When embarking upon this article, a rare "Home & Garden" piece that I read (not usually finding this section of the Times to be my cup of tea), I became wrapped up much more in the description of the characters in this piece than of the little Victorian retreat at the heart of the story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/garden/24cottage.html?ref=garden
It felt to me like an "invisible person" story of sorts -- a look into a world not immediately visible to the average observer (though in this case, the invisibility was even more literal than in the case of a yoga instructor or a gas station attendant -- these people live in a wooden, hidden retreat).
There are moments when author Joyce Walder's descriptions bring these two characters to life in much the way many of our "invisible person" stories brought "the little people" around us to life. For example, this moment struck me: "Mr. Foster, 51, is a man whose chest gives the impression that he has to go through doors sideways." A vivid picture indeed.
I also wanted to point out that this article begins with the sort of moral/generalization/hyperbole that we discussed at length in Jason's pieces. What do you guys think of beginning the piece with this line?:
"THE most magical things in life are the ones that spring up where you least expect them..."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Good News for Me
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/science/29tier.html?hpw
I am a regular reader of the NYTimes. An article in the Science section caught my eye today and I managed to read it pretty much in its entirety in between writing an email to a friend and checking out trail maps for Sherborn.
The article is entitled, oh wait I forgot, must go back and check....
Oh yes, I was writing this post. The article is entitled Discovering the Virtues of a Wandering Mind.
The author uses a lot of direct sources as I believe it should given that it is a an article about something "scientific".
What I find interesting about it besides the topic was how the writer showed the recent evolution of thought on the wandering mind. I also find it interesting that the author didn't feel compelled to present a "fair and balanced" perspective. He presented a variety of sources that pretty much support the same conclusion.
These researchers findings may be complete hogwash but there is nothing in the article to suggest that other than that their findings contradict earlier beliefs. Otherwise, it is up to the reader to put on her critical thinking cap and decide whether the findings are valid or not and whether the research methods are valid or not.
Unfortunately there is science to support all different kinds of agendas -- global warming is bad/global warming is good, butter is bad for you/margarine once good is now bad. In a world where science is often revered as absolute, I think great care needs to be taken by a reporter in using scientific study to support an argument. The first question I think I will ask is, "Who funded that study and what was their objective in funding it?"
I am a regular reader of the NYTimes. An article in the Science section caught my eye today and I managed to read it pretty much in its entirety in between writing an email to a friend and checking out trail maps for Sherborn.
The article is entitled, oh wait I forgot, must go back and check....
Oh yes, I was writing this post. The article is entitled Discovering the Virtues of a Wandering Mind.
The author uses a lot of direct sources as I believe it should given that it is a an article about something "scientific".
What I find interesting about it besides the topic was how the writer showed the recent evolution of thought on the wandering mind. I also find it interesting that the author didn't feel compelled to present a "fair and balanced" perspective. He presented a variety of sources that pretty much support the same conclusion.
These researchers findings may be complete hogwash but there is nothing in the article to suggest that other than that their findings contradict earlier beliefs. Otherwise, it is up to the reader to put on her critical thinking cap and decide whether the findings are valid or not and whether the research methods are valid or not.
Unfortunately there is science to support all different kinds of agendas -- global warming is bad/global warming is good, butter is bad for you/margarine once good is now bad. In a world where science is often revered as absolute, I think great care needs to be taken by a reporter in using scientific study to support an argument. The first question I think I will ask is, "Who funded that study and what was their objective in funding it?"
Why do adults suddenly develop hay fever?
I found this BBC feature article on the late onset of hay fever.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8763115.stm
The article had great official sources (eg. Chief palynologist at the National Pollen and Aerobiology Unit at the University of Worcester). The quotes were interesting but I became frustrated with the vague use of studies and statistics.
"Between 15 and 20% of people in the UK are thought to be affected, with the numbers being even higher among teenagers and symptoms typically peaking in people's 20s."
I think the expert information could have been used in tandem with actual late onset sufferers and/or greater attention given to the validity of the Austrian study.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
a little bit about love, identity and self-knowledge...
This is a CNN online article. I'm personally not a big CNN fan for a news source, but I find article topic compelling enough to be shared.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/06/28/bisexual.male.last.closet/?hpt=Mid
An article about bisexual men and the mystery of bisexual and gay stereotypes, including biases in the gay community itself.
I think that the article draws from good official sources, including the CDC, Emory University professors, Campus Pride and Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University.
Even Freud and Sociologist Eric Anderson are cited, arguing the thought put into understanding males who identify as bisexual.
In alignment with our reading in Freedman, who advises against leaning too heavily on "anonymous" sources, this article does so by mentioning only a first name, as in this paragraph:
Despite the skepticism from others, some bisexuals acknowledge there are upsides to their sexual orientation, even though they remain in limbo between two worlds. John, 41, a bisexual from California, said his sexual orientation makes him open-minded. For privacy reasons, he declined to give his last name.
"The world is not black or white to me, but a rich diversity of colors, and it is not either/or, but both/and," he wrote in an e-mail.
I do think that the article runs a little long. This could have been remedied by being divided up into several articles, perhaps in a series.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/06/28/bisexual.male.last.closet/?hpt=Mid
An article about bisexual men and the mystery of bisexual and gay stereotypes, including biases in the gay community itself.
I think that the article draws from good official sources, including the CDC, Emory University professors, Campus Pride and Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University.
Even Freud and Sociologist Eric Anderson are cited, arguing the thought put into understanding males who identify as bisexual.
In alignment with our reading in Freedman, who advises against leaning too heavily on "anonymous" sources, this article does so by mentioning only a first name, as in this paragraph:
Despite the skepticism from others, some bisexuals acknowledge there are upsides to their sexual orientation, even though they remain in limbo between two worlds. John, 41, a bisexual from California, said his sexual orientation makes him open-minded. For privacy reasons, he declined to give his last name.
"The world is not black or white to me, but a rich diversity of colors, and it is not either/or, but both/and," he wrote in an e-mail.
I do think that the article runs a little long. This could have been remedied by being divided up into several articles, perhaps in a series.
Joe Biden, and Objectivity in an Online World
This blog post, about Joe Biden jokingly calling a shop owner a smartass, illustrates several of the issues of objectivity that Freedman alludes to, and comments directly on whether the press should cover stories like this. I agree with the author that the Biden incident is really more of a non-story, but the press will jump on it--not necessarily because they're biased against Biden, but because it's the sort of punchy, gossipy story that easily gets readers' attention.
A problem I have with this article is that it's obviously written as commentary/editorial, but it's not distinguished very well from Salon's news coverage. I expect this to become a bigger problem as newspapers switch to online-only content. Many newspapers host blogs on their websites, which have a similar function to columns. The New York Times does a lot to ensure that its blogs look different from its news coverage, but Salon isn't as good about this. Also, it can be hard to draw a line between a blog and a newspaper--much of Salon's coverage is more opinionated and casual than that of print newspapers, but it's generally a pretty reliable and respected publication. On the other hand, one of my favorite literary blogs, The Millions, started out as one person's blog, but is now designed and written like more like a magazine. The line between the two is not only blurry, but it seems to move over time.
A problem I have with this article is that it's obviously written as commentary/editorial, but it's not distinguished very well from Salon's news coverage. I expect this to become a bigger problem as newspapers switch to online-only content. Many newspapers host blogs on their websites, which have a similar function to columns. The New York Times does a lot to ensure that its blogs look different from its news coverage, but Salon isn't as good about this. Also, it can be hard to draw a line between a blog and a newspaper--much of Salon's coverage is more opinionated and casual than that of print newspapers, but it's generally a pretty reliable and respected publication. On the other hand, one of my favorite literary blogs, The Millions, started out as one person's blog, but is now designed and written like more like a magazine. The line between the two is not only blurry, but it seems to move over time.
Monday, June 28, 2010
| 'Drug lord' pleads not guilty in US This is an article in AlJazeera. I read several AlJazeera articles and perhaps it's due to the fact that they are being translated into English but they all had a choppy, abrupt style that, interestingly, seemed to work at some points and not at others. There are many paragraph breaks, and isolated sentences, such as this excerpt: "Court papers said that drug dealers in the US regularly sent "cash and goods, including clothing and electronics to Coke as 'tribute' payments, in recognition of his leadership and assistance". The tributes also included firearms, court papers said." I feel the way this was divided up was effective: "firearms" takes on dramatic significance, as it should. Here is an example of it not being effective, in my opinion: "Coke, the alleged leader of the so-called "Shower Posse" gang, was captured by police at a road checkpoint on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, on Tuesday. He agreed to be extradited to the US on Wednesday." This divide seems random and awkward. I definitely recommend checking out AlJazeera for some of its heavily biased political articles and different style of writing! |
Having a hard day juggling study and work? This inspired me.
Coming from a tech and business background – I generally don’t get much exposure to human interest stories at work which is possibly why articles such as this strike a chord.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/03/23/for_student_mothers_reality_a_harsh_teacher/?page=full
Tracy Jan is writing a series of articles on English High, also nicknamed “Pregnant High” as 5% of the students are teenage parents. The school is under threat of closure as its rate of graduating students is below standard.
Jan sympathetically profiles the life of Jennifer Smith, a teenage single mother, parent of a rather active 2 year old.
“She had to bathe him and get him to sleep, tasks familiar to any mother. But for Smith there was added urgency... Lurking in a corner of her room behind a shoe rack was a cardboard display panel for a science project that was already late. The 18-year-old needs the project to pass chemistry, a class that she failed last year and one she cannot graduate without... Tonight was her last chance to finish”
“She says she has never regretted giving birth to Sam at age 15, yet she longs for the life of a normal high school student. She can't join any after-school clubs or play sports because she has no babysitter. She doesn't date”
Jan inserts a quote from the school’s headmaster (does this count as an official source?)
"We want to hold them to the same standards as regular students but we understand students like Jen have different needs," Duarte said of student-parents. "A lot of them forfeit their youth”
which is seamlessly woven into the article in between Smith’s story.
This article encouraged me – it reminded me how lucky I am to have the fairly carefree life I’ve been given. But it’s more than just a description of the life of a teenage mother.
Jan also artfully encourages the reader to think how far standards should be flexed to accommodate mothers such as Smith, describing the frustration of the overworked teachers and how the students (due to very legitimate circumstances) can repeatedly fail to meet standard requirements.
Jan does not conclude the article with an editorial comment or solid ending, but leaves the story open. A skilful way of encouraging the reader to think further.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/03/23/for_student_mothers_reality_a_harsh_teacher/?page=full
Tracy Jan is writing a series of articles on English High, also nicknamed “Pregnant High” as 5% of the students are teenage parents. The school is under threat of closure as its rate of graduating students is below standard.
Jan sympathetically profiles the life of Jennifer Smith, a teenage single mother, parent of a rather active 2 year old.
“She had to bathe him and get him to sleep, tasks familiar to any mother. But for Smith there was added urgency... Lurking in a corner of her room behind a shoe rack was a cardboard display panel for a science project that was already late. The 18-year-old needs the project to pass chemistry, a class that she failed last year and one she cannot graduate without... Tonight was her last chance to finish”
“She says she has never regretted giving birth to Sam at age 15, yet she longs for the life of a normal high school student. She can't join any after-school clubs or play sports because she has no babysitter. She doesn't date”
Jan inserts a quote from the school’s headmaster (does this count as an official source?)
"We want to hold them to the same standards as regular students but we understand students like Jen have different needs," Duarte said of student-parents. "A lot of them forfeit their youth”
which is seamlessly woven into the article in between Smith’s story.
This article encouraged me – it reminded me how lucky I am to have the fairly carefree life I’ve been given. But it’s more than just a description of the life of a teenage mother.
Jan also artfully encourages the reader to think how far standards should be flexed to accommodate mothers such as Smith, describing the frustration of the overworked teachers and how the students (due to very legitimate circumstances) can repeatedly fail to meet standard requirements.
Jan does not conclude the article with an editorial comment or solid ending, but leaves the story open. A skilful way of encouraging the reader to think further.
Are Cells the New Cigarettes?
Cells meaning cell phones, and the potentially harmful effects from the radiation they emit while we have them strapped to our bodies and glued to our ears much of the day.
San Francisco just became the first city in the country to pass legislation making cellphone retailers display radiation levels, and the Mayor of San Francisco talks about how much flack he received about it from telecommunications lobbyists as well as conference organizers and businesses. To quote one passage:
``The Wireless Association, which is scheduled to hold a major convention here in October 2010, has already contacted us about canceling their event if the legislation moves forward. They also have told us that they are in contact with Apple, Cisco, Oracle and others who are heavily involved in the industry, as you know, about not holding future events in your city for the same reason.''
To which the writer responds:
``They should be sending Mayor Newsom a bottle of good California wine for caring about whether kids’ brains get fried, not leaving him worried about whether they’ll avenge themselves in his campaign for lieutenant governor.''
I found this exchange (and article) interesting because of the conflict of interest it demonstrates between citizen interests (safety in this case) and profit motives of big business. Clearly they aren't always in-line. Something both of our assigned readings discussed was the danger of media conglomeration on the independent press, which needs to stay independent in order to monitor power of not only government, but powerful corporations. This article I think is a good example of why this is the case.
I remember hearing this past December that Comcast plans to purchase a 51% stake of NBC Universal, which is already just a unit of General Electric. This is about as far from press independence as you can get. Is anyone else here concerned about this trend? It seems to only be increasing.
Friday, June 25, 2010
New York's skyscrapers, and unconventional sources
For my other course, we had to read this piece about the "skyscraper boom" in New York City, and discussed the sources a bit in class--a discussion I thought might be of interest here. Besides being gorgeously written, the article uses a variety of sources that might not fly in "hard journalism"--poetry, an (unscientific but interesting) study of skyscrapers the author photographed, and a blog. All this is admissible here because the piece toes the line between feature, personal essay, and criticism. Our teacher also pointed out that many other news stories about skyscrapers had run by the time this piece came out, so Davidson's more thoughtful approach was necessary to make the piece more appealing. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how Davidson would have had to change this if it were a news piece, and also how his techniques might be integrated into our own writing.
Altargate in Sweden
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/06/20106191366543896.html
An article about the recent marriage of the Swedish crown princess is a story about feminism and equal rights for women in Sweden.
I feel that the lead could have been stronger and would have made the story that much more interesting. That said at the moment this is the most emailed piece on Al Jazeera's website at the moment.
I think the writer made very good use of direct sources. She was able to tell this story as an honest broker of the information without revealing her bias though I bet she has one.
The story is at once timely and timeless in that it uses a news event to portray an aspect of Swedish culture that I didn't even begin to know until I read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It makes me wonder how Kalle Blomquist would tell this story.
An article about the recent marriage of the Swedish crown princess is a story about feminism and equal rights for women in Sweden.
I feel that the lead could have been stronger and would have made the story that much more interesting. That said at the moment this is the most emailed piece on Al Jazeera's website at the moment.
I think the writer made very good use of direct sources. She was able to tell this story as an honest broker of the information without revealing her bias though I bet she has one.
The story is at once timely and timeless in that it uses a news event to portray an aspect of Swedish culture that I didn't even begin to know until I read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It makes me wonder how Kalle Blomquist would tell this story.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Gulf Oil Spill: Boat Captain Commits Suicide
My gosh, I am sorry to bring forth another sad post. But, at the same time, I feel that the story is worth analyzing, considering the profound effect that the BP spill has left on the region and its locals. This LA Times article explores that. I promise that I'll look for a more upbeat article, next time around.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/06/gulf-oil-spill-boat-captain-despondent-over-spill-commits-suicide.html
This is a current headline, evoking "timeliness". It also draws from a "consequence", as it is directly related to a resident from the area of the BP spill.
The sorrow has set itself so deep that a local employee has decided to end his life.
Or, so many in the article have determined.
The author mentions that an autopsy IS TO BE performed, therefore, I question if it is correct to go ahead and cite this story as something that has absolutely happened. The authorities are still investigating and no autopsy report has been seen. Has the author has been too quick to resolve the story?
While there appears to evidence and a general mood that Kruse took the action to kill himself, it is not an absolute. Is it a "hook" that an autopsy has been yet to be performed, yet it is suggested that this is a firm suicide?
What do you think?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/06/gulf-oil-spill-boat-captain-despondent-over-spill-commits-suicide.html
This is a current headline, evoking "timeliness". It also draws from a "consequence", as it is directly related to a resident from the area of the BP spill.
The sorrow has set itself so deep that a local employee has decided to end his life.
Or, so many in the article have determined.
The author mentions that an autopsy IS TO BE performed, therefore, I question if it is correct to go ahead and cite this story as something that has absolutely happened. The authorities are still investigating and no autopsy report has been seen. Has the author has been too quick to resolve the story?
While there appears to evidence and a general mood that Kruse took the action to kill himself, it is not an absolute. Is it a "hook" that an autopsy has been yet to be performed, yet it is suggested that this is a firm suicide?
What do you think?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Jim Dwyer email exchange (read from bottom to top)
On Wed, 6/23/10, Jim Dwyer wrote:
From: Jim Dwyer
Subject: Re: Journalism Student - Question on Your 6/22/10 Article Structure
To: "Annette Montalvo"
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 8:43 PM
Hi Annette (and15 others)
The answer -- quickly, since class may be ending -- is that the 2nd and 4th paragraphs were not written as a single graph. If I recall correctly, I wrote the second paragraph because the first one really didn't tell the story (though it did set the scene, and set up the kicker at the end of the column).
I didn't reveal the information about the deafness of the peddlers until the fourth paragraph because 1. Their deafness gave the story a twist, but was not the essential horror of enslavement; 2. The deafness was, nevertheless, an important detail that needed a bit of "word space," as Roy Clark of Poynter Institute would say -- that is, it could be lost in the second paragraph, describing the peddling operation. I'm always concerned that people will read over certain significant details unless they're given plenty of space and reinforced in some way. In fact, originally, I only had one sentence in the 4th graph, but added the second sentence with Gutierrez's fluency in Mexican Sign Language so that the deafness was fixed in the reader's head.
You'll notice that the detail about his current job, at the Statue of Liberty, also got its own paragraph -- a matter, again, of word space.
Finally --- a teacher of mine once said, "If you have a good story, tell it. If you have a weak story, write it."
This was a good story. I just got out the way and let it rip.
good luck
On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 7:58 PM, Annette Montalvo wrote:
Dear Mr. Dwyer:
I'm a student in a journalism class at Harvard Extension School.
Tonight we were discussing your June 22 "Descent into Slavery..." article on Jose Gutierrez, a deaf peddler. We're reading the article aloud, stopping to analyze each paragraph and the structure of the article.
Here's the class question: Were the 2nd and 4th paragraphs originally written as one nut graf? Or were they always split by the 3rd paragraph?
I thought the 2nd paragraph orignally might as read as it is now , ending with "climbing ladder..." and then straight to "Mr. Gutierrez the youngest...."
I thought the 3rd paragraph was written as is, but ending with "All of the peddlers were deaf," works effectively to surprise the reader and lure them into wanting to know more.
I raised the question in class, wondering if you changed the order on a 2nd or 3rd draft, or the editor changed it, thinking it was more effective that way. Our professor said I should email Mr. Dwyer and ask him myself.
So, can you share with our class the thought/writing process of the beginning of your article?
Looking forward to your reply,
Annette Montalvo, Journalism Student ( + another 15 students)
From: Jim Dwyer
Subject: Re: Journalism Student - Question on Your 6/22/10 Article Structure
To: "Annette Montalvo"
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 8:43 PM
Hi Annette (and15 others)
The answer -- quickly, since class may be ending -- is that the 2nd and 4th paragraphs were not written as a single graph. If I recall correctly, I wrote the second paragraph because the first one really didn't tell the story (though it did set the scene, and set up the kicker at the end of the column).
I didn't reveal the information about the deafness of the peddlers until the fourth paragraph because 1. Their deafness gave the story a twist, but was not the essential horror of enslavement; 2. The deafness was, nevertheless, an important detail that needed a bit of "word space," as Roy Clark of Poynter Institute would say -- that is, it could be lost in the second paragraph, describing the peddling operation. I'm always concerned that people will read over certain significant details unless they're given plenty of space and reinforced in some way. In fact, originally, I only had one sentence in the 4th graph, but added the second sentence with Gutierrez's fluency in Mexican Sign Language so that the deafness was fixed in the reader's head.
You'll notice that the detail about his current job, at the Statue of Liberty, also got its own paragraph -- a matter, again, of word space.
Finally --- a teacher of mine once said, "If you have a good story, tell it. If you have a weak story, write it."
This was a good story. I just got out the way and let it rip.
good luck
On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 7:58 PM, Annette Montalvo
Dear Mr. Dwyer:
I'm a student in a journalism class at Harvard Extension School.
Tonight we were discussing your June 22 "Descent into Slavery..." article on Jose Gutierrez, a deaf peddler. We're reading the article aloud, stopping to analyze each paragraph and the structure of the article.
Here's the class question: Were the 2nd and 4th paragraphs originally written as one nut graf? Or were they always split by the 3rd paragraph?
I thought the 2nd paragraph orignally might as read as it is now , ending with "climbing ladder..." and then straight to "Mr. Gutierrez the youngest...."
I thought the 3rd paragraph was written as is, but ending with "All of the peddlers were deaf," works effectively to surprise the reader and lure them into wanting to know more.
I raised the question in class, wondering if you changed the order on a 2nd or 3rd draft, or the editor changed it, thinking it was more effective that way. Our professor said I should email Mr. Dwyer and ask him myself.
So, can you share with our class the thought/writing process of the beginning of your article?
Looking forward to your reply,
Annette Montalvo, Journalism Student ( + another 15 students)
Media vs. Military
I found this NPR blog post interesting.
As we've seen in today's news and countless other times throughout history, a story can have massive political ramifications...but what is less immediately apparent is the effect this has on journalists, many of whom now fear that they will have LESS access to sensitive areas like the military moving forward. Reporters have to walk a fine line in times of war without the military being especially afraid of a PR disaster like this one occurring again. Do you guys think that the author of the Rolling Stone piece should have done anything differently, given that he must have known that his piece would make huge waves in Washington? Theoretically he was just doing his job, and doing it well, uncovering an interesting story about the highest in command...but what about the journalists who are left to suffer the consequences? Should we see this as just a commonplace issue that journalists have to deal with in their line of work?
As we've seen in today's news and countless other times throughout history, a story can have massive political ramifications...but what is less immediately apparent is the effect this has on journalists, many of whom now fear that they will have LESS access to sensitive areas like the military moving forward. Reporters have to walk a fine line in times of war without the military being especially afraid of a PR disaster like this one occurring again. Do you guys think that the author of the Rolling Stone piece should have done anything differently, given that he must have known that his piece would make huge waves in Washington? Theoretically he was just doing his job, and doing it well, uncovering an interesting story about the highest in command...but what about the journalists who are left to suffer the consequences? Should we see this as just a commonplace issue that journalists have to deal with in their line of work?
Headlines and Journalistic Differences Across the Pond?
When reading or listening to U.K. news reports (namely the BBC), I tend to notice a difference in the way things are presented vs. in U.S. media, especially with regard to the headline or the lead-in. For example, immediately following Obama's meeting with General McChrystal today, the BBC website homepage read something along the lines of "Fate of U.S. Commander Uncertain" while the Boston Globe and the New York Times tended more towards neutral headlines on the story, like: "Obama's Meeting with McChrystal Concludes." Half an hour later, when the news broke that McChrystal had been fired, the U.K. media was direct: "Obama Fires U.S. Afghan Commander," while the U.S. media was again more gentle in tone: "Obama Relieves McChrystal of Command." These are somewhat tame recent examples (vs. more extreme examples that sometimes arise) of what I tend to see as a trend in the way the top U.K. media presents its stories vs. the way the top U.S. media does the same. I am not sure if I prefer one over the other, but it gets me thinking about how journalism takes different forms based on culture and nationality.
Taking yourself out of the equation
I read a couple articles in the New York Times--"Obama says Health Law Shouldn't Be Excuse to Raise Rates" and an opinion piece "Faustus Makes a Deal" and was struck by the former's lack of any characterization, any presence of an authorial voice, and an excessive presence of that voice in the latter. The latter was written by David Brooks, whom I have seen speak on television, so I could hear his voice quite literally as I read this biting, satirical piece. It was the first, however, that daunted me--I've never removed myself completely from my writing; I've done the opposite, I've infused myself, poured myself into it until it's almost second nature to me to do that. I feel that it will be a significant challenge for me to effectively remove myself from my writing in this class and hope that I am not the only one facing that particular challenge!
Journalism on the T
As I was riding the T home on Monday night, I thought about who I would choose for my journalist project. I concluded that I would try to find a sports journalist and preferably someone who covers horse racing. It won't be easy even in Boston. Horse racing is dying in many ways and I can't help but wonder if it isn't in part because the newspapers no longer cover it with any regularity on the sports page.
Last night, back in the T station, I happened to see the sports page from yesterday's Boston Globe. The front page had a half page size photo of Roger Federer running for a shot and below it this piece by Bud Collins. I happened to watch part of this match in which Federer, tennis's premier participant for the past 6 years or so, came within an inch or so of the biggest loss of his career.
Federer is on the back end of his career and every time he plays I wonder, "How much longer?". It is a slow playing drama unfolding. The match offered so many different levels of intrigue for a fan like me. I think Collins captured all of this so masterfully. He too is on the back end of his career and every time I stumble on something he has written, I marvel at his art.
But I want to find a horse racing journalist. Hopefully I find some clues the next time I take the T.
Last night, back in the T station, I happened to see the sports page from yesterday's Boston Globe. The front page had a half page size photo of Roger Federer running for a shot and below it this piece by Bud Collins. I happened to watch part of this match in which Federer, tennis's premier participant for the past 6 years or so, came within an inch or so of the biggest loss of his career.
Federer is on the back end of his career and every time he plays I wonder, "How much longer?". It is a slow playing drama unfolding. The match offered so many different levels of intrigue for a fan like me. I think Collins captured all of this so masterfully. He too is on the back end of his career and every time I stumble on something he has written, I marvel at his art.
But I want to find a horse racing journalist. Hopefully I find some clues the next time I take the T.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
What do you think?
http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2010/06/office_chair_en.html
This article, posted on Boston.com today, made me wonder about what's journalism, and what isn't. Is this article news? An advertisement? Humor? I must confess, that I personally have found desk chair envy to be alive and well in the workplace for reasons of both comfort and status. But I feel the references to celebrity chair-envy sound like creative license on the part of the author. And, I wonder, is one info source enough?
This article, posted on Boston.com today, made me wonder about what's journalism, and what isn't. Is this article news? An advertisement? Humor? I must confess, that I personally have found desk chair envy to be alive and well in the workplace for reasons of both comfort and status. But I feel the references to celebrity chair-envy sound like creative license on the part of the author. And, I wonder, is one info source enough?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-for-profit-schools-20100622,0,7976025,full.story
Here is a crushing article describing a recent class action lawsuit that former students have filed against their school. It turns out that the school in which these students were able to achieve financial aid and internships has made promises that were inaccurate to its abilities. These angered students are now in debt and out the time they invested in their new future.
I feel that the last paragraph that writer Cynthia Dizikes paints is the most somber.
Here is a clip:
Staring at a couple of withered Mother's Day balloons on a recent evening, Parnell blinked back tears. She has begun the search for a certified nursing assistant program, but after spending the last two months waking up at 4 a.m. to get to her externship by 7 a.m., she said she doesn't want to lose more time with her one-year-old son.
"There was this window of time," Parnell said. "And I feel like I got nowhere."
Although I would not want to be in Parnell's situation, I feel that the writer of the article does a fine job drawing the reader in to the scene. I can see the half-inflated balloons as Parnell discusses her path ahead. I almost wanted to shout out 'Injustice!" after completing the article. I'm now engaged, and I'll keep reading future articles to follow the story.
Here is a crushing article describing a recent class action lawsuit that former students have filed against their school. It turns out that the school in which these students were able to achieve financial aid and internships has made promises that were inaccurate to its abilities. These angered students are now in debt and out the time they invested in their new future.
I feel that the last paragraph that writer Cynthia Dizikes paints is the most somber.
Here is a clip:
Staring at a couple of withered Mother's Day balloons on a recent evening, Parnell blinked back tears. She has begun the search for a certified nursing assistant program, but after spending the last two months waking up at 4 a.m. to get to her externship by 7 a.m., she said she doesn't want to lose more time with her one-year-old son.
"There was this window of time," Parnell said. "And I feel like I got nowhere."
Although I would not want to be in Parnell's situation, I feel that the writer of the article does a fine job drawing the reader in to the scene. I can see the half-inflated balloons as Parnell discusses her path ahead. I almost wanted to shout out 'Injustice!" after completing the article. I'm now engaged, and I'll keep reading future articles to follow the story.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Welcome to our blog
Welcome to the class blog for Journalism Pro Seminar, Summer 2010 edition. This is a live blog, visible to others outside the class. All students have been sent invites to become contributing writers. Please reply to this invite and start posting! There are set assignments in the syllabus. You can also post commentary on news stories you have read (be sure to enclose the link to the full story) or further discuss topics we've discussed in class.
In addition to original posts, feel free to comment on your classmates posts as well. But remember, rules of civility apply. Agree or disagree, challenge each other, but remember, comment on the substance of the post, not the poster.
In addition to original posts, feel free to comment on your classmates posts as well. But remember, rules of civility apply. Agree or disagree, challenge each other, but remember, comment on the substance of the post, not the poster.
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