REFERENCE DEFINITIONS for NEWS, OPINION AND BIAS
Definitions adapted from Google unless otherwise noted.
Journalism
the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business.
Media
plural of medium.(usually used with a plural verb) the means of communication, as radio and television, internet, newspapers and magazines that reach or influence people widely:The media are covering the speech tonight.
Objectivity
reporting of the facts exactly the same way as they occurred.
the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business.
Media
plural of medium.(usually used with a plural verb) the means of communication, as radio and television, internet, newspapers and magazines that reach or influence people widely:The media are covering the speech tonight.
Objectivity
reporting of the facts exactly the same way as they occurred.
News
Factual report of an event,
Relayed without flourishes or interpretation. News stories lack the depth of a feature story, or the questioning approach of an investigative story. Instead, they relay facts, events and information to society in a straightforward, accurate and unbiased manner.
Investigative Journalism:
Aims to uncover the truth about a particular subject, person, or event. Investigative journalism is based on the basic principle underlying all journalism – verification and accurate presentation of facts.
Investigative reporters must often work with uncooperative sources. EX: Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s uncovering of the Watergate scandal, is an example of the power of investigative journalism’s power to upend major institutions and significantly influence public life.
Feature Writing
Provides scope, depth, and interpretation of trends, events, topics or people. Features aim not only to thoroughly explore a topic by conducting interviews with numerous experts or the key people involved, but to offer a previously unseen perspective on an event, issue, or person.
Press release
An official statement often written by a public relations professional, who may work for a corporation or other organization, that is sent to targeted members of the media. The goal is to provide information consistent with that organization’s interests, an official statement or announcement and to pique the interest of a journalist or publication for further coverage.
Opinion Journalism
Several different types of content designed to present a wide range of viewpoints and to encourage thoughtful debate.
Editorial
An opinion article that states the position of a publication/media outlet’s editorial board/opinion anchors which usually consist of top editors and opinion writers.
Op Ed
Short for opposite editorial, is an opinionated article submitted to a newspaper for publication. They are written by members of the community, not newspaper employees.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "an essay in a newspaper or magazine that gives the opinion of the writer, written by someone who is not employed by the publication.
Review
Partly opinion and partly fact based, the review needs to accomplish two things: one, accurately describe or identify the subject being reviewed, and two, provide an intelligent and informed opinion of the subject, based on research and experience.
Columns
Based primarily on the personality of the author, allowing him or her to write about subjects in a personal style. Column writers can take a humorous approach, or specialize in a particular subject area or topic. It’s important for columnists to develop their own voice that is recognizable by their readership. Columnists can interpret events or issues or write about their own personal experiences or thoughts. Columns are usually published weekly.
Several different types of content designed to present a wide range of viewpoints and to encourage thoughtful debate.
Editorial
An opinion article that states the position of a publication/media outlet’s editorial board/opinion anchors which usually consist of top editors and opinion writers.
Op Ed
Short for opposite editorial, is an opinionated article submitted to a newspaper for publication. They are written by members of the community, not newspaper employees.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "an essay in a newspaper or magazine that gives the opinion of the writer, written by someone who is not employed by the publication.
Review
Partly opinion and partly fact based, the review needs to accomplish two things: one, accurately describe or identify the subject being reviewed, and two, provide an intelligent and informed opinion of the subject, based on research and experience.
Columns
Based primarily on the personality of the author, allowing him or her to write about subjects in a personal style. Column writers can take a humorous approach, or specialize in a particular subject area or topic. It’s important for columnists to develop their own voice that is recognizable by their readership. Columnists can interpret events or issues or write about their own personal experiences or thoughts. Columns are usually published weekly.
Reporter/Correspondents write News stories
Correspondents are reporters who are assigned to write news stories and cover a particular ‘beat’, a specific area of coverage or issue, to become experienced in that area.
Columnist write opinion/editorials
Columnists write pieces that express their opinions on a particular subject and allow their personality to show through their work. Their work can be either largely to inform or to entertain or a mixture of both.
Analyst
Provides background information for a news story to help audiences understand the subject matter more fully.Note: Analysts do not share opinions as part of their work, and should not be mistaken for commentators
Commentators
Provide opinionated coverage on news events or topical issues, separating them from the objective, unbiased work produced by reporters or analysts. Often referring to political and sports news.
Correspondents are reporters who are assigned to write news stories and cover a particular ‘beat’, a specific area of coverage or issue, to become experienced in that area.
Columnist write opinion/editorials
Columnists write pieces that express their opinions on a particular subject and allow their personality to show through their work. Their work can be either largely to inform or to entertain or a mixture of both.
Analyst
Provides background information for a news story to help audiences understand the subject matter more fully.Note: Analysts do not share opinions as part of their work, and should not be mistaken for commentators
Commentators
Provide opinionated coverage on news events or topical issues, separating them from the objective, unbiased work produced by reporters or analysts. Often referring to political and sports news.
Infotainment (not necessarily considered journalism)
Also called soft news, a type of media, often television that provides a combination of information and entertainment. The term is usually used disapprovingly against more serious hard news. The label infotainment is symbolic of criticism that journalism is turning away from reporting serious information and issues affecting public interest, into a form of entertainment which happens to have fresh facts in the mix.
Bias
Prejudice in favor of or against one, thing, person or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Prejudice
Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
Advocacy
Has a stated bias and uses facts in either the social or political realm to promote change (ideally for the common good)
Propaganda
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote, publicize or defame a particular political cause or point of view.
"White" propaganda: is true but selects facts used to persuade. Example, opinion journalism.
"Grey" propaganda may or may not be true but it doesn't matter to the purveyor of the propaganda. The desired effect is what matters to them.
"Black" propaganda is false, although it may carefully include some truth in order to be more convincing to the target audience. The propaganda that uses and misuses bits of truth can be hard to recognize or resist.
Defamation
Either a false statement presented as a fact that causes injury or damage to the character of the person, made with knowledge that it was untrue or with reckless disregard for the truth
Can also be a true statement that violates a person's right to privacy and causes injury or damage to the reputation or privacy of a character (information about a rape, victimization of some sort, or sexual preference comes to mind).
Slander
Untrue defamatory statement spoken orally that damages a person or organization’s reputation.
Libel
Publishing false statements in writing that damage a person or organization’s reputation.
Also called soft news, a type of media, often television that provides a combination of information and entertainment. The term is usually used disapprovingly against more serious hard news. The label infotainment is symbolic of criticism that journalism is turning away from reporting serious information and issues affecting public interest, into a form of entertainment which happens to have fresh facts in the mix.
Bias
Prejudice in favor of or against one, thing, person or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Prejudice
Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
Advocacy
Has a stated bias and uses facts in either the social or political realm to promote change (ideally for the common good)
Propaganda
information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote, publicize or defame a particular political cause or point of view.
"White" propaganda: is true but selects facts used to persuade. Example, opinion journalism.
"Grey" propaganda may or may not be true but it doesn't matter to the purveyor of the propaganda. The desired effect is what matters to them.
"Black" propaganda is false, although it may carefully include some truth in order to be more convincing to the target audience. The propaganda that uses and misuses bits of truth can be hard to recognize or resist.
Defamation
Either a false statement presented as a fact that causes injury or damage to the character of the person, made with knowledge that it was untrue or with reckless disregard for the truth
Can also be a true statement that violates a person's right to privacy and causes injury or damage to the reputation or privacy of a character (information about a rape, victimization of some sort, or sexual preference comes to mind).
Slander
Untrue defamatory statement spoken orally that damages a person or organization’s reputation.
Libel
Publishing false statements in writing that damage a person or organization’s reputation.
Private citizen
someone who does not have an official or professional role in a given situation
Public Figure
A person of great public interest or familiarity, such as a government official, politician, celebrity, business leader, movie star, or sports hero
Public Official
(The President of the United States is an elected official and therefore is a public official for purposes of defamation law.) Public Figure (The President's wife is a person who has pervasive power and influence in society and is therefore a public figure for purposes of defamation law.)
REFERENCE
The Elements of Journalism:
What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect
(an excellent book)
Revised and Updated 3rd Edition (paperback)
By Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
The Elements of Journalism:
What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect
(an excellent book)
Revised and Updated 3rd Edition (paperback)
By Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel