Political news is any news related to a political issue. It can be about politicians or government decisions and policies, elections, ballot issues or referendums. Unlike other types of journalism where journalists can only report the facts without expressing their opinions, in political reporting it is important to present both sides of an argument and give equal coverage to all parties involved. This is particularly important in election seasons when there are many candidates and ballot measures to cover.
Journalists who write about politics are often expected to have expert knowledge of the subject they are covering. They should be able to explain complex matters in ways that are easy for the lay person to understand. They may also need to be able to interview political figures or dig up primary sources to find the truth.
Writing about politics can be difficult as the issues are usually seen from many different viewpoints. It can be tempting for a journalist to take one view of an event and focus solely on that, but this is not good for the public. The public want to be informed about all the angles of an event and how it affects them.
Some of the biggest names in journalism have focused on politics, from Hunter S. Thompson’s “Gonzo journalism” to Barbra Walters’ hard hitting interviews. However, the art of political journalism has changed a lot over the past few decades as news media have been deregulated and the world becomes more politically polarized.
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