PBA1A: News Paper Advice Colum’s

            In today’s society, many people are looking to others to unload their problems on and seek advice.  One way to do this is to write in to a newspaper advice column.  Newspaper advice columns are a place where people can freely write into and get a published response to their question.  People will go to this source of advice if they have no one else to turn to, or regularly read and trust a certain advice giver. This post is going to explore the conventions of a newspaper advice column, and explain what makes it what it is. 

            Almost all advice columns follow a similar format, and share many conventions.  For example, they will have a question written in by a usually anonymous writer, followed by a response full of advice for that particular question. If the question asker does not leave out their name they will write something like “sincerely, sad and confused” as a clever way to not identify who they are.  The response comes from the author of the article who is usually a mother-like female who people feel confortable coming to with their problems. A convention that applies specifically to newspaper advice columns is that the issues/questions chosen are appropriate for most audiences.  In magazines, or on the Internet there tend to be more raunchy and adult audience questions. This is probably due to restrictions newspapers have on what they can and cannot write.   In some newspaper advice columns, the advice giver is anonymous.  Writer writes in with many different problems, but the most common is relationship problems.  It could be about trouble with a boyfriend/girlfriend, or even a mother-in-law.  The advice giver always attempts to make peace with the situation and give the most logical response, although still being biased with their own options of the situation. 

            Although all advice columnists have their own opinions and writing styles, a main convention of newspaper advice columns is a kind and respectful tone in their response.  You never read a columnist writing back ripping the writer because of their stupid questions, or problems.  No one would write to the columnist if they weren’t polite and helpful, therefore all advice columnists take on a similar tone and style of writing.  Most newspaper advice columnists, if not anonymous themselves, have a small picture next to their article that portrays them smiling, and looking friendly and approachable.  This picture provides writers with an idea of the person they are writing to, and making them believe that person is kind and trustworthy.  If there was no picture of the advice giver, writers may be more questionable about who they are really telling their problems to. Bringing together all the conventions of this textual genre helps the understanding of what makes it what it is.