Response to "Reporting to Conclusions"

When watching a show like Anderson Cooper 360 or The O'Reilly Factor, viewers must remember that they are bound to get a little more than the news--most likely they'll be getting some opinion as well. The language used in reports won't be as objective as you would find in the CBS Evening News or NBC's Nightly News. I believe it is important for journalists to share their opinion in news telling as long as it is clearly stated that they will be doing so. Once again, there are instances where the viewer subjects themselves into getting opinion. It may not be as blatant as Anderson Cooper's use of the word "lies," but watching Fox News, MSNBC, or any other network that has strong partisan ties will clearly give a spin to their stories, show more of a story, or completely ignore a story depending on how it fits into their agenda. This is not saying that those opinions are bad. They are anything but. We as consumers of news must remember the source of our news, which is key to understanding any subtle or obvious undertones in a story. In the end, it is the consumer's job to pick and choose where they get their news from and to decipher fact from opinion. Whether it be a newspaper or a television report, the consumer has the right to turn the page or change the channel if they don't like what they are being told.