Introducing general audiences to key events that shape the political, economic, technological, and sociocultural environment on local and global levels is essential. However, while some news outlets devote themselves to reporting key issues in a manner as honest and unbiased as possible, others offer opinion pieces that may stir significant controversy. Though the problem of education unavailability for women in Afghanistan is unanimously regarded as a tremendous concern both in Al Jazeera’s report and the Washington Post’s opinion piece, the two introduce different perspectives due to the discrepancies in objectivity levels.
Considering the information provided in the respective articles, one will notice the propensity toward a more personal and subjective perspective in the Washington Post’s opinion piece. For instance, the heading features an informal phrase, stating that “lights are out” for Afghan female students (“Opinion. In Afghanistan, the lights go out for women,” 2022, par. 1). In comparison to the specified article, the one offered in Al Jazeera features a significantly more objective and neutral language, reporting “several restrictions imposed on women” (“Afghanistan universities reopen but women still barred by Taliban,” 2023). Therefore, the fact/opinion ratio is higher in the one provided by Al Jazeera compared to the substantially lower one offered in the Washington Post. Specifically, the latter features quotes form educators heavily, whereas the former cites statistics and other verifiable data. Thus, the provided evidence is quite enough to discern between facts and opinions.
Despite the fact that the Washington Post’s opinion piece on education of Afghan women represents a significantly more subjective perspective compared to Al Jazeera’s article, both convey the same sentiment. Nonetheless, the means that each of the articles utilizes to achieve the specified impression is quite different. The knowledge obtained as a result of the specified analysis can be used to improve one’s critical thinking and communication, particularly in one’s career. Namely, the exercise in question demonstrates how one can distinguish between opinions and facts while appreciating both types of information and using each accordingly.
References
Opinion. In Afghanistan, the lights go out for women. (2022). The Washington Post. Web.
Afghanistan universities reopen but women still barred by Taliban. (2023). Al Jazeera. Web.