introduction in context?

[Jason12]

If I was to write a persuasive or expository piece in the form of a magazine article or newspaper column, would I need to include an introduction or is that reserved for essay-like pieces? Also in terms of structure, do I need to actually address the audience by writing "hello readers of xxxxx blog", because that's sounds really weird to me when I write a piece like that? OR do I just have to use a more personal/casual style of writing to make it sound like it would be a column/article?

[keltingmeith]

The best way to think of it is like this: if you were reading a magazine, would it make sense to see this piece of writing in there?

Because my answer is that it depends - sometimes, a newspaper column or magazine article might have a little teaser paragraph to get you hooked into reading it, but other times it won't.

Just do what makes sense to you - do what you've seen in magazines/newspapers, because that's what you're trying to do, write something out of a magazine or newspaper.