Such stories include uncontested decisions of boards and other groups, authoritative accounts of events such as fires, accidents, and the weather. Finally, opinions offered by columnists who are giving their own opinions about an event or issue are not counted. The fairest stories offer competing sides the same opportunities for comment. Neither time nor space must be equal, however. Less fair are stories in which all sides are represented, but not given equal opportunity to respond.
Unfair stories don t give all obvious sides a chance to comment.
Fairness grades are based on the percentage of news time or space in stories judged completely fair plus one-half the time or space in stories judged partly fair.