This document discusses the importance of distinguishing facts from opinions in journalism. It provides guidance for journalists on writing objectively using third person rather than first person perspective. Facts should not require attribution unless contested, while all opinions must be attributed to a source. Journalists should report only facts that can be verified and avoid injecting personal judgments. The goal is for news reporting to be credible and avoid legal issues from publishing inaccuracies.

1. Finding the Truth in Journalism

2. Writing Stories & Facts vs. Opinion 1
 Stories you write are nnoott aabboouutt
yyoouu oorr yyoouurr ooppiinniioonn..
 Therefore, it’s generally best to
write your stories in the third
person.
 Third person is any person, place,
or thing other than the speaker (I,
we) and the addressed (you).
 This means using he, she, it, him,
her, they, them, etc.
 Eliminate the words I, me, my,
mine, we, us, our, you and your
from your story unless you
indicate that a source said them.
 Good stories do include both fact
and opinion.
 Opinions must be aattttrriibbuutteedd ttoo
ssoouurrcceess..
 Facts do not need to be
attributed, unless they are
contested or controversial.

3. FFaacctt
Something that is true about a subject and
can be tested or proven.
A statement of fact can theoretically be
checked for accuracy.
To see if something is a fact, ask yourself,
“Can this statement be proved?

4. FFaacctt
A fact is a statement that can be proven by direct
experience or objective verification.
Evidence may be in the form of:
The testimony of witnesses
Agreed-upon observations
The written records of such testimony and
observations
The result of research or investigation

5. Writing Stories & Facts vs. Opinion
 Don’t inject your opinion, even if
it’s in the third person.
 Good journalists make
observations, use colorful
descriptions and interpret
information.
 Avoid words suggesting a personal
judgment or opinion, such as
should or good.
 Avoid interpretation not supported
by fact.
 Reporters shouldn’t take sides on
issues.
 And if it’s a fact, double check it.
Don’t rely on your teacher, an
editor or an other student to catch
mistakes.
 Mistakes undermine yyoouurr
ccrreeddiibbiilliittyy and can even lead to
lawsuits.

6. Types of Statements
 FFaacctt
IInnffeerreenncc
ee
JJuuddggmmeenntt
OOppiinniioonn

7. Public View of Facts vs. Opinion
Pew Research Center for The People and The Press, “Public More Critical of Press, But Goodwill Persists,” June 26, 2005

8. FFaacctt
You should know that a statement of fact may
be found to be untrue.
When that happens, the statement is no longer a
fact, it is an error.

9. IInnffeerreennccee
A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and
reasoning.
Similar Terms:
Deduction
Conclusion
Reasoning
Conjecture
Speculation
Guess
Presumption
Assumption
Supposition
Reckoning
Extrapolation

10. JJuuddggmmeenntt
The ability to make considered decisions or come to
sensible.
An opinion or conclusion.
Similar Terms:
Assessment
Evaluation
Appraisal
Review
Analysis
Criticism
Critique

11. OOppiinniioonnss
Usually express the feelings, preferences or biases
that a person has about a subject.
Are what someone believes or thinks, not necessarily
can be proven true or false.
 To check for opinions, ask yourself:
“Does this tell a thought or feeling?”
“Would the statement be true all of the time?”

12. OOppiinniioonnss
Look for clue words such as:
Feel
Believe
Always
Never
None
Most
Least
Best
Worst

13. Comparison

14. News vs. Opinion

15. Finding the difference
WWrriitttteenn ssoouurrccee
It is important to distinguish between facts and opinions.
Written materials often contain both facts and opinions such as:
Articles
Web site information
Biographies
Newspapers
Being able to tell them apart will help you judge the vvaalliiddiittyy** of
a writer’s ideas.
It will also help you choose appropriate sources when doing
research.
**vvaalliidd: logically correct; justifiable; well founded in fact

16. Finding the difference
DDiirreecctt ssoouurrccee
It is important to distinguish between facts and
opinions.
Direct sources (respondents) often give both facts
and opinions.
Being able to tell whether information is fact or not
will help you judge how to use the information (type
of quote).
It will also help you choose appropriate sources
when doing research.

17. Attributions
Giving credit for a source
Naming a source, respondent, interviewee

18. Attributions
All ooppiinniioonnss mmuusstt bbee attributed to a source
All facts are bbeetttteerr if attributed to a source