism education can be within financial reach. Please visit our website to learn about our
scholarship opportunities.
If you would like to make an appointment to speak with an admissions counselor or sit in on a class, please email us at
apply.journalism@columbia.edu.