Readers seem to have different expectations for other sections, and journalistic practices reflect that. On any given day, the most opinion-laden section in the newspaper probably is Sports. A third said only the goaltender could save the Winter Hawks from a loss in the hockey playoffs. Similarly, arts writing tends to assume a certain highly interested readership that goes to the newspaper for more than the facts and is willing to react to interpretation. The Living section frequently displays humor and attitude in its legitimate efforts to entertain or to capture a sense of our often snarky modern culture.
Readers occasionally ask about staff columns that appear on the covers of news or feature sections.
Columnists such as Steve Duin and Margie Boule often tell stories that otherwise might not make their way into the newspaper. But they sometimes offer political or social commentary that would easily be at home on the op-ed pages, and some readers question that. For the record, staff columnists' opinions are their own. And top editors don't necessarily agree with what the columnists write. The columns are placed to add variety to section covers, as a counterpoint to hard news.