Columnist

There are several cardinal rules in journalism. Journalists must vow to tell the truth, for instance, to never misspell sources’ names and to religiously avoid conflicts of interest. Perhaps the most important rule of journalism, however, is the rule of objectivity: Reporters must commit themselves to fair and balanced coverage that’s full of facts and free of opinions.

When you’re a Columnist, you’re allowed to break that last rule. In fact, you’re encouraged to do so.

A renegade Writer, your job isn’t objectivity; it’s subjectivity. Employed by newspapers, websites, blogs and magazines, you’re paid to offer opinions, perspectives and positions, which you give in written form via short essays and articles that are published on a regular basis — usually weekly or monthly — on the same page in the same publication, allowing you to develop a regular audience and a reliable fan base.

The content of your columns depends on what type of Columnist you are. If you’re a News Columnist, for instance, you offer analysis of news stories and current events. If you’re a Political Columnist, on the other hand, you offer commentary about political issues and figures. If you’re an Advice Columnist, meanwhile, you offer opinions about personal or professional situations in response to readers’ letters. If you’re a Humorist, you write satire, jokes and comedy. And if you’re a Gossip Columnist, Food Columnist or Fashion Columnist, you write about celebrities, cooking and clothing, respectively.

Regardless of your content, it’s not really what you say that matters; it’s how you say it: powerfully, persuasively and poignantly.