Whether it’s poverty, inequality, exploitation, depression or violence, social issues are problems that affect one or more members of society. They’re all-encompassing, with many contributing causes and effects – which is why studying them requires a multifaceted approach involving sociology, psychology and economics.
Among other things, social issues include health care access and costs, the affordability of college education, the federal budget deficit and climate change. More broadly, the world’s water crisis is an issue: about two billion people have unclean water, which poses a risk to their health and sanitation.
The public has widely different views on some of these issues. For example, majorities in both parties say drug addiction is a very big problem; however, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see the issue as highly serious. A similar divide exists over the impact of other pressing issues, including illegal immigration and terrorism.
When writing an article about an issue, it’s important to cover all sides of the argument so that readers can draw their own conclusions. The key to doing this is to interview enough sources and choose carefully. It’s also helpful to focus on issues that are genuinely newsworthy and have a significant impact on people’s lives. Finally, it’s important to provide accurate and fact-checked information so that readers can be confident in your coverage. This helps keep readers engaged and increases the value of your work.