News Literacy

Resources for learning about news production, evaluating news sources, and "fake news."

News vs. Editorials & Opinion Pieces

News Versus Editorials and Opinion Pieces

Newspapers serve communities in different ways.

  • They provide news and analysis on local, national, international issues of import.
  • AND they shape and reflect public opinion through the editorial pages.
Features of News Articles and Editorials/Opinion Pieces
News Articles Editorials & Opinion Pieces

•    information is neutral; facts are verifiable. If opinions are expressed, they are the clearly delineated as opinions of experts or interviewees, not the opinion of the author

•    tone and word choice is formal

•    generally offers more than one point of view.  Some of them may be contrasting

•    attempt to advocate, persuade, make recommendations, speculate, analyze

•    opinion is that of the editorial board (editorial) or author (op-eds, opinion columnists, and letters to the editor)

•    tone may be colloquial, angry, praiseworthy, sarcastic...etc.

•    offers one point of view

•    sometimes labeled as: blog, op-ed, letter to the editor, editorial, commentary

Comparing Sources

Compare two Seattle Times articles on student funding.

  • The news article reports on recent layoffs at the local Department of Education office and the negative impact on both students with loan issues and employees who have lost their jobs.
  • The editorial argues that proposed state funding cuts to K-12 education will inequitably hit at-risk communities and ultimately cost more than it saves.

(Click on image to enlarge)

excerpts from a news article and an editorial about school funding

Read the full text of these articles using the links below

Distinguishing Between Fact and Opinion

Source: "Distinguishing Fact from Opinion" by Snap Language, is licensed under a Standard YouTube License.