News vs. opinion: What are you writing?

What makes a news story? What makes an opinion column? How can you tell the difference?

Before you turn on your computer, pick up your notebook and pen or even begin making calls to set up interviews, think for a moment about the type of story you’d like to write. Is it a news story? Is it a column? If you’re not sure, review this quick summary:

A news story:

• A clearly-written lede that engages and compels the reader.
• A nut graph that clearly explains what the news is, and why readers should care.
• Sources: Minimum of two, and usually more, each with a full name and a clear explanation of why that source is relevant to the story.
• Quotes: Statements from sources that help the reader understand what the story is, and why the story is important.
• Objective, free from opinion.
• Focused on relaying information, without a strong writer’s voice in most cases.

A column:

• A clear topic, usually based on recent news.
• Subjective, based on writer’s opinion.
• Focused on persuasion, with a strong writer’s voice.
• Can include quotes and sources, but they are not required.
• Accurate. Columns should be fact-checked just as news stories are. A good column requires just as much research as a good news story.

A word of caution: If you’re struggling to find enough sources for a news story and you’re thinking about just writing a column instead, don’t. Most news writers only write news. Most columnists only write columns. If a news writer also writes columns, that writer’s credibility is questionable. Choose what you want to write, and do that – only that.

Most columnists spend years as news reporters before they make the switch. Why? Because a column can be much tougher to write than a news story. A column should be much more than one person’s rant. A columnist must choose topics of general concern, instead of personal pet issues. A columnist must write to engage the public and spark dialogue. A column should invite people to join a discussion, not exclude readers through anger, vitriol or unreasonable arguments.

Want to know more? Check out the news vs. opinion section of this post from NewsTrust.net.