ShareThisWhat separates “News” from “opinion”?
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.
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
The line separating "news" from "opinion" as well as "news broadcasters" from "commentators" has become very fuzzy of late.
I often read news stories that have an obvious writer bias – which, in my opinion, makes it an op-column piece rather than a news story.
Perhaps there should be a little script at the top of an article much like the "advertisement" label placed at the top of an ad which appears to be a breaking news story….it could say "opinion news" or something similar.
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Not much on ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, et al.
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
That is a real interesting question, but one that is difficult to answer. There is no one, not even me (!) who does not have opinions. And since we all have opinions, is it really possible for us to relate events without coloring them as a result of our own convictions? I don’t think so.
I think the fairest reporting is when those reporting give ALL sides an opportunity to give their opinion of events. This almost never happens. When we see two different views presented, they are frequently two views that fall within the parameters of "acceptable" dissent.
For example, we can hear politicians and their "economists" debating whether or not the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Mr. Bernanke should be fired for mismanagement. We never hear the case made for abolishing the true cause of our economic distress, the Federal Reserve. So, what the media reports as "news" is little more than propaganda.
Here’s another example: Some are calling for "Immigration Reform", which means giving the millions of illegal immigrants now in our country amnesty. It should be pointed out that this was already done several years ago. The other side calls for continuing to work with the laws already on the book, and to talk about building some sort of fence. Nobody wants to point out that the Administration refuses to enforce the laws that Congress has passed, and has jailed two Border Patrol Agents for doing their job. So, this doesn’t qualify as news, either.
The American people are woefully ignorant of basic economics, as well as history. They know something is wrong, but can’t figure out what it is. They didn’t much learn much in the public schools, and mainstream media has continued the dumbing down process. What passes for news in the media, is contributing to this.
September 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 pm
A local man was struck by a taxi this morning in front of City Hall.
A local man was struck by a taxi this morning in front of City Hall after he walked out of a nearby pub.
A local man was struck by a taxi this morning in front of City Hall after he walked out of a nearby pub. The man’s companion, an attractive blond female, was not injured.
A local man was struck by a taxi this morning in front of City Hall after he walked out of a nearby pub. The man’s companion, an attractive blond female, was not injured. A woman, thought to be the man’s wife, arrived on the scene as he was being lifted into an ambulance.
A local man was struck by a taxi this morning in front of City Hall after he walked out of a nearby pub. The man’s companion, an attractive blond female, was not injured. A woman, thought to be the man’s wife, arrived on the scene as he was being lifted into an ambulance. Onlookers reported that he wore a lapel button indicating his support for our incumbent Mayor in the upcoming election.
Somewhere it stops being news and becomes an attempt to effect opinion.
Good question; and this isn’t an answer, just an observation.