News and report: Are they the same?

When talking about journalistic information, terms such as news and report are often used. Although both terms are similar, they do not mean the same thing. It is important to know the difference between a news story and a report to understand what type of information is being consumed.

What is news?

A news story is a short story of an event that happened recently. The news stands out for being objective, that is, it tries to present the facts clearly and precisely, without adding opinions or personal evaluations. Furthermore, it is written in simple and direct language, so that any reader can understand it.

Characteristics of a news

• Objectivity
• Short and concise
• simple and direct language
• Focus on the facts

What is a report?

Unlike the news, the report is a more extensive and in-depth journalistic work, in which a particular topic is investigated and analyzed. The report is not limited to the narration of an event, but goes deeper into it, providing context and perspective to the reader. In other words, the report seeks to explain the reason for the events.

Characteristics of a report

• in-depth investigation
• Focus on a particular topic
• Opinions and analysis
• More elaborate and detailed language

In short, the main difference between a news item and a report is its range, the news focuses on reporting the facts objectively and briefly, while the report provides more extensive and detailed information that includes opinion and analysis.

Whether it is a news story or a report, both informative genres are important to inform society of the events that are happening world. A good journalist must know how to differentiate between both genres and choose the most appropriate one depending on the topic being discussed.

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