There’s a difference between an opinion and a fact.
This is important to remember as we draw closer to the municipal election in October.
And, it can be confusing.
(To be perfectly clear, this is an editorial right here. Its purpose is to present an opinion for discussion. You will find facts in most good editorials, but those facts are not to be confused with information in a news report. )
In the last couple of years many popular print and digital news sources - especially in the United States - have pushed the boundaries of traditional reporting to the point where it is sometimes difficult to tell where the story ends and the commentary begins.
That’s mostly the result of the bizarre political climate south of the border, as well as the unavoidable evolution of 24-7 news coverage.
This popular quote about journalism sums the position up fairly well:
“If someone says it’s raining, and another person says it’s dry, it’s not your job to quote them both. Your job is to look out the window and find out which is true.”
There’s a lot of veracity in that opinion to be sure, but for the purposes of serving this community The Spotlight follows a slightly modified approach.
It’s important to quote all relevant and available voices on an issue (even if someone says it’s raining and it really doesn’t seem to be) and then supply context and documentation.
So there. If Jack says it’s raining and Jill says it isn’t raining they both get quoted. Then we call Environment Canada and get them to confirm what the weather is actually doing. Everyone gets some ink.
The paper might later editorialize on rain. But that is entirely separate and cannot be confused with news.
On a related note - we can’t and won’t print statements that are defamatory even if we are in the middle of a tsunami.
For a homier example, let’s use the non-controversial subject of the proposed Princeton aquatic centre.
In a debate on this issue Bob says the pool is too expensive and the taxpayers can’t afford it, and Betty says the pool is affordable and can be sustained.
Those are opinions. We will quote both Betty and Bob and we will also report the fact that a feasibility study says the pool will cost $27 million.
Again, an editorial printed on the matter may align with one side or another, but that cannot be confused with news reporting.
So keep that in mind as you read The Spotlight over the next couple of months.
Think about it too when you are following social media, if you happen to be one of the members of the local discussion groups.
Is what you are reading and responding to an opinion? Is it a fact?
The Spotlight will not endorse any candidate for election this fall, but we’ll cover the news and opine on issues like always.
We are in for an interesting ride.
But that’s just an opinion.
-The Similkameen Spotlight