By KYLE PRATT
Opinion Editor
In some journalistic circles, the act of opinion writing is scoffed at and looked down upon as “not real reporting.” This isn’t necessarily incorrect, but it is misguided. Opinion writing isn’t reporting, that’s just a fact, but it is journalism.
One of the main tenets of journalistic writing is to serve the public. Traditional reporting does this in many ways. A good story can shed light on something the public needs to know, negative or positive, or give recognition to someone who truly deserves it.
In the context of politics, however, good reporting is invaluable. The public needs to know about the people running for office; what they stand for and how they will help every day people.
Informing the public means allowing them to form educated opinions and make important decisions, such as voting for a senatorial, or presidential candidate.
This is where opinion writing comes in. Reporters can scream from the rooftops a particular candidate’s economic or foreign policy.
They can inform you on the opposing tax plans, so you can chose which one you prefer. However, another main tenant of journalistic writing is being non-biased.
Reporters tell you how candidates say they’ll serve you, but they don’t tell you who they think will serve you best.
That’s where I come in.
In order for voters to make educated decisions, they need more than facts. They need to be confronted with the arguments. A story on the front page of The New York Times will tell you Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton’s immigration policy, but articles in the Opinion section will tell you why they are good or bad for you.
News and Opinion serve two different purposes. Reporters give you the unbiased facts, allowing you to form your own point of view, while opinion writers show you the different points of view so you can choose which you agree with more.
The best way to strengthen your own beliefs is to expose yourself to those who disagree. That is exactly what an Opinion section allows you to do.
We opinion writers aren’t angry, “holier than thou” pundits with the burning desire to pummel those who disagree with us. (Mostly.)
We are journalists exposing you to the different ways of thinking that exist in our world, with the goal of helping you develop your own.
We serve the public just as reporters do, and while their job may be significantly more difficult at points, we work together to help you become an informed member of the public.
Where things start to get worrisome is when some organizations (I’m looking at you, Fox) blend their news and opinion together, or disguise one as the other.
The system only works when the two institutions are separate. The public needs to know when they’re consuming News, and when they’re consuming Opinion.
When they join together and opinion becomes news, well, that’s when your uncle rants at Thanksgiving dinner about how Hillary Clinton secretly murders her political opponents, and how Barack Obama prays five times a day toward Mecca.
