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Entering the Conversation

Op/eds seem to appeal to specific audiences but not to others


Journalists are supposed to be objective when reporting the news to the public…supposed to be. Based on where we get our news, it can come with a bias. Many news broadcasts these days tend to be sensationalized, giving us outrageous headlines and pundits that persuade our opinions this way and that way. Forming our own opinion can be difficult when this happens, but with so much happening around us, some of us might welcome a strong opinion.

Op/ed columns cut out our need to filter the biased from the unbiased and lets the reader agree or disagree with the opinion of an author that already knows or has researched a given topic.  

The public that has a strong ability to analyze and interpret information and value free and independent thought may not feel attracted to what Op/eds have to offer. These people may prefer news to be as straight to the point and unbiased as possible. An author’s opinions in Op/eds might be an affront to their objective sensibility which causes these people to stay away. Imagine being a banker or an accountant that reads financial projections for fun; the kind of person that is self-actualized and knows exactly what the like. This is the person I see reading an op/ed, abruptly closing the newspaper and exclaiming “well I never! I don’t know why I wasted my time with these columns.”       

When trying to be informed on current situations of the world, I find myself often searching for the opinion of others to help give me the proper words to express my thoughts. This is what I tell myself at least. Sometimes I may just be looking for a justification to how I already feel (aka echo chamber). I am not confident in my ability to quickly analyze a situation and understand all the ins and outs and effects a situation can have on people. People like me may like Op/eds because they can give us an informed opinion on current news and in turn, we can accept this as in-line with our own values or reject it; either way, we will be more informed and prepared for communicating in the real, physical world with friends, family, and colleagues.

Finding out that you know about the current news but cannot speak in an informed manner on the implications of said news can be embarrassing; finding out that your thoughts and opinions that you do express to family and friends are way off base can be even worse. This reason is why I like reading Op/eds and welcome the informed opinions of eloquent authors; either I can make an argument for a case and sound well informed or I can rebuttal someone else’s argument and with an opinion that I agree with. I wish I was the type of person that could read or hear the news and form my own opinion, but I am not and Op/eds help me enter the conversation. 

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 12, 2019 at 12:54 PM

    Ryan,

    All great points. This is exactly why I end up reading op-eds as well. When you said "we can accept this as in-line with our own values or reject it" I think you captured exactly what makes these so popular. Op-eds definitely help us entire the conversation and I think you stated this very well.

    Great Blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. sarahFebruary 14, 2019 at 3:50 PM

    Hi Ryan,

    I agree it can be difficult to form your own opinion from current news events. Sometimes I will do the same where I retrieve general facts from news articles and then look to op-eds to further elaborate an opinion I might have. I liked how you explained that "Op/ed columns cut out our need to filter the biased from the unbiased." Op-eds are unique in this way that they outwardly discuss a biased opinion knowingly to an audience.
    Very informative and great overall blog post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jackelyn AldamaFebruary 14, 2019 at 10:47 PM

    Hello, you are right it is difficult to create your own opinion or ideas from a current news event. Op-eds help you enter a conversation, you have to know about the topic to either give your opinion. To give an opinion of your own we need to do research of what the topic is or what other people think about the topic too to have an idea of what to talk about. Great blog post!
    -Jackelyn Aldama

    ReplyDelete
  4. Angel LopezFebruary 15, 2019 at 10:53 PM

    Hello Ryan,

    Thank you for sharing your post, I agree with you when you say it is hard to form our own opinion and more so when we are exposed to sensationalized news all the time. I also thought it was very interesting how you added to your writing the idea that op/eds have a specific intended audience by stating that not everyone will be interested in reading a subjective piece. I believe you covered very valid points.

    Angel Lopez

    ReplyDelete
  5. Journey that keeps on GivingFebruary 15, 2019 at 11:05 PM

    hello ryan, I too like the other classmates agree that it is difficult to create an opinion if it doesnt apply to you or the current events is not appealing. Op eds allow you to engage in conversations with the reader and you need to have sufficient evidence to support that claim. Great blog.
    -rudy jaimes

    ReplyDelete
  6. English 305WFebruary 18, 2019 at 9:25 AM

    My favorite line was when you said, "When trying to be informed on current situations of the world, I find myself often searching for the opinion of others to help give me the proper words to express my thoughts. This is what I tell myself at least. Sometimes I may just be looking for a justification to how I already feel."

    I think that's why a lot of people are drawn to op-eds. I mean we could just read the straight news, but then we would have to figure out what we think about it. A lot of times I catch the headlines by perusing the op/eds. And I'm not proud of that.
    Erin
    P.S: Can I steal that quote for a future class?

    ReplyDelete

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