Final answer:
Editorials, op-eds, and editorial cartoons are opinion pieces aimed to persuade, while news articles present unbiased information on current events. Editorials represent the views of the publication, op-eds are written by guest writers and can include graphics, and editorial cartoons use images for commentary, distinguishing them from news reporting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The editorials, editorial cartoons, and op-eds serve different purposes compared to news articles.
News articles are created by journalists and reporters whose goal is to inform the reader about current events without personal bias. They provide balanced accounts, backed by research and interviews, and edited for accuracy and clarity. News articles highlight major happenings like political decisions, economic shifts, or significant events that impact society. They are designed to present facts rather than opinions and are found in all forms of media, including print and digital platforms.
In contrast, editorials, op-eds, and editorial cartoons are opinion pieces. Editorials are often unsigned and reflect the official viewpoint of the media outlet. They are written by the editorial staff or the publication's editorial board and attempt to persuade the readers towards a particular stance or opinion. Op-eds, short for 'opposite the editorial page', are opinion essays written by guest writers or columnists offering their own perspectives, and often include a visual element like data visualization or cartoons. Editorial cartoons, meanwhile, employ imagery to comment on current events, adding humor or satire to emphasize the cartoonist's point.
Overall, these opinion-based formats should be distinguished from the impartial reporting found in news articles. Both can appear across various platforms including social media, online news outlets, as well as traditional print media. Despite the rise of online publishing, which sometimes leads to a lack of editorial oversight and quality variability, these different forms of media continue to coexist, providing a mixture of factual reporting and opinionated discourse to readers.