Advice columns are a centuries-old concept that has greatly evolved since their origin. What originally dealt with formal topics like politics and science turned into personal questions about drama and skincare. As media digitised, the advice column was put on the backburner … or was it?
What was once many a housewife's favourite read seems like it was swallowed whole by the World Wide Web, just like everything else that had to step aside as the media evolved. But whatever happened to the beloved advice column?
The short answer is nothing, yet everything.
media update's Joreke Kleynhans answers your burning question in full below.
If you are under the impression that advice columns are a thing of the past, you probably just need to expand your definition of them!
Advice columns previously formed part of most print publications. The column would be written in a question-and-answer format, touching on various topics. The local agony aunt or uncle would receive (usually anonymous) questions and write back publicly, providing their advice or expertise.
These segments created a sense of community in readers. Most often, they contained discussions about problems shared by a significant number of readers. This had a great impact on those who felt alone, embarrassed, or outcast because of their thoughts and experiences. By addressing issues head-on — without identifying their sufferers — columnists brought people together through shared challenges.
They also served as a sort of contemporary confessional — a place for readers to submit concerns they were too afraid to express out loud. Swinging in the other direction, they gave writers freedom that couldn't be found in other writing spheres. Advice columnists could coddle or be strict with certain people just as they liked.
For example, Eleanor Roosevelt responded to a personal question in her column, If You Ask Me, by simply stating, "There are some things in life which one should be allowed to keep to oneself."
The advice column was a cultural icon. So, how can Old Faithful be nowhere to be seen within a few decades? She's not! She's right under your nose.
If you think about it, the question-and-answer content format is more popular now than ever. It's just no longer confined to a single page of your favourite lifestyle magazine or squashed into a corner of the daily newspaper.
So it's clear: Advice columns have not gone anywhere. They have dispersed everywhere and in every type of media.
Below are some places where you can still find the community, gossip, information, or whatever it is that will satisfy your advice column craving in a modern and entertaining way:
Question-And-Answer Podcasts
Q&A podcasts are the most in line with the traditional advice column you might know.
Hosts usually request that their audience submit questions well in advance, giving them the time they need to filter through the questions. They can choose which ones they want to answer and how, based on what is most relevant to their podcast and what will produce entertaining content.
Here's an example: Alex Madison and Jon Bouffard's podcast, Give It To Me Straight, is a sit-down show in which the married couple gives their unfiltered opinions on questions ranging from relationship issues to children's parties.
Educational Social Media Platforms
Similar to Q&A podcasts, some social media accounts exist to answer followers' questions online. Hosts of these platforms can also filter through questions beforehand and pre-record their answers. These creators usually answer questions with engaging short-form content; the most popular format being videos shorter than 60 seconds.
A prime example of an informative creator that follows this style is Hank Green, a human search engine for scientific questions — complicated or not. His followers have been asking him questions related to biology, science, invention and even cancer treatment since 2019.
Dial-In Radio Segments
Radio is a popular medium for audience participation. Sometimes, an entire show will be based on reacting or responding to audience members' input; other times, it will be confined to a segment that lasts a few minutes.
Dial-ins on the radio are live on air the great majority of the time. Stations have public phone numbers that can be called by listeners to ask for advice or have their questions answered. Most stations now also have numbers to send WhatsApp messages to.
Look at Jacaranda FM and 947 Radio, which both have advice-driven segments, respectively, called Anonymous and The Daily Dilemma. Listeners send voice messages to the hosts, explaining the problems they are facing, and the hosts and other listeners chip in with their advice.
Similarly, The Ramsey Show is a financial advice show hosted by Dave Ramsey, a finance author and speaker. Listeners of the show dial in to explain their financial situations, and Ramsey advises them on issues like debt repayment, budgeting and investing.
Online Discussion Forums
The least traditional of them all, but still a worthy mention, are the many discussion forums the Internet has brought to fruition. Discussion forums meet most of the criteria to be considered advice columns: They are often in Q&A format, and there is room for anonymity. They also build communities and, of course, value honesty.
Reddit is one of the best examples, with countless subreddits for AITA discussions, questions or advice on very (no seriously, very) specific topics.
Don't forget about your mom's Facebook groups, either. These also provide ample opportunity for communities to get together to discuss the best hairdresser in town or the power outage up the street.
So, whatever happened to the beloved advice column? The short answer is nothing, yet everything.
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