Facts are true for everyone. Grass is green. The sun is hot. Waltzes are in three quarter time. Lemons are sour. Skunks are smelly.
Opinions are true for those who hold them. Grass is beautiful. Sunny days are cheerful. Waltzes are boring. Lemons make the best pie. Skunks are my favorite animal.
Facts are irrefutable tidbits of information readily confirmed by multiple sources. Opinions are personal perceptions.
Why does this Matter?
With hundreds of media outlets, each catering to a specific audience, the line blurs between fact and opinion. So what does this mean? Back in the 1970s
there were three broadcast networks. Everyone received the same factual reporting regardless of which network they watched. Occasionally the station manager would come on with an opinion piece that was clearly designated as such.
In an effort to capture the market, media outlets combine the pizzazz of entertainment with the gravity of an anchor grilling guests on cozy couches. This 
promotes a skewed version of the day’s events to a target audience. Today, an unlimited number of networks espouse myriad worldviews, so viewers adopt the most convenient “news” to fit their own thinking. Viewers can consume biased media—right, left, or center—and feel confident they are better informed than the rest of us.
There’s a name for this: infotainment.
Consumers, Facts and Opinions
It is imperative
for consumers to recognize the difference. Don’t accept Social Media memes and posts at face value. Evaluate sources for bias and check reputable sites to confirm information—especially in cases where posts berate individuals or institutions. Who doesn’t use the internet for research these days? If you do, scrutinize your sources before accepting them as fact. There are many bad actors out there. Scam artists, pranksters, and people trying to sway public opinion are masters at distorting the truth.
Writers
As a writer it is vital that you understand when to use facts and when to use opinion. Use facts in nonfiction and research writing. It’s okay to use opinion in book reports, editorials, and persuasive writing. But remember, use facts to support your positions in persuasive writing. A convincing argument supported by well-sourced facts is hard to ignore.
