News, Opinion, and Editorials

News, Opinion, and Editorials

By Travis Streets

​Vocabulary

Journalism

​Definition

The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or preparing news to be broadcast.

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Synonyms: the press; the media.​

Definition via Oxford English Dictionary

Bias

​Definition

Believing that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others; can result in treating some people unfairly.

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Synonyms: ​partisanship; favoritism; prejudice.

Definition via Merriam-Webster

Objectivity

​Definition

To not favor one side or the other; to be free from bias.

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Synonyms: ​fairness; neutrality; open-mindedness.

Vocabulary

Subjective

​Definition

Based on feelings or opinions rather than facts

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Synonyms: ​personalized; perspective; unique.

Vocabulary

Topical

​Definition

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Something that is happening now or recently. A topic that is relevant.

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Synonyms: ​current; recent; important.

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Vocabulary

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of objectivity?

• To favor one side over the other

• To not favor one side over the other; to be free from bias

• To have a lot of objects

• To have a lot of opinions

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of subjective?

• Based on facts and data rather than opinions

• To not favor one side over the other; to be free from bias

• Based on feelings or opinions rather than facts

• To study something in school

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of journalism?

• The activity or profession of making money on social media

• To be free from bias

• Writing in your journal

• The activity or profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, or news websites or preparing news to be broadcast

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of bias?

• Believing that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others

• Believing that Drake is the best rapper

• Believing that something is unfair

• Treating people, ideas, etc., fairly and equally

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of topical?

• Believing that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others

• Something that is happening now or recently

• A place with a tropical climate

• Treating people, ideas, etc., fairly and equally

Multiple Choice

What is bias in journalism?

• Only writing bad things about a person, event or issue
• Only writing good things about a person, event or issue
• An unbalanced and unfair way of looking at a situation and reporting it
• Making up your mind about a person before getting to know him/her

Multiple Choice

The reporter should treat all sides equally and fairly. What kind of reporting is this?

• Objective

• Subjective

• News

• Opinion

​News Articles

The most important article type in journalism. Its purpose is to communicate information by answering the questions of what, where, when, how, why and who as neutrally and objectively as possible. The purpose of news is to tell people what has happened.

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News articles communicate facts to readers.​

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Definition via MediaGuide

Editorial

Definition

A newspaper or magazine article that gives the opinions of the editors or publishers.

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An article that expresses the opinion of a news organization an a topical issue. It is usually unsigned.​

Definition via Merriam-Webster

Op-ed

Definition

An article published in a newspaper that expresses the opinion of an individual. Short for "opposite the editorial page."

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Usually a signed article published on the opinion page.

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Definition via Merriam-Webster

Editorial Cartoon

Definition

A cartoon about a topical event.

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Meant to express the artist's opinion or the opinion of the news organization.

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Definition via Merriam-Webster

Multiple Choice

An article that communicates facts

• Op-ed

• News article

• Editorial cartoon

• Editorial

Multiple Choice

An article that communicates the opinion of an individual

• Op-ed

• News article

• Editorial cartoon

• Editorial

Multiple Choice

A cartoon that communicates an opinion about a topical event

• Op-ed

• News article

• Editorial cartoon

• Editorial

Multiple Choice

An article that communicates the opinion of a news organization

• Op-ed

• News article

• Editorial cartoon

• Editorial

Open Ended

If you were going to write an op-ed or draw an editorial cartoon, what would it be about?

Poll

Does everyone understand the difference between news articles, op-eds, editorials, and editorial cartoons?

• Yes

• No

• Kind of

• Sort of