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You’re not alone if you’re flipping through the Suffolk News-Herald and wondering whether something is meant to inform or persuade you. It’s a fair question — and it’s one we take seriously.

At our newspaper, we do our best to keep the line clear between fact and opinion. That’s why we place all opinion content — whether it’s an editorial from our staff or a letter from a member of the public — on Page 4 of every edition. That’s the space for viewpoints, arguments, praise, or criticism.

Everything else — the stories on the front page, the updates from City Council, the school board recaps — that’s the news. And it’s built on facts, not opinions.

But in today’s fast-moving world, where headlines pop up from every direction, it’s easy to get confused about what’s what. So, let’s take a moment to break it down.

News stories are meant to inform. They answer the basic questions: what happened, when and where it happened, who was involved, and why it matters. The goal is to lay out the facts, not to take a side.

A good news article includes quotes from multiple sources and presents different perspectives. The tone is neutral, and the writing stays focused on delivering reliable, straightforward information.

If the City Council votes to approve a new housing development, the news story will report the vote count, the key details of the plan, and reactions from both sides. It won’t tell you if the vote was “right” or “wrong.” That decision is yours to make.

Editorials are different. They’re opinion pieces — written to persuade, advocate, or comment on the news.

A staff editorial typically reflects the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. These pieces may support local initiatives, call for change, or offer criticism, depending on the issue at hand.

The tone in an editorial can be more passionate, personal, or assertive — because it’s supposed to be. It’s meant to spark conversation and encourage readers to think critically.

We also publish letters to the editor, which members of the community write. While these opinions don’t represent the paper’s stance, they offer valuable perspectives from our community. And just like staff editorials, they also appear on Page 4.

Understanding the difference between news and opinion matters because it helps build trust in us and in your own ability to make sense of what you read.

It creates confusion when opinion is mistaken for fact, or vice versa. Some readers may think a reporter is being biased when, in reality, they’re just doing their job. Others might read an editorial and assume it’s a factual news report.

That’s why we keep a clear line between the two. One informs. The other persuades. Both have value, but they’re not interchangeable.

Think of a news story as a camera — it captures what’s happening and presents it as clearly as possible. An editorial is more like a spotlight — it shines a focused beam on one part of the picture and says, “Here’s what we think matters most.”

Both serve a purpose. Recognizing the difference helps us readers stay informed and think for ourselves.

If you ever have a viewpoint you’d like to share, we welcome it. Send us a letter to the editor. Page 4 is your space, too. You can do so by emailing your letter to news@suffolknewsherald.com.