How to introduce unconfirmed information in English

M: I ask you a question first about English.
M: OK?
U: ok
U: shoot
M: If I hear or see some information that’s not official, and I’m not sure if they are true, I can use the words “It’s said that”, right?
M: or what words can I use to quote them?
U: what do you mean by “official”
M: it’s announced by some authorities
U: non-authorities have information too
U: usually if its said by authorities…its probably a lie
M: so I can say “It’s said that” to quote the information just from the postings.
U: so…just use common sense
M: So “It’s said that” just mean “I heard”, or “I saw”
U: you can quote ” ” from a posting
U: that is fine
U: i suppose
U: just research and use your own best judgement
M: It’s so formal with “”
U: i mean…some things you read from a posting can be from a 12 year-old kid
M: yeah. I can say “It’s said blah, blah”, right?
U: so…its up to you as a reporter to use good judgement
U: you have the freedom to write anything you want…but you can do as you described above
U: just use good judgement
M: Maybe I can say “there is the rumor that blah blah”
M: ok, I see.
U: if you have reason to believe it is a rumor…then you should state that
U: building credibility is important as a journalist
M: I check the mean of “rumor”, it means: an unofficial interesting story or piece of news that might be true or invented, which quickly spreads from person to person
U: do research…only report something as fact if you have proof it is a fact
U: report rumors as a rumor
M: I don’t know if it’s true or not, it’s just that I believe it myself but I have no evidence.
U: doing research will help you decide if the information is fact or rumor
M: Do you mean if I use “rumor”, I think it’s not true?
U: the choice is yours…you can be a journalist or a “tabloid schmuck”
M: oh,
U: a rumor is something that hasn’t been confirmed as fact
M: “It’s said that” can be something that hasn’t been confirmed as fact too, right?
U: remember…a posting can nothing but an opinion…and you should know what i was taught about opinions
U: better to say “a recent posting said”
M: oh, i c.
U: “its said that”  can be confused as there were many people who said it
U: if its just one posting….just mention that it is from one posting or a few postings
M: oh, i c.
U: but….do research first…then use your best judgement
M: oh, i c.

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