If you’re an issue-oriented writer, your articles focus on hot-button topics that push readers’ buttons. If a celebrity dies or the latest drama on a reality TV show blows up, it’s likely an issue that will dominate news headlines and keep readers coming back to your site. Keep a close eye on the news, and jump at any opportunity to write about an issue that’s dominating headlines.
Issues can be anything from the impact of a political scandal to the latest controversies involving a pop culture phenomenon. If you’re writing about a controversial topic, it helps to know your audience well and research the subject thoroughly before publishing your article. Unless you’re a celebrity gossip columnist, avoid making personal attacks in your articles; this will only alienate your audience. If your issue involves a person, use the term “issues” to refer to his or her problems rather than his or her feelings about the matter. For example, a person who picks fights may have anger management issues.
In a technical sense, the word issue has been used to describe a problem or difficulty that arises during production. For instance, if a product has an error that causes it to crash or not work properly, the manufacturer might produce a software update to fix the issue.
A more general use of the word issue has become common in everyday speech. It can also refer to someone’s problems, especially emotional ones. For example, you might say that someone has “issues” if he is troubled by the death of a loved one or feels that his boss treats him unfairly.