The events of last week sparked much debate and discussion on campus about the ethics of reporting, the purpose of a campus newspaper and the idea of bias in the media.
Another point of contention was whether or not the Alligator should have commented on some of the events within its opinions section.
This prompted a lot of discussion about journalistic integrity and the difference between fact and opinion.
From the discussions that occurred last week, it appears there is still some confusion about the difference between a news article and an editorial or an opinion column.
In this newspaper, everything on pages six and seven is opinion about current events.
Shocking, right? Well, it would be if there was not a giant header at the top of the page that reads “Opinions.”
Yes, despite the strive for objectivity in reporting, many newspapers include a section where people are allowed to voice their thoughts and comments on the issues of the day.
That section usually features editorials from the editorial board of the newspaper. This is a chance for the editors of the paper to give their two cents about the news of the day.
This section also features columns and letters, often distinguished from editorials by the sub-heading Op/Ed or “Opposite the Editorial Page.”
In the Op/Ed section, columnists have the opportunity to bring up issues and topics of interest. Unlike regular news articles, columnists also have a chance to say what they think about those issues, usually citing relevant facts and figures to support their argument.
When they are writing for the opinions section, most columnists do not refer to themselves as reporters; it would be disingenuous to do so.
The newspaper has a responsibility to ensure that the columnists are accurate in their reporting of facts and figures, but they are generally left alone to comment on the issue at hand. The newspaper also makes sure that the columnists do not discuss anything that could slander the reputation of another.
However, if they are commenting on a news item that reports information, they are well within their right to comment on that fact or figure, as long as they cite where they got their information.
So for anyone out there who feels that writers on the opinions pages do not display the proper journalistic etiquette that reporters follow, we have one thing to say: Columnists are not reporters.
That is not to say that they are not credible or informative. They just have a different role to fill when it comes to bringing you information.
On the same note, editorials, like this one, are not news articles. This is simply an opinion.
Take everything you read in the opinions section with a grain of salt, and be sure to do your own research before forming an opinion.
