Facts

1. Facts • “Credibility — more than news itself — is our stock in trade. An informative story is important. A dramatic story is desirable. An honest story is imperative.” • David Shaw, Los Angeles Times media writer • “What matters to me most is the truth. That’s the only thing that matters in journalism. The fundamental reason you’re reading journalism is because it’s truthful. Of course, everyone believes their own version of the truth. If you believe it, it’s true. So truth is in the same place it will always be: the hazy middle.” • Mervyn Keizer, chief of research at US Weekly

2. Facts • Good reporters respect the integrity of facts. When you select them carefully and arrange them skillfully, you can communicate without inserting your own opinions. • For instance, this fact by itself seems trivial: 28% of Americans can name two freedoms granted by the First Amendment. • But now add this fact: 52% can name two members of “The Simpsons” cartoon family. • What logical unspoken conclusion can you make based of these facts? • Whether your conclusion is true or not is debatable, but this does illustrates how things should work: The facts tell the story, and readers draw their own conclusions.

3. Weasel Words • Weasel words are words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated. • EXAMPLES: • "A growing body of evidence..." (Where is the raw data for your review?) • "People say..." (Which people? How do they know?) • "It has been claimed that..." (By whom, where, when?) • "Clearly..." (As if the premise is undeniably true) • "It stands to reason that..." (Again, as if the premise is undeniably true)

4. Other Factual Problems CLICK HERE

5. Just the Facts • Journalists who believe they are being fair or objective may still give biased accounts: • by reporting selectively • trusting too much to anecdote • giving a partial explanation of actions • Even in routine reporting, bias can creep into a story through • a reporter's choice of facts to summarize • failure to check enough sources • failure to hear and report dissenting voices or seek fresh perspectives.

6. Reporting vs. Editorializing • Generally, publishers and consumers draw a distinction between reporting — "just the facts" — and opinion writing, often by restricting opinion columns to the editorial page and its facing or "op-ed" (opposite the editorials) page. • The distinction between reporting and opinion can break down. Some commentators have suggested there can sometimes be a blurring of opinion and fact. • Stories involving great amounts of interpretation are often labeled "news analysis," but still run in a paper's news columns.

7. Where does opinion fit? Journalism, it has been said, presents a maximum of information with a minimum of opinion, but sometimes it is appropriate to add emotion and attitude to news writing.

13. “How facts backfire”Consider as you read… • Explain the troubling findings that researchers from the University of Michigan found out about the effect that facts have on misinformed people. • What effect can our beliefs have on facts? (6th paragraph) • What does the author mean when he refers to the “information glut”? What is the problem that it causes? • Describe the study discussed on the top of the second page about people’s beliefs on welfare. What does it illustrate? • Describe the misinformation study where participants were given mock news stories with false facts. What does it illustrate? • How does self-esteem affect one’s willingness to accept facts?

14. In what country is the Amsterdam News printed? Under the Articles of Confederation, who was the first U.S. president? How much is admission to the Smithsonian Museums? Where did the New York Giants play baseball? What religion has the largest number of adherents in the world? Get Your Facts Straight