Facts vs. Opinions

Forms of journalist writing Forms range from factual stories – such as news, feature, and sports – to opinion pieces – such as editorials and reviews. Both objective and subjective information contribute to a reader’s knowledge, but it is important that the writer be able to distinguish between the two. While opinion pieces are often supported by reference to facts, the inclusion of a writer’s opinion in a factual story is usually not acceptable. Such an intrusion of opinion is called “editorializing”.

Facts vs. Opinions Facts Proven to be true It can be know with certainty, confirmed by evidenced, or verified by witnesses. Ex. “Pierre Elliot Trudeau was one of Canada’s prime ministers”. Opinions Someone’s feeling, belief, interpretation, or judgment. Ex. “Pierre Elliot Trudeau was one of Canada’s best prime ministers”. A writer may include an opinion in a news, feature, or sports story if someone else expresses the opinion.

News Articles

News Stories They are called “news stories” because they tell stories about actual people, places, events, and things! A news story is immediate and often delivers perishable information that may change moments later. It must compete with many other stories for the reader’s attention, so it contains it’s punch line in the very first sentence.

5 W’s and H What are the 5 W’s and H? These are sometimes called “the journalist's questions” because they are so frequently used by reporters gathering news information. Why are they important newspaper writers?

Lead Usually the lead will begin with the what? or who? and then provide the Where? and When? – A what beginning: “A report on our changing prairie weather was released by the Canadian Meteorological Society at its annual meeting in Toronto on Wednesday. – A who beginning: “Canadian singer Susan Aglukark arrived in New York on Tuesday to give her Carnegie Hall concert.”

Writing the Lead A lead must summarize the basic facts of a story and convey to a reader what you found out in your reporting. The lead must capture your reader’s attention and make them want to read the rest of the story. This is the hardest part of a news story to write. A sentence that includes the 5-W’s will automatically summarize any story. A lead must impart the central idea, or theme, of your story.

“Hard” leads and “soft” leads Hard leads Urgent, breaking event Ex. “If Canada and France don’t reach an agreement on fish quotas by Sept. 30 Ottawa will unilaterally impose one, Fisheries Minister John Crosbie says. – St. John’s Evening Telegram, Sept. 16, Soft leads More indirect and suited to feature writing Ex. Bryan Adams spoke and the fans listened. “Be good to Osoyoos,” Adams told the crowds of who gathered in the Okanagan town Sunday for the only B.C. stop in his Waking Up the Nation tour. “Osoyoos have been good to you tonight. So have a good time and don’t wreck the place.” Then the clean cut kid from North Vancouver gave the fans what they had come for. – Vancouver Sun, Sept. 8, 1992.

The Angle The main idea of a news story and lead is called the “angle”. It is also referred to in the newsrooms as the “hook” because the angle is used to grab, or hook, the reader’s attention and make them want to read the rest of the story. It is the main point learned your reporting and that the rest of your story will try to support. The writer must decide what the central theme of the story will be in the lead. Think about S-I-N (Cumming and McKercher) stands for Significant, Interesting and New. You should look for any of those three things in your research and interviews and then you will be able to find a compelling angle for your lead.

Organization of a News Story No matter how different news stories are, they are all organized in much the same way. – First paragraph is called the lead – The rest of the story is called the body, which generally backs up the lead. – With any good story, there should be a pithy (meaningful) ending. The structure of a news story is often referred to as the “inverted pyramid” because the main (and most important) point is contained in the first sentence. The rest of the story contains elements of less importance as the reader nears the bottom. See Newspaper Story Format sheet (in your handouts)

Inverted pyramid Three main functions: – Aids readers as they skim many stories and note the most important information – Aids writers as they make quick decisions about significant aspects of a story. – Aids editors who may have to shorten stories without a careful reading.

Body of the Story The body supports the lead and in the classic inverted pyramid style is organized so that the facts and quotes are written in declining importance. After the lead, a story may have a theme paragraph that spells out the theme or sub-themes in greater detail. The story then proceeds with sections that explore the theme and sub-theme in more detail, and in order. Identify each quotation – this means asking permission and making sure you know how to spell a source’s name correctly.

Body of the Story cont. Story should proceed in a natural and chronological order. Keep paragraphs short and simple – one idea at a time. After you write down a lead, create a brief point-form outline. This helps to organize your thoughts and allows you to remember all the great stuff you want to put in your story. Writers don’t just plop down a string of ideas or sub- themes. You must string together ideas with transitions. Those come at the end of one idea and relate that thought or statement to the next.

Endings Inverted pyramids don’t need strong endings since those hard news stories simply end when there is nothing more to say. But other kinds of news stories often need a good ending, which can be as difficult as the beginning. One way to end is with a “kicker”, which is often a catchy quote. Another effective ending is to conclude with a quote or anecdote that relates the story back to the main theme and leaves the reader thinking about the essence of the story. Avoid preaching or lecturing at the end of the story. If the story is told well, the quotes and facts that a news writer chooses will allow the reader to come to the same conclusion on their own.

Activity: Fact or Fiction Write down three stories – two are true, one in not. You will read them to the class and we will try to guess which one is fiction.

Assignment Story Leads – get the information provided”!!