[David Pardon]

Virtually all website, newspaper and magazine articles carry the writer’s name (by-line) so the reader is aware from the start that all the ideas, beliefs, opinions and impressions are those of the writer.  You don’t need to write, for example: I believe freedom of speech and expression is a basic right of all New Zealanders.  Your reader takes it for granted that it is you, the writer, who believes freedom of speech and expression to be a basic right of all New Zealanders. It’s not what someone else believes, it’s what you believe because your name is on the article.  So avoid such wasteful phrases as I believe . . . I think that . . . in my opinion . .