What separates “News” from “opinion”?

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm

After watching the national news nonstop for the last couple of weeks, I just wondered why today’s brand of news is more like gossip and opinion than a representation of authentic journalistic reporting.

Main Entry: news
Pronunciation: \ˈnüz, ˈnyüz\
Function: noun plural but singular in construction
Usage: often attributive
Date: 15th century
1 a: a report of recent events b: previously unknown information <I’ve got news for you> c: something having a specified influence or effect <the rain was good news for lawns and gardens — Garrison Keillor> <the virus was bad news>
2 a: material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast b: matter that is newsworthy

Main Entry: news·wor·thy
Pronunciation: \-ˌwər-thē\
Function: adjective
Date: 1932
: interesting enough to the general public to warrant reporting

Main Entry: 1gos·sip
Pronunciation: \ˈgä-səp\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gossib, from Old English godsibb, from god god + sibb kinsman, from sibb related — more at sib
Date: before 12th century
1 adialect British : godparent b: companion , crony c: a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others
2 a: rumor or report of an intimate nature b: a chatty talk c: the subject matter of gossip
— gos·sip·ry \-sə-prē\ noun

All definitions above are from the Meriam Webster Dictionary Online.