There are clues in a news story that help you tell fact from opinion

Have you ever heard someone say something that sounded true, but it wasn’t? Or seen a post online that made a big claim? In today’s world, information is everywhere, but not all of it is factual.

Learning how to tell the difference between facts, opinions and fiction is one of the most important skills you can have. The first step to being able to separate facts from opinion in news stories is understanding different kinds of news content. 

“Everyone should learn the difference between news stories that have been written according to a journalistic* process, and other kinds of stories in the news, such as opinion pieces and advertising content,” said Queensland University of Technology Digital Media Research Centre Professor Michael Dezuanni. “This can be tricky, because sometimes stories are made to look like factual stories, even when they are someone’s opinion, or content that has been paid for – (which is) advertising.” 

To tell the difference, Prof Dezuanni said it was important to look for clues. 

“A news story will tell you about something factual, such as what happened, where it happened, who it happened to and when it happened,” he said. “Opinion pieces often use more emotive* language, and they aim to present an argument.

“An opinion piece will seek to persuade* you about a particular point of view. Advertising will typically try to sell something to you or persuade you to do something.” 

Former journalist Bryce Corbett, host of daily news podcast Squiz Kids and creator of the Newshounds media literacy program, said the creators of misleading content will go to “extraordinary lengths” to try to trick us into believing what we’re reading or seeing or hearing is a fact, when it’s actually just their opinion. 

“They will create websites or graphics that look like real news outlets, they will use deepfake videos or sneaky audio or photo editing to make it seem like things have happened when they haven’t – or things were said, when they weren’t,” he said. “And AI has only made it easier for them to do this.

“It’s why we need to always have our magnifying glasses out, like good detectives, to examine every piece of content we come across and work out who has made it, and why they might be trying to influence the way we think or act.”

In Kids News’ digital literacy education kit, Newshounds and other classroom resources, including eSmart by the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, kids are taught one of the most fundamental* of all journalistic practices: verifying before believing everything they see online, or what Newshounds calls “Stop, Think and Check”. 

First, stop when you come across any piece of content online – whether it’s a YouTube video, something you see on Roblox, a social media post or a piece of information that AI Overviews offers up to you when you do a Google search. 

Then think to yourself: who has made this piece of content? Do I know them? Can I trust them? Why would they have made it? What are they trying to make me think by posting it online? 

Finally, check what is being said is true. Is the information from a reliable source? Is the website publishing the information a real, known and trusted organisation, like a government agency or peak body*?

“The internet is an incredible research tool – do a quick search and see whether what is being said is backed up by news reports from trustworthy news websites or organisations,” Mr Corbett said. 

Luckily, there are plenty of trustworthy sources of news and information online, including Australia’s leading news organisations, such as News Corp Australia (publisher of Kids News), as well as national public broadcasters the ABC and SBS.

Other major corporate media companies on the home front include Nine Entertainment, which absorbed Australia’s oldest newspaper company, Fairfax Media, in 2018, and Seven West Media.

Respected international news agencies and broadcasters include Reuters, the Associated Press and Britain’s public broadcaster, the BBC.

“Look for newspaper websites like The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun or Courier Mail or news.com.au to see if they are reporting the same information,” Mr Corbett said. “If in doubt – type whatever ‘fact’ you’re being told into an internet search engine like Google and see whether it has also been reported by trustworthy sources of information.

“If it’s a health claim, has a university or trusted science journal reported on it?” 

News organisation the Australian Associated Press (AAP) has a specialist team that checks information and claims shared by politicians, news organisations and people online to see if they are accurate* and true.

AAP Fact Check editor Ben James said when you are trying to tell the difference between fact and opinion, you should pay attention to the language people use. 

“People will sometimes use very authoritative* or confident language to express an opinion, making it sound like an established fact,” he said.

While there is no single, easy answer for deciding whether something is true, Mr James said it all starts with being curious and even sceptical.* 

“Engage with online content knowing that there are people and organisations out there who want to manipulate* you,” he said.

Disinformation, which is false information that someone deliberately spreads to trick or mislead people, is especially dangerous and has become far more common thanks to social media. 

“A false claim can quickly reach thousands or even millions of people,” Mr James said. “It can influence what people believe, how they behave and the decisions they make. It can damage someone’s reputation, cause unnecessary fear or anger, and deepen divisions between different groups in society.

“And once something false is online, it can be very difficult to take back. Even when a claim is later corrected, people may remember the original claim or continue sharing it.”

So, keep your curiosity, but always pack your detective skills, and never forget to stop, think and check before you click, assume or share.

POLL

GLOSSARY

journalistic: connected to the work, methods, standards or career of news reporters, editors and broadcasters

emotive: causing strong feelings, reactions or emotions in other people

persuade: to make someone do or believe something

fundamental: More important than anything else

peak body: an umbrella group or trade association that represents an entire industry sector, profession, or community group

accurate: correct in all details

authoritative: trusted and respected because it comes from an expert

sceptical: doubting that something is true, valid or useful

manipulate: to control, influence, or manage something or someone

EXTRA READING

Part 1: Your digital wellbeing

Part 3: Deepfakes and AI images

Part 4: Clickbait and engagement traps

QUICK QUIZ

What are the elements of a news story?

What will an opinion piece aim to do?

How will creators of misleading content make you believe what they’re telling you is a fact?

Name some trustworthy sources of news or information

How can Google help you verify whether online content is fact?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Please refer to the accompanying Digital Literacy classroom workbook with 24 teacher-produced, curriculum aligned activities. It’s FREE for teachers who have signed up to receive the weekly Kids News edm.