Advice column

An advice column is a column in a question and answer format. A typically anonymous writer sends an inquiry seeking guidance on a situation, and the particular columnist provides a response. Advice column personalities often became closely associated with their specific media outlet.

The genre was popularized on the premise of an older woman dispensing comforting advice and maternal wisdom, hence the colloquial British English agony aunt, and later agony uncle. The nominal writer may be a pseudonym, with any accompanying picture bearing little resemblance to the actual author. Otherwise a team may maintain authorship as a composite, or in effect a brand name: as with the moniker of Marjorie Proops appearing (with photo) long after she retired.

The Athenian Mercury featured the first known advice column in 1690. Traditionally presented in a magazine or newspaper, advice columns have been adapted across broadcast media and internet platforms.