Perspective on Analytical Writing a Focus on Feature and Editorial Writing

About the Book

The writing of this book, Perspective on Analytical Writing a focus on Feature and Editorial writing, is based on the urge for students majoring in mass communication on the African continent, particularly those within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to have a simplistic understanding of the course feature and editorial writing. It will be oblivious or a miss calculation to say that there are no texts books on feature and editorial writing on the African continent since I have not had the opportunity to extensively travel within Africa - but what could be safely said is for over three decades since I completed my under graduate studies, I have not seen a text book on feature and editorial writing readily. Based on this experience, the book first endeavored in its starting to give students an insight on what an analytical writing is, beginning with a drill on perspective and gave a detailed and vivid picture of perspective thereby laying the basis to understanding what feature and editorial writing is all about. Although the core focus of the book is on feature and editorial writing, but as the title depicts “Perspectives on Analytical Writing,” more emphases are placed on perspective and analytical writing in order to provide a deeper understanding for the students as a foundation to grasp the concept of feature and editorial writing. Also, the book featured research as a component to writing an appreciable feature and editorial piece. Added to research, other ingredients for writing good feature and editorials are also considered. They include opinion, persuasion and propaganda. Furthermore, since feature and editorial writings are within the scope of mass communication and journalism, it became imperative for the book to touch on the ethical aspect of the profession aimed at providing students the barometer of knowing what to do and not what to do while writing feature and editorial pieces. In its conclusive stage, the book dealt with the impact of editorial on political actors as it relates to their involvement in the process of national development. As you will come across in your reading, mass communication and journalism are catalysts to agenda setting in any society - therefore, it is expected that stakeholders, particularly those involved in the governance process of our countries in Africa to take clue from editorial articles, especially those that advocate for positive change to propel them to respond to the developmental needs of Africa. Now let’s be practical and reflect on a simple analogy referencing a performance by a group of movie stars such as the late popular comedian, Peter Ballah of Liberia, Kekura Kamara with his popular movie “Malawala Balawala” of Liberia, Salla Kamara with his movie “Blood Diamond” of Sierra Leone, Mr. Ibu (John Okafor) with the show “Mr. Ebu and his son” of Nigeria or John Dumelo with the movie “the tie that binds” of Ghana. As these movie stars are performing in their movies, the viewers are fascinated with emotion, amusement and are thrilled by the performances while in their seats in the theatre, movie hall, or in their various homes. Just as the emotion of viewers is intrigued by the performances or movies, so feature and editorial write - ups are replica to evoking the emotion of the readers. The articles must create a scenario of curiosity to arouse or entice the readers. (This is the drama in feature and editorial writing).

About the Author

Born in South – Eaten Liberia, the author is a 1979 graduate of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Margibi County, Liberia. He is a 1993 graduate of the Unive3rsity of Liberia in Montserrado County – He holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA Cum Laude) degree in Mass Communication. In the year 2003, the author obtained his Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Graduate School of International Studies of the University of Liberia. The author also obtained his second Masters (MSED) degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the graduate school of Education, University of Liberia in 2019 with distinction. Coupled with his academics, the author achieved a certificate from the Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA via the then Family Planning Association of Liberia (FPAL) in the area of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) in 1988. With regard to work experience, the author is an Assistant Professor and Chairman of the Department of Political Science at the University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. He is also an adjunct professor of Mass Communication at his alma Mata. Prior to his ove3r 20 years of teaching career at the University of Liberia and other universities in Monrovia, the author worked as a print journalist in the capacity of news editor and Editor – In-Chief at the Liberia News Agency (LINA) and other local dailies from the late 1980s to mid- 1990s. For a little over a decade, he served as Director of University Relations at the University of Liberia, while at the same time serving as recording secretary on the Board of Trustees at the same university. In addition to holding leadership positions in state and national journalism and mass communication as well as other organizations, the author has had an active political life. He served as the first Representative for District number 12, Montserrado County in the 53rd National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia from 2012 – 2018. He also served two times as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) in Liberia. As Liberia sought for peace and reconciliation following prolonged years of civil crises, the author served as Director for media and outreach at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia from 2007 – 2009. Being interested in education, the author is a co-founder and the first president now Chairman of the board of Trustees of the Smythe Institute of Management and Technology (SIMT) now metamorphized to Smythe University College. Interestingly, the author is an honorably retired Second Lieutenant from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). He is a devoted Christian and a founding secretary of the Grace Community Church International, Liberia. The author is happily married to Mrs. Shirley G. Andrews-Anderson who heads the Divine Vision Academy School System (DVASS) in Monrovia, Liberia established by the author.