Category: students

As the horror movie genre can be a very niche topic, and a tight knit community, there are always specific websites dedicated to all thing’s horror movie reviews and news. Either its releasing trailers for upcoming blockbusters, breaking news about an actor/actress joining a cast, or maybe even an interview of a well-known horror movie director about an upcoming project. Usually every sub-genre is covered on these websites, and the reader or audience can stay informed about all horror movie news.

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The first article we’re going to look at is the A Quiet Place Part II featurette. This just provides a preview of the upcoming movie set to release in 2020. It also provides featurette type video of interviews from Director John Krasinski and actress Emily Blunt. This is a news type article because it is very informative, gives insight into the new movie, and is giving more press to hype the audience up before the actual release date is given. It’s a very simple and straight to the point. This article is a reliable source because it provides the links for this videos, and referencing this other news source, thus backing up its claims for the information they are telling the reader.

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This article is much like the first article to where it provides updates to a movies actor roster as filming has already begun for the movie. Guillermo del Toro is a very well-known horror movie director. Del Toro has directed big movies like The Shape of Water, Pans Labyrinth, or more recently known, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Whenever news hits of del Toro working on another film, the horror movie lovers get excited, so this article is very informative. This article is reliable because like the first article is provides another source of where it’s getting its information about the official synopsis of the film and character descriptions.

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In the movie review/movie critic realm we see A LOT of opinion based articles as reviews and critics are strictly based off the person who’s writing its opinion. Often times you’ll read one review praising a movie and then can find a review saying it was awful and terrible, so more often than not the news you’re getting about movies are very opinion based or analytical.

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This is a movie review of this recently released remake of the grim fairytale Hansel and Gretel, know named Gretel and Hansel. As this is a review it is a very opinion based and analytical. It is analytical because it provides some quotes and aspects of the film and breaks them down. This is also opinion based because we get the authors opinion about how the movie was underdeveloped and overshadowed by the photography aesthetic. “Together, Jeremy Reed’s production design and Galo Olivares’s photography weave a chilly spell that’s regrettably undermined by the opacity of the storytelling. Like our two babes in the wood, the movie needs a bit more meat on its bones.” This is a reliable source as it comes from The New York Times and they are well reputable news and media outlet.

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This last article is very much like the other review with it being both analytical and opinion based. It pulls aspects of the film and breaks them down, and helps explain the plot line a little more for those who haven’t seen the movie. It then goes into the reviewer’s opinion as he says “it doesn’t make you feel like you’ve watched a failed adaptation of a horror-lit landmark” and “It just leaves you feeling totally screwed over.” This also comes from a very reputable news and media outlet, The Rolling Stone. Anything usually coming from trusted news outlets like this definitely have some reliability to them.

 

 

Load management in the NBA seems to increasingly become a favored topic of discussion between columnist, media outlets, journalist, and even fans across all sports spectrum. Below are some different options between news and opinion or analysis articles.

Analysis- This Old Gold and Black, student paper article is credible due to the fine print under the paper name, stating this is a Wake Forest student paper since 1916. That solidifies a location for this paper, the history and ongoing credibility over the years where students get to share their stories and analysis.

Zimmerman goes on to explain in detail what Load management is, what the league defines it to be, and what the different perceptions around the league from teams and fans may be. He has sources and facts that he mentions, such as Dr. Marcus Elliot and Adam Silver who he explains who each person is and they are two credible people in the NBA sports world that he confidently researched information from.

Analysis-In this Forbes article, what made it credible is the author, Evan Dammaroll, and it has his position with Forbes next to their name. Also, there is a small hyperlink next to the name that when you hover over it , says the contributor to this article are all opinions of their own.

Dammaroll has strong opinions here, such as stating  if the NBA organizations were to lay out a structured schedule that shows when they are going to rest players, a lot of this negativity would likely go away. This is not certain, but he is expressing out of his thought process and what maybe he hopes for the outcome to be. He also mentions more than twice that fans will need more than a paragraph above to squash any negative connotations. Again, that is of his opinion not necessarily from the NBA league, the players or the organization as whole.

At the end of this article, Dammaroll has a description of his current position and in the past. He adds a personal email to be reached as well as the noted statement that he wants to provide readers with a thoughtful and rational look at the cavaliers and the league as a whole

News– In this ESPN article by Pelton and Arnovitz are stating news as they found it with credible sources. As you read through it, you get the vibe of it to be news instead of opinion or analysis, there is no I feel or I think,  but  majority of this is factual because of exhibit A,B,C. That’s  a determining factor of differences between news and opinion.

This is a credible source by the entity name of ESPN, its reputable history as the largest sports media outlet, gives you that assurance that it is a trusted source in comparison to millions of other sports outlets that may be floating around with the same information.

News-In this Bleacher Report article, this piece is stating news and is credible because like ESPN, this media outlet is reputable and known for trusted stories in the sports world. They have many hyperlinks across the article, where it redirects you to further credible resources. You can never have too much credibility sources, the more the merrier. It shows accuracy, attention to detail and trust for their readers. The questions throughout this article, gives the reader much more confidence of the credibility, because there is specific interview answers, details and names mentioned throughout. Overall, this read gives the best knowledge of the topic and as a news article that’s important, because the reader or journalist is looking to gather all the details to connect the dots to the topic for further understanding and potentially to further share what they have learned from it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-51316270

This news piece covers a directors input on the continuous lack of diversity in this Oscars. I genuinely trust most of what I read from the BBC, as they are a well trusted news organization. This article was no different. The reporter, Steve Holden, got his information from the interview between director Melina Matsouka and the BBC’s own Radio1 Newsbeat. I think this makes it more credible because Holden did not go to a random secondary source but wrote about information received within their own sources. He also hyperlinked other similar articles from the BBC to support his information as well as a hyperlink to the Directors Guild of America. I like how he gave a background on Melina Matsouka and her work, one being a trailer from her latest film. I think this all shows that he did research on the topic as well as who he was talking about. Holden not only talked about this important topic but gave the perspective from a significant figure as well as explained how she is working on this issue through her own work. This article also provided only facts and the information given directly by Matsoua, so there was no personal comments from the reporter on the subject. Overall,  instead of just repeating what everyone else is saying, he provided insight from someone who is personally affected by this issue. 

I never paid attention to all the opinion pieces I would read, especially from the New York Times. This one clearly states it is an opinion written by their opinion section writer, Spencer Bokat-Lindell. This helped me notice how much freedom they have with their writing compared to the news article from the BBC. For one, the title is very upfront with, “Very male, very white”. Lindell also started this article aggressively with, “If, as an award show, you were looking to start controversy, you might start by nominating only male directors for the second year in a row”. The viewer can already tell how strongly he also feels about this issue. I also sensed a sarcastic, humorous -attitude in this writing, which is not seen in news pieces that are supposed to be kept neutral. I also think this article is a credible source. Aside from his own comments, he also provided sources from other New York Times articles that spoke on the same issue. Lindell also sourced significant critics, Tweets and other journalists from credible news sources like the New Yorker. I also appreciated the way Lindell spoke on this issue. He showed various comments from different people -whether they were in the movie business or not. This article really captured how important it is that we talk about this issue.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stephen-king-oped-the-oscars-are-rigged-for-white-people/2020/01/27/ad29c4e8-407c-11ea-aa6a-083d01b3ed18_story.html

I found this article written by Stephen King to be really interesting. I really enjoy his work, so it was great to see his input on this topic. In this article he spoke over the comment he made on Twitter and wanted to clarify how he believes there is a major problem at hand. This article was most definitely the most bold one and he did not hold back on the Academy’s wrong doings.  As for credibility, his personal opinion was backed up by facts surrounding previous Oscar statistics. King sourced various articles, but were credible ones such as the LA Times. I think the New York Times did great in letting King share his perspective on the matter. Although, King is receiving criticism, it was important that he was given this platform to explain his thoughts behind his controversial tweet.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/17/2020-oscar-nominations-show-the-academy-has-an-issue-with-diversity.html

The first opinion piece I read shared a lot of tweets pertaining to the Oscar issue and I like how this news piece also shared a few of them. The reporter, Sarah Whitten did not proved her own opinion but shared how controversial this topic is from all the comments going around in the media. She also provided a summary of major nominees and those who were snubbed instead of just talking about the problem, which I think is needed for viewers who want to get the most information out of this issue. Whitten also briefly explained how voting works which she sourced directly from the Oscars website. I felt this article was one of the best because of how in depth it was about the lack of diversity but also on the Academy’s process . This news article did not just cover the problem and what celebrities are saying about it but also the statistics on the Academy’s history. Like the other sources, she also sourced credible articles from respected news organizations.

The LA Times was invited to a media day for the USA Olympic Skateboarding team. This is very clearly a simple news article. There are quotes from several skateboarders that are Olympic hopefuls and what they think of the sport being in the international event. This article isn’t attempting to sway the reader into believing that skateboarding belongs in the Olympics or that it shouldn’t. It is simply explaining what happened at the media day, who was there, and what they thought of it.

The New York Times sent a reporter and two photographers to the Dime 2019 Street Challenge. This news story covers the event, why and how it was conceived. The reporter spoke to the event organizers who explained that it was held outside the Montreal Olympic Stadium to be a sort of “Anti-Olympics”. With quotes from both event attendees and participants supporting this statement. The event displayed skateboarding in its truest and most creative form. However, this wasn’t an opinion presented by The New York Times. This was an opinion held by the organizers. The article doesn’t cite any reasons why this is the truth that everyone should believe. It simply explains that this was the intention of the people who put it all together. The photojournalists covering the event portrayed the event in a truthful manner with portraits of both professional skateboarders, event organizers and attendees and action shots from the competition.

Opinion articles:

Iain Borden wrote an opinion piece for The Conversation on why skateboarding’s evolution into an Olympic sport is good. The article headline is the first give away that it’s an opinion piece: “Ollies at the Olympics: why having skateboarding at Tokyo 2020 is a winning move”. It is making an argument that skateboarding as an Olympic sport is going to be beneficial.

Borden starts off the article by explaining that skateboarding was officially confirmed to be an event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He explains that, to many skateboarders, this may be unwelcome news and cites why. Some of the biggest concerns are that skateboarding is almost an antithesis of the Olympics, that many are concerned about skateboarders passing drug tests, along with several other valid points that some may make to dismiss it as an Olympic sport. However, Borden quickly refutes all of these arguments with explanations of the history of competitions in skateboarding, it’s relationship to corporate entities, and how the days of skateboarding acting as “misunderstood teenager” are long gone.

To Borden, skateboarding belongs in the Olympics, this opinion piece definitely strengthens his argument.

The other opinion piece I found was written by one of the best skateboarders of our time, Tony Hawk. The headline makes it clear that this isn’t a news story: “Thoughts on Olympic Skateboarding”. The article begins with an explanation of why his voice is relevant. Hawk is often considered an ambassador for skateboarding because he is the biggest and most recognizable star of the sport. He also explains that he doesn’t have many answers for questions on the process or if it will accurately represent the sport. He recognizes the naysayers who claim that skateboarding isn’t about competition and quickly refutes the argument that judgment isn’t welcome in skateboarding. Hawk explains that skateboarders have always judged others on things like style and trick selection and comparison to others is an innate human action, just as there have always been skateboarding contests. Hawk ends his argument against those who believe skateboarding isn’t an Olympic sport by explaining that its inclusion will bring in a new and diverse generation of skateboarders, show the world what skateboarding can teach and that many skateboarders will still always be seen by others as punks, and all of that is okay.

As I discussed last week, this blog will begin to focus on political divisiveness in the United States.

Opinion:

This New York Times analysis of the book “Why We’re Polarized” starts to get to the heart of political divisiveness in America. “In the end, he offers simply the hope that as Americans become more aware of the cancer of our current identity politics, they will make efforts to reduce their own involvement,” Norman J. Ornstein writes. Ornstein’s use of first-person is what truly identifies this article as an opinion/analysis piece, though it differs from an ordinary opinion because it is analyzing a book that recently came out.

This column, also in NYT, titled “Is America Hopelessly Polarized, or Just Allergic to Politics?” gave me a new perspective on the polarization arguments and discussions. “It seems that the only thing Americans can agree on is that we are living in an era of extreme political polarization,” wrote Samara Klar, Yanna Krupnikov and John Barry Ryan. But I found this graph the most interesting and important of the whole story. “Polarization, however, is not just about disliking the other side. True polarization is when you dislike the other party and really like your own party.” I have never viewed polarization in this way, and I think their opinion on it is very clear and something that may have changed the way I now view polarization (even though one of the authors is a U of A professor. This article is clearly an opinion, as it is published in the op-ed section and shares the personal views of its authors.

News:

This story in the Pew Research Center, titled “U.S. Media Polarization and the 2020 Election: A Nation Divided” delves into how where people get their news factors into polarization. The study found that, out of 30 media sources, Democrats trusted 22 on average, while Republicans distrusted around 20 sources. Pew is a very credible organization that does original research and analysis, and I often go to their site for political news because of its great use of polling and research. Additionally, they publish a methodology for every study, which increases their credibility.

This article in the journal Foreign Affairs, titled “How Americans Were Driven to Extremes In the United States, Polarization Runs Particularly Deep” goes into both America’s, and the globe’s polarization. “The more than 35 books published on this subject in the past decade have shed much light on partisan dynamics. Yet almost without exception, they examine U.S. polarization as an isolated phenomenon, separate from the experiences of other countries,” wrote Thomas Carothers and Andrew O’Donohue. I thought that this story did a great job of explaining the U.S.’s polarization, while also talking about how America and our ideals affect the rest of the country. But, they also say that U.S. polarization is worse than in other places. “American polarization has deep roots that have taken decades to grow and strengthen,” according to the article. This story was published in a credible research journal, and the study was used by other news outlets as well, which lends to its credibility.

 

 

Music plays a huge part in the way the world. Some of the ways that music plays its’ part is with marketing and advertising. Music goes very well when selling anything because people can easily remember the music that is associated with whatever is being sold.

Music can be a huge persuasion for people. For example, certain charity events such as Chime for Change uses music and musicians to help raise money for the cause.  Beyonce was one of the main supporters of this event and it brought so many people together. A great source would be from WWD‘s website that explains what the charity and is and how there were major influencers. This would be a source of news because they have reliable sources that were interviewed which was the Gucci creative director. This allows for there to be more credibility for the information that is being brought to the audience.

Another source of actual news that surrounds Chime for Change by Gucci would be the newsletter that the actual website from Chime for Change has. The newsletter shows and describes a lot about the events and the big names that attended the events. This is considered real news because of the one fact that the source has actually given the correct information that is associated with the charity.  The validity of the information is one hundred percent true because this is, in fact, the exact reason the charity is alive, because of the source writer.

Opinions and news are two completely different ways of receiving types of news. Opinions are a choice of words that point to judgment or view about something with no actual facts about what is being judged. When people read articles based on a person’s review, they have to understand how to decipher between what is factual and what is not true knowledge. An example of what an opinionated source could be is this blog called The Girls Are. This blog was written by Cheri Amour and it features some of how Amour feels about the entire charity and what happened. It also featured the bug names that were attached to the charity such as Jay Z and James Franco. This blog is considered an opinion because there would have to be some work to fact check how true the information is. Also, it is considered an opinion because Amour provides her opinion about how they felt about the entire event.

Interestingly, opinions can often be looked at as news if the opinion is strongly and intelligently worded. Often we as consumers consume a lot of unchecked opinions rather is on Instagram or Twitter. A lot of times, people really just do not know it and are just ignorant of much of the information that has been shared by different people. Another example of an opinion on Chime for Change would be this blog from Periscope which was written by Parker Shabala. This writing expresses the empowerment and shows the more positive and strong side of this huge event that was made to change the future for so many people. Again, opinions are typically judgements that people make on something that is not based on facts and this blog has just that. Some of the writing can be viewed as facts but must be checked for validity before considering what was read the first time actual news.

All in all, opinions versus news really makes a huge difference when it comes to understanding what is true in the world. There should definitely be more than one source of news and opinions in order to validate what is being researched. That is something that I really take into consideration and I find it very helpful in my everyday life.

When it comes to digital media, it can be a bit difficult to determine whether what you’re reading, watching, or listening to is news or opinion. While I have encountered some sites that label their content, others leave it up to the audience to figure out.

For this week’s blogging assignment, I found four articles from different media outlets, decided which are news and which are opinion, and evaluated their credibility.

Let’s dig in!

1. Hulu CEO Randy Freer Out Amid Reorganization

In this article, Natalie Jarvey of The Hollywood Reporter reports on newly announced changes in leadership at Hulu as the streaming service is further integrated into Disney’s direct-to-consumer division.

This is a news article.

Jarvey sticks to the facts on this one. All of the information presented is relevant and verifiable. The article has a neutral tone and Jarvey’s personal thoughts and opinions on the topic are nowhere to be found. She is not trying to tell readers how they should feel about the changes. She’s just letting people know that they’re happening.

One reason to think this piece is credible is that it was published by a long-running, trusted industry publication. A second reason is that it doesn’t involve wild claims, anonymous sources, or speculation. The information included in the piece is factual, with much of it coming directly from statements put out by the parties involved.

2. Streaming Giants Need Shows Like Schoolhouse Rock

In this piece published by Wired, Kelly Kessler shares her thoughts as to why streaming services should be developing more children’s programming with a focus on civics education.

This is an opinion piece.

Kessler clearly wrote this to express her own opinion on a topic she is passionate about. It’s written in the first person and while she backs her argument up with facts, personal anecdotes also play a role. She uses stories from childhood and her experience as a mother to explain why she feels the way she does. Tonally, readers can pick up on Kessler’s frustration and desire for change. There is an explicit call to action here that you don’t see in news articles.

While I think the nature of the piece speaks for itself, I should also note that Wired has it labeled as opinion on its website.

As she is an associate professor of media and cinema studies at DePaul University, this piece strikes me as credible because there’s reason to think Kessler knows what she’s talking about. In a further boost to her credibility, additional sources that back up factual claims and support Kessler’s overall opinion are linked throughout the piece.

3. The Streaming Wars Have Barely Started and They’re Already Exhausting

Next up, Dieter Bohn, Executive Editor for The Verge, gives readers his take on streaming fatigue as more and more streaming services start to roll out.

This is also an opinion piece.

Like the previous example, it is written in the first person. Bohn uses a frank, informal tone. He does not shy away from expressing his lack of excitement about NBC’s upcoming streaming service, Peacock, and the advice he shares for combatting streaming fatigue is his own. Bohn’s point of view is clear throughout the piece and it is tagged as an editorial.

On the credibility front, I have mixed feelings.

I don’t think this piece is entirely unworthy of trust, but there is a big reason to be cautious. The Verge is owned by Vox Media. NBC invests in Vox. Additionally, Vox is producing a show for Quibi, another new streaming service mentioned in the piece. Bohn does disclose this in the third paragraph and the decision not to hide it at the bottom or ignore it altogether gives him some credibility in my eyes. But these financial ties will be something I keep in mind whenever I check out The Verge’s coverage of the various streaming services from now on.

4. Netflix Reports a Subscriber Bump as Disney Poses a New Threat

Finally, the New York Times’ Edmund Lee reports on Netflix’s 2019 fourth quarter earnings figures and comments from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

This is another news article.

Most of the information presented in the article comes directly from Netflix’s earnings report and the earnings call with Hastings. Lee doesn’t share his personal thoughts on the numbers or Hastings’ comments. He’s not advocating for anything or trying to tell readers how they should feel. He’s simply relaying new information to those interested.

One reason to find the article credible is that the New York Times has a solid track record for reporting on this kind of news. The brief biography of Lee that’s included at the end of the article also adds credibility as it lets us know that he regularly covers the media industry. To further increase his credibility, Lee could have included links to the full letter to shareholders and transcript of the earnings call. I checked and they’re available here.

There are two issues at the forefront of news regarding broadcast radio:

• The lack or perceived lack of country stations playing female artists
• The mass layoffs of on-air personalities at iHeartMedia’s radio stations.

The following are articles about the lack of female country artists being played on the radio:

• How CMT’s Pledge to Play More Videos by Women Could Influence Country Radio

This Rolling Stone article addresses the recent pledge by CMT (Country Music Television) to play a 50/50 ratio of videos by female and male artists. The article claims that such a publicized gesture could prompt changes to radio programming. According to the radio program directors who responded to Rolling Stone’s question on whether they would change their format to include more women, many claimed that they will make an effort to the extent that the market dictates. As some program directors pointed out, they are in the business of playing hits and cannot predict which songs will become successful. But most agree that they can do more to expose listeners to female country artists.

I feel that this is a credible article by a respected magazine and gives a lot of space to quoting people in the industry, such as Leslie Fram, CEO of CMT and program directors from country stations in various major cities in the United States. The article does not merely state opinion of the author, but gives an overview of the issue and various perspectives of those working in the industry.

• PD: What Kelly Clarkson Said About Country Radio Was Wrong

This article by Radio Ink journalist Ed Ryan features mostly quotes from program directors in major markets. The opinions of the program directors vary, with some agreeing that there needs to be more female representation on country stations and some disagreeing and saying it is the quality of the sings that matter most. Ryan also lists the artists played on their respective stations during a short window of time, with female artists in bold font to highlight the disparity between number of make artists and female artists being played. Where Kelly Clarkson come in is the quote by John O’Connell, program director for WKIS in Miami. He took umbrage to a quote by Kelly Clarkson from her talk show saying that stations are not giving airplay to females.

While Ryan quoted station program directors, I felt that this piece was more an editorial than a news article. The quotes chosen for the article are meant to be polarizing rather than informative. In contrast to the Rolling Stone article, this piece works more as an opinion piece.

The following are articles about iHeartMedia’s layoffs:

• Senator Questions iHeart Layoffs (DAY 2 WITH YOUR COMMENTS)

Rather than providing background about the topic, this Radio Ink article instead posts a letter in its entirety from Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman regarding the recent layoffs of on-air personalities. Senator Brown points to the salary and bonuses of top executives, including Pittman, coming right before the company filed for bankruptcy in 2018.

While almost the entire article is make up of the Senator’s letter, the article presented it without commentary or opinion by the author or Radio Ink. For this reason, I would rate this as news and not opinion.

• iHeartMedia Layoffs Bleed Even More Regionalism Out of Radio

Saving Country Music is a blog created by Kyle ”The Triggerman” Coroneos that covers country music and “roots, rockabilly, bluegrass, blues, and folk music.” This article takes aim at iHeartMedia’s recent decision to lay off hundreds of radio personalities. In Coroneos’ opinion, this will be detrimental to the industry by eliminating the local element that gives listeners a sense of community. As Coroneos states, “they’re replacing employees for algorithms.” Coroneos believe that these layoffs will only save iHeartMedia in the short term.

While this article was more opinion than fact, it was not gratuitous or overly provocative. Coroneos seems passionate about the topic and made good points about the impact these payoffs will have on local and regional entertainment.

Last week I had talked about the Cubs’ journey to picking David Ross as their new skipper. With spring training around the corner, analyses have been made and opinions have been formed. While some are still in doubt over the first-time manager, others are excited to see what the new season will bring.

Ross was very straightforward in his press conference stating what he planned to change, and what he believed was already working well for the team. The media ate this up, they either agreed with Ross and his intentions, or completely thought otherwise.

This week I read over many articles over the announcement, both professionally written and those written on personal blog websites.

I will start with sharing this article written by Jordan Bastian, a Cubs analyst who writes for the MLB. The article was written shortly after Ross was announced as the new manager and includes a few clips from the press conference. I find this article to be a good analysis of Ross and his last year with the cubs as well as what he covered in his first public appearance as manager.

Bastian includes many quotes from Ross’ presser with Theo and Jed, and then goes on to explain Ross’s intentions by referring to him as a former player and ESPN analyst. I find the comparison between Ross as a player and as a manager to be an effective way to describe how he will continue to shows his leadership qualities.

The article is credible, it includes the official press conference video, and is written by a Cubs baseball analyst. It is also found on the official MLB website.

The second article is from the Chicago Sun Times, and is a more factual piece covering Ross and his new adventure. This article is a news item, as it contains no blatant opinions or analyses of the subject. This piece states more facts than the previous article and looks at David Ross from a more personal level as it mentions his stint with Dancing with the Stars and his time with ESPN.

If you want the basics, I would read the Sun Times. You will figure out the who, what, where, when, and why with only a little filler in between. I also find this article to be credible, it is from a Chicago sports columnist written for a popular online and print news site.

The third article is also from the Chicago Sun Times, but this one very much different. If you want to read an opinionated view on the change, then this is the article for you. The columnist who wrote this was obviously hoping for a different outcome. This writer believes Ross is still to close to these players, and that he won’t be able to discipline them when needed. It also seems like he is taking credit away from Ross due to the fact that he previously competed on Dancing with the Stars shortly after retiring.

Now I am no expert, but just because one competed on a game show doesn’t mean that they will be incompetent with coaching baseball. Overall, I was not a fan of this article, but it was a great example of an opinion-based column. It is from the Chicago Sun Times, as was the previous article and also written by a seasoned sports columnist, so I do find it to be credible.

The fourth and final article I will bring up is from Sports Illustrated, which is a popular sports news media site as well as print magazine. This article is short and sweet as it announces Ross’s new position, and is clear from any analysis and opinion, making it a news article.

The article briefly mentions Ross’ tie to the cubs, and what he managed to accomplish as a veteran catcher on the team. It’s free from any bias and simply mentions the coaching change. I do find this article to be credible, Sports Illustrated has been a popular go-to for sports fans for decades, as a magazine and as a website. The one issue I hold is that the author mentions in his biography that he covers marathons and track and field. Why he wrote about the Chicago Cubs… I do not know. Regardless, it is informative in a short and sweet way.

Often as media consumers we are challenged with whether the content we are consuming is actually news or opinion. There are times when we clearly know what we are seeking out, yet this distinction should still be recognized. Is this factual news that is being reported or is this the writers expressed opinion? Are we looking for news or are we looking for an opinion. These internal questions should stand as a bases for our further discussion.

When it comes to the world of sports wagering, there is plenty of both news and opinion. Many times these distinctions intersect as writers express opinion within a column that is mainly geared at presenting the facts. Most recently, we have seen much of the news in regard to sports gambling come in on the newly passed legislation in regards to it’s constitutional legality.

On March 14, 2018 The Supreme Court did away with the federal ban on sports betting in which legality was previously restricted to only Nevada. The legislation simply puts the matter in the hands of the state. In this article, ESPN staff writer Ryan Rodenberg gives us a great example of a news article describing the current legal US landscape state by state. He begins with the states where sports betting is legal and congruently ranks states that currently don’t have legal sports betting into how likely they are to pass future legislation allowing it.  Clearly this is a news article as he gives us the lay of the land according to facts.

With new legislation in place, there is the question of what states will pursue sports wagering legislation and what states will be reluctant. In this article CNBC staff writer Bob Woods explains how the future landscape of sports betting in the US is likely to play out. Though the headline and premise may indicate opinion, we clearly see Woods give rationally educated and informed information on which states are pursuing sports betting and the time frame of when that legislation may come into effect. this is reported news as we get a glimpse into where each state is heading with this matter.

The very nature of sports wagering leaves room for a multitude of opinion. You are essentially doing your best to predict the outcome of a future event. No easy task here. Thus, there is a lot of room for opinion. So who’s opinion counts. When it comes to sports gambling media, who’s opinion your listening to does indeed matter. As consumers, we should ensure that the opinions we are taking in are well informed and looking at the sporting event from every angle.

With Super Bowl LIV on the horizon, you can be assured that there is plenty of betting content sizing up the holiday like big game. In this article we get a glimpse of some insightful opinion on some sharp proposition bets (bets that aren’t the normal point spread or game total). Jason Paglia is a writer and content contributor for sportsbook review. He gives some great insights as to why he believes these bets are a good statistical value. Though well written and well informed, this is clearly the writers expressed opinion.

In the world of wagering the smallest edges can be the difference between profits and losses. News and opinion can indeed help shape those profits and losses. Here we encounter an article from CBS staff writer Matt Norlander discussing the marquee Saturday matchups in NCAA men’s basketball. The article is on CBS so it must be news right? Not so fast, as we dive into the content we can clearly see that it is expressed opinion. Also, we get a glimpse of how main stay media companies that were not once associated with betting content are now reaching out to a vast audience that was once overlooked.

So what does this mean for the consumer? It means be skeptical. Know the difference between reported news and opinion and be sure to make the distinction when being a consumer. The very nature of sports betting will facilitate plenty of opinions on sporting events. It is up to you, the bettor, to have all the pertinent news such as injury reports, travel spots etc. Don’t get lost in opinion when you are really seeking out facts.

Francisco Healy