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Sociology Research Guide

This guide was designed to assist with research in Sociology.

What is News?

News is information and commentary on contemporary affairs taken to be publicly important (Schudson 2012).

The Difference Between News, Analysis, and Opinion

It's important to distinguish between different types of content found in sources of news to avoid confusion or bias. News is a factual report of events, simply explaining what happened without interpretation. Analysis goes a step further by not only discussing what happened but also exploring why it happened, offering context and drawing conclusions based on the facts. Opinion, on the other hand, is a personal perspective on the event, sharing what the writer thinks about it and why they believe it's important.

News: What happened.  Analysis: What happened and why — writer considers facts and draws conclusions.  Opinion: What I think about what happened.

Source: Media Bias 101: The Difference Between News, Analysis, and Opinion

 

News: What happened.

Analysis: What happened and why — writer considers facts and draws conclusions.

Opinion: What I think about what happened.

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