Which feature most clearly signals that a piece is a news article rather than an opinion piece?

• A. Byline with author name
• B. Editorial section
• C. Use of quotes and sourced data
• D. Absence of byline

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that news reporting relies on presenting information that can be verified through sources. When a piece includes quotes from named sources and clear attributions, along with data or documents being cited, it shows the writer is grounding statements in evidence and giving readers a way to check facts. Opinion pieces can include quotes, but their purpose is to convey the writer’s viewpoint, often guiding interpretation rather than establishing verifiable facts. Byline status and section type can hint at format, but they’re not as reliable a signal as the actual use of sourced, attributed information to back up what’s being reported. So, using quotes and sourced data is the clearest indicator of a news article.