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Opinion
The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
News / Opinion / Letters to the Editor

Letter: Drama is not the same as news

By David Newcomb, Battle Ground
Published: September 3, 2024, 6:00am

The internet has clearly changed the news business, very fast reporting of events, very inexpensive news source operations and an insane degree of competition for our attention.

I read on the internet from a number of news sources, and under my skeptical, septuagenarian, analytical eye, I’ve learned that: Breaking news is dramatic and most likely lacking essential, accurate facts; wait a couple days. Opinion often masquerades as news; just because a news organization can find someone to say something “interesting” does not mean that it comes from a qualified, representative source, is true, or ever was. A headline that contains words like “could,” “suggests,” “might” or “may” is probably not currently factual news; perhaps in the future in a galaxy far, far away it could be.

And then I read The Columbian digital version and look at the coincidence with what I just read from other internet sources — less drama, more factual reports that match trusted news sources, local news, a breath of reality rather than quasi-fictional drama. I may not have been paid to write this. By the way, a dinosaur-killing asteroid could hit Earth in 2026. It’s a big job, sorting fact from fertilizer.

We encourage readers to express their views about public issues. Letters to the editor are subject to editing for brevity and clarity. Limit letters to 200 words (100 words if endorsing or opposing a political candidate or ballot measure) and allow 30 days between submissions. Send Us a Letter
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