A terrific -- but hardly typical -- holiday story

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/nyregion/30trees.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&nl=nyregion&emc=ura3

In today's New York Times, there was an unusual holiday story. It was about a couple who donated one of their trees to Rockefeller Center.

Actually, I was relieved to read this story. I thought I was the only person who had an emotional attachment to a tree -- only mine was a birch, not an evergreen.

Will the real Lizzie Borden please stand up?

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2010/11/28/the_real_lizzie_borden/

Fall River, Mass. museum curators have written their own definitive work on who was the real Lizzie Borden. Like the piece John wrote for Halloween, Lizzie Borden, dead now for 83 years, still haunts the legends of her home town. Martin and his writing partner make a valiant effort to rehabilitate Borden's tarnished image, but perhaps all secrets ultimately get buried with the dead.

"Casino" in police college

It's interesting to see how different newspapers write about the same press conference. Today, a police story caught my eyes - it is quite amusing, in contrast to the usual serious and straightforward crime stories. It talked about police setting up a mock casino in the police school, to arm the policemen with knowledge on gambling games so that they could tackle illegal gambling more effectively.

I read the same story in three local English dailies. Two played up the mini casino angle while one focused on a "guide on violent crime probe" instead.

(Background: Muslims are forbidden to gamble in their religion so people would be very curious to know why is there a "casino" to teach the policemen, who are mostly Malays and therefore Muslims, to "gamble".)

The three leads are:

(The Star)

There is a mini casino in the Cheras police college but don't bet on catching policemen gambling for real.

The mock casino is actually a training ground for policemen to wise up the ways of gamblers and cheats.

(Malay Mail)

Illegal gamblers beware as "gambling experts" will be watching you.

However, these "experts" actually comprise several trained police officers under the newly formed Gambling Prevention Training Laboratory.

The formation of the was (sic) set up to combat illegal gambling activities.

(NST)

The nation's top cop yesterday unveiled the new manual for investigating violent crime such as rape, murder and armed robbery.

... and somewhere in the middle of the story...

Besides the manual, Ismail also launched a mock casino designed to train police officers involved in cracking down on illegal gambling.

***

In terms of grabbing the readers' attention, I would say The Star has done the trick. Everyone - gambler or not - would would want to know why there is a casino in police college, while Malay Mail's story is somewhat directed at "illegal gamblers" only. And NST? Just another police story.

I'd pick The Star as the best story for it is most detailed. It brought in the guide on violent crime probe later while Malay Mail didn't mention it at all. The Star also quoted Inspector-General of Police on his confidence in his men (that they would not abuse their knowledge in gambling):

"Insya Allah (God willing), they will know their responsibilities and will not go against their badge," he said.

Speaking of quotes, I also noticed that both The Star and NST have similar quotes with slightly different wording.

(The Star)

"To catch a thief, we need to think like a thief," said Inspector-General of Police.

(Malay Mail)

"There is a proverb: 'To catch a thief, you need to be a thief'. This concept also applies here. Every year, the Royal Malaysian Police organises courses to train 'gambling experts' among selected police officers."

My guess is that the reporters translated and paraphrased the quotes, which is a common practice here.

unusual article on thanksgiving time

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/nyregion/21citycritic.html?hpw

The story is about the reporter who goes to a factory farm to slaughter her own turkey and how disgusted she feels about the process. I commend the writer's guts to have written a profound piece like that in this 'festive' time, although thanksgiving is traditionally a celebration of harvest.

Sadly, a movieland pot-boiler

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/us/17publicist.html?scp=2&sq=ronni%20chasen&st=cse



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/ronni-chasen-slaying.html



http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/source-chasen-killing-planned-camera-47151


The murder of Los Angeles-based publicist Ronni Chasen reads like a mystery script; sadly, though, it is the tragic story of a real person.
The coverage is fascinating. The New York Times gives the story a sort of business-angle edge; the LA Times paints it as uber-cop-shop.
This should be the LA Times' story, but it seems like the movie-industry publications are really doing the digging. (Links above)

Similar Viewpoints by Different Sources in the Guantanamo Acquital story

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/nyregion/18ghailani.html?ref=us

Though the news article reports the acquittal of someone accused of a terrorist conspiracy and even expounds upon the intricacies of the case, an underlying theme/viewpoint is established via the commonality in the subject of quotes. This kind of thing establishes coherency and better flow in the story. I personally find it very interesting when I am interviewing two completely different people and they draw almost identical conclusions.

---------------------------------------------

1.) “This verdict is a reaffirmation that this nation’s judicial system is the greatest ever devised,” Mr. Quijano said outside the courthouse. “It is truly a system of laws and not men, where, in the shadow of the World Trade Center, this jury acquitted Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani of 284 out of 285 counts.”

2.) Judge Kaplan told the jurors they had demonstrated that “American justice can be rendered calmly, deliberately and fairly by ordinary people, people who are not beholden to any government, not even ours.”

“It can be rendered with fidelity to the Constitution,” he added. “You have a right to be proud of your service in this case.”

Descriptive Writing

When our guest speaker Constance Hale was reading out the passage (that many of us didn't quite like), I thought of a book I read a few years ago. It's by Merlinda Bobis from the Philippines. I remember struggling with the book because it was TOO descriptive. I like descriptive writing in general but felt hers was over the top.

I am going to share a passage here, from her book "Banana Heart Summer":

Once upon a time, the bittermelon was sweet and not frowning. It was a shiny, smooth green of the palest hue, with no creases at all. It was a fruit, not a vegetable. It was served for dessert. It was sweeter than mangoes but less fleshy, and it was lean with character; it did not give in too easily to the teeth. People ate it as they would eat corn, gnawing around and around the elongated green flesh, crunchy and sugary sweet, till it was naked, white and vulnerable-looking; a collection of teeth marks. Thus exposed, it became ashamed of itself. Time and again, it worried that its underbelly, with such a savage imprint, would be seen by human eyes and judged. So it began to flinch each time it came in contact with teeth, any stripping teeth for that matter. And each time it flinched, its smooth skin tightened, creased a bit, like a worried forehead. Then each time it worried, its sweetness diminished and an acrid taste crept in its place. With this shifting flavor came a change in color: it slowly darkened. By the time it turned a deep frowning jade, it was struck out of the dessert list. It had become a bitter vegetable, fallen out of favor with most palates, pushed to the culinary fringe.

It's well crafted, no doubt. But I felt it's not for light reading; I had to really focus on the words and process them to fully understand the story.

ny times writes about its own story!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/technology/15pulse.html

This story is very close to my heart because it involves my brother-in-law, Akshay Kothari. He co-built an app for ipad which became top selling app and was featured by Steve Jobs in his conference. New York Times had got into a controversy with the app builders with the argument that Pulse (name of the app)-a news reader- featured it among other news sources without its permission which apparently drove traffic away from its website. As the app is an RSS reader it is totally valid to feature anything in public domain including nytimes. Pulse's supporters voiced against nytimes and ultimately Pulse was back on Apple products.

I was surprised to find hints of this story within the linked story which reaffirms a positive win of journalism- to exclude its management from editorial side!

Immigration stories by state

Since my final story is about illegal immigration, particularly in Boston, I have been much more aware of this issue and its coverage in the media. It seems to be a perennial issue, but one with no consensus or resolution. Perhaps it is one that needs neither and has simply become fodder for sensational news stories?

The coverage ranges from Arizona to Massachusetts...and just about everything in between.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/opinion/17friedman.html?hp

Thomas Friedman's column in today's New York Times, "Too good to check," is pertinent to last week's discussion in class about the role of journalists, and the importance of checking facts and sources. The rumor that Obama's Asia trip would cost $200 million a day travelled far before being checked and debunked by Anderson Cooper/CNN, after Minnesota Republican Michele Bachman stated as fact the projected expense on his show. But the rumor had already spread through the web.

Friedman nails the significant damage this kind of "journalism" can do:

"When widely followed public figures feel free to say anything, without any fact-checking, we have a problem. It becomes impossible for a democracy to think intelligently about big issues — deficit reduction, health care, taxes, energy/climate — let alone act on them. Facts, opinions and fabrications just blend together. But the carnival barkers that so dominate our public debate today are not going away — and neither is the Internet."

But I am skeptical that his concluding hope (below) will come to pass.

"All you can hope is that more people will do what Cooper did — so when the next crazy lie races around the world, people’s first instinct will be to doubt it, not repeat it."

I think it is significant, considering our discussion last week, that Friedman does not expect readers to check facts. Readers are unlikely to have the information or contacts to be able to do an accurate fact check.

Maybe I'm missing something here

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/sarah-palin-refudiate_b16867

‘Refudiate’ Named Word of the Year
By Jason Boog on November 15, 2010 4:20 PM

New Oxford American Dictionary has picked ‘Refudiate’ as the 2010 Word of the Year. Other words on the shortlist included crowdsourcing , gleek, retweet, and Tea Party.

This is the opening of the story that is linked to above.

It's great to see this publication believes English is a living language that evolves.

But I found it ironic that no definition was given for the Word of the Year.

LA Times versus Boston Globe - Rangel Story

The tension and drama of the situation is heightened through the quotations in the LA Times story reporting the same thing as the Boston Globe. Both stories seem effective; however, the LA times story has a larger emphasis on quotes.

I pasted the end of both stories and the link. It is easy to see the difference in the tone of both just from the last two paragraphs of each story. The LA Times version of this same story is significantly more loaded than the Boston Globe one.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/11/16/rangel_walks_out_as_house_ethics_trial_begins/

“I see no evidence of corruption,’’ Chisam said in response to questions from Democratic lawmakers. Noting that sloppiness is not an excuse for breaking the rules, he described Rangel as “overzealous in many of the things he did.’’

After Rangel’s walkout, his office issued a statement saying he will not resign and will move forward with his legislative work.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rangel-trial-20101116,0,5314269.story

"I see no evidence of corruption," Chisam responded, adding: "Do I believe, based on this record, that Congressman Rangel took steps to enrich himself based on his position in Congress? I do not. I believe that the congressman, quite frankly, was overzealous in many of the things that he did, and at least sloppy in his personal finances."

"So you're saying, then, sir, that sloppiness is a defense?" asked Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R- Texas) several minutes later.

"I don't believe it's a defense at all," the chief counsel responded. "In fact, I believe that it's a violation of the rules."

Canned quotes are pure mush

In this article on the Concord Patch,

http://concord.patch.com/articles/verrill-farm-harvest-festival-raises-12000-for-emerson-hospital-pediatrics

The topic of this article is in the headline, and the article is clearly a press release. The single quote is hollow and ineffective. I have written many a press release myself, having worked for small nonprofits for the last twenty years, and boy is my face red. Wish I had taken this course a long time ago. The (yawn) quote is below.

"How can we possibly express our gratitude to Steve and Joan Verrill for what they have done for pediatric patients at Emerson," said Kay Liebmann, nurse manager of Emerson Hospital's pediatric intervention team. "Any words we might say seem inadequate."

"How do we thank two people for giving so much of themselves to benefit the emotional well-being of the children of our community? On behalf of all the children who come to Emerson and the staff who care for them, we offer our appreciation and sincere gratitude."

Quotes Frame Story

Quote directly following lede:

"It was very clear that Kendrick Morris was as guilty as hell," jury foreman Robin Richter told the St. Petersburg Times.

End of Story:

Richter says she's an animal advocate who prefers to focus on furry creatures than human ones.

"The more that I learn about people, the more I'm disappointed in humans," she said

http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/jury-foreman-calls-kendrick-morris-guilty-as-hell/1126456

---------------------------------

The journalist has used the words of this juror (Robin Richter) to frame her entire story. Richter's spoken words reveal critical plot info ---- the fact that Morris is guilty, but his insertion of "guilty as hell" is very powerful. Also, his words placed in the last line are a very apt ending to a story reporting someone's guilt of a heinous rape. The story almost ends with a formulated conclusion. It ends with a the judgement passed about humans as a whole (Richter's words). But this is done without the journalist actually generating a conclusion herself. Conclusion: Quotes can be incredibly powerful!

NH Murder Case Sentencing-Steven Spader

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/11/spader_jury_is.html?p1=News_links

This article used very descriptive revealing quotes to really carry the story. The writer really found some pointed quotes that described the atmosphere in the courtroom, the night of the horrific crime and the psychotic behavior of the convicted murder Steven Spader.

Spader was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and attempted murder of a Kimberly Cates and her 11-year-old daughter, Jaimie in their New Hampshire home. Spader and his accomplices broke into the home in the middle of the night. Spader woke the mother and daughter up by stabbing them repeatedly with a machete.

Quotes from article really bring together the feelings of the court: "The judge told Spader she wanted "to make sure you stay in that cage for the rest of your pointless life.''"

"I could go on for days and days about the depths of your depravity,'' Abramson said from the bench. "It's sufficient to say you belong in a cage.''

"She has had to witness more evil in this world than any human being,'' her father said. He said she has undergone numerous surgeries, some of which has left her body with scarring. "The emotional scarring she has felt is immeasurable at this point.''

Some Quotes

1. One of LeVine's pictures, later presented in court, showed Morrison with his hand near the crotch of his pants. ''Never saw him expose himself, though,'' LeVine said.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/09/1917262/fla-clemency-board-considers-pardon.html#ixzz14tGMRmRv

This quote just works because it plays off of the picture and it illustrates that there is doubt as to the nature of the incident in question. It’s also short and funny which is important in piece that is light in nature.

2. “I was up at 3:30 in the morning working on this," says Siffin, who has cropped gray hair, intense gray eyes, and wears a striped green shirt with a tightly knotted tie. "It's been driving me nuts."

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-11-04/news/mark-siffin-times-square-in-miami/

This quote is just great. It doesn’t provide the reader with any substantive information. It’s there to give a sense of character and place. I also like quotes that work in two parts. Here you have an initial quote, a description, and then a finishing quote.

3. Even Mr. Sanford concedes he was “very, very close” to resigning. “I wanted to curl up,” he said. “I wanted to go down to my farm in Beaufort County and never see another TV for the rest of my life.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/us/politics/10sanford.html?_r=1&hp

This quote look good in the article, but now that I look at it in the abstract it looks even better. The quote gives a vivid description of the subject’s feelings. The execution is great as well. I like how it separated “I wanted to curl up,” and then went on to another quote. It would seem that the quotes may have been close in time, but that may not be case.

Credit and a Look at the Editing Process

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/wapo-rips-off-two-stories-media-writer-says-it-doesnt-matter_b24792?sms_ss=gmail&at_xt=4cda824298cc8011,0

Above is a link to a story that details how credit was left out of a Washington Post story. This is the kind of story that sets reporters' teeth on edge -- because when things go wrong in the editing process, the reporter's name is still on the piece.

Effective quotes...for different reasons

1) “This is a verdict for justice,” Dr. Petit said afterward. “The defendant faces far more serious punishment from the Lord than he can ever face from mankind.”

From:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/nyregion/09cheshire.html?ref=todayspaper

2) “The Department of Homeland Security has done a horrible job of, one, explaining the policy; two, explaining the implementation process; and three, explaining the local jurisdictional role,” said Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, who has urged the state not to join the program. “It doesn’t inspire confidence.”

From:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/nyregion/10secure.html?ref=nyregion

These are bold, direct, evocative words and paraphrasing them would weaken the article.

3) Bush seemed eager to explain himself on the use of waterboarding, which simulates drowning, as a method of interrogation. He said he personally approved use of the tactic on Khalid Sheik Mohammed, a plotter of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, adding that when he was told that it and other harsh interrogation techniques were legal, he ordered: "Use 'em."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/08/AR2010110807347.html

The brevity of this last quote is effective and set up by the journalist's explanation and paraphrasing. The choice of direct quotes is powerful, if for no other reason than because they utilize Bush's exact words and, in doing so, illustrate the picture of an over-simplified, even ignorant, approach to a complex issue.

Quotable Quotes!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/science/space/10galaxy.html?_r=1&hp

What stood out to me in the quotes in this article from scientists is their light nature. While some were like one/few word quotes: "They're big" and "Wow;" the ones that I like most are: “This shows again that the universe is full of surprises,” and “I have failed to find dark matter, but I got a very pleasant consolation prize!” The quote about surprises shows that some unexpected/unfathomable phenomenon has occurred in the universe. The quote about consolation prize in the humorous vein struck me because of the analogy and the fact that it is coming from a space scientist!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/world/asia/10prexy.html?hpw

I feel this article could have been split into Obama's Indonesia visit considering he spent his childhood there and international relations. I like the closing quote wherein Obama hints on "disadvantage" of being a celebrity! “Now,” Mr. Obama said, “as president I can’t even see all the traffic because they block all the streets.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/us/10gibbs.html?hp

This is an example of lack of quotes in a sensitive story. I was surprised there was only one quote in this 650-word article. When we are told that quotes add life to a story, the only quote in this one is from army investigator justifying why Army had not interviewed Afghan villagers after killings: “strategic consequences that puts people at risk.” The quote is a typical diplomatic one which doesn't say much either.

The Boston Phoenix on the rally to restore sanity

Oh, Phoenix, you had me at "pre-flight spliff the size of a tampon..."

Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

The different approaches to this story are somewhat wide-ranging and interesting.

The BBC story struck me as the most effective. It is informative, pithy and straight forward, with a video of first hand coverage to supplement the written article. I didn't wade through any convoluted descriptions or explanations. The format was appropriate for this kind of story.

The AHN version is shorter, but more long-winded, in some ways, and doesn't offer as much in the way of information. A map of Port-au-Prince is offered, but there is no video.

I had difficulty getting through the entire Haiti Libre take on the story. It is wordy and I lost interest halfway through the lede. Although it offers much of the same factual evidence, I wasn't as interested in finishing the story and I couldn't retain what I had read when I finally did.

As a writer who tends to use flowery language and verbiage, I'm appreciating the simpler and more straightforward nature of well-written news articles. I still have a lot to learn in this area.

Who Cares About 58 People Being Shot in a Church

Below is New York Times article about the church Mascre in Iraq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/world/middleeast/02iraq.html?pagewanted=all

The piece starts with a punch, but it lost momentum as I read on. Even though the story was interesting I just stopped reading. I think the sentence structure is too contrived and unnatural and thus makes it hard to read. Also, the structure and layout of the article is a bit annoying. I feel the piece is just throwing information at me.

On the other hand, a Boston Globe article on the same mascre just flows better and is easier to read. The link is below.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2010/11/01/baghdad_church_siege_ends_with_52_dead/

This article just draws you in with its intial description. It just flows and provides information and quotes without loosing the reader. Furthermore, the layout is much better and one is not distracted by pictures.

That being said, what really got to me is the lack of coverage of the matter altogether. I think 58 people killed in a catholic church is a big deal. It is an affront to all western civilization. However, media coverage is minimal.

This is a story that should have been covered in all its brutal detail. People need to see what this kind of violence is about. The media should show the death and destruction in all its horror. It seems to me that the media is just staying away from this story.

If you really want to get their attention all you have to do is burn a few Korans in your back yard. After all, another 58 people killed in Iraq is no big deal.

Elegant craft

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/11/07/bruised_but_emboldened_patrick_maps_road_ahead/?p1=News_links

Describing Governor Patrick's attitude going into his next term, Globe writers Frank Philips and Michael Levenson use quotes gracefully and cogently to illustrate and cap each point in the article.

(Interestingly, the nut graf is in the headline: "Bruised but emboldened, Patrick maps road ahead." Surely these seasoned reports worked closely with the headline writer in this one.)

The article begins by reminding readers about Patrick's plan in 2007, at the dawn of his first term, to use the grassworks network he had built so effectively during his campaign. Legislators did not like the way Patrick's supporters leaned on them, however, and Patrick backed off. Not this time. Here is the quote:

"I'm not going to listen to that. That's democracy," Patrick said. "And if that's a problem for people, get over it."

Later in the article, Philips and Levenson cover fallout from the campaign. After describing the past relationship between Baker and Patrick, including the fact that Patrick had once asked Baker to be his running mate, the current relationship is wrapped up succinctly with the following from Patrick:

“Charlie’s a prominent, engaged business person,’’ he said. “I’m sure our paths will cross.’’

Pressed to elaborate on the tensions that developed during the campaign, he said: “I have the whole range of human feelings. I just don’t need to comment on all of them publicly."

’Patrick's quote on the gambling issue forms most of the paragraph on this issue, because it requires almost no framing or context:

...because “all the air goes out’’ of Beacon Hill when gambling is being considered. “Nothing else happens,’’ he said. "I still think a limited expansion of gaming, in the destination-resort setting, is good for Massachusetts,’’ Patrick said. “But I’ve got some other stuff I want to move on."

In this disappointing season for Democrats, Patrick offered the following advice for Democrats in future campaigns:

“If there’s a role I can play in encouraging other candidates to run like they’re willing to lose, and to lead like they’re willing to lose reelection, then I’m glad to do that,’’ Patrick said. “But, again, consistent with my day job.’’

This article is well worth reading to get a good lesson in effective use of quotes. It helps, of course, to interview a person who speaks as eloquently as Patrick.

Quote of the day: New York Times Style

On Thursday, The New York Times posted the quintissential quote, AP Style: "Now, I'm not recommending for every future president that they take a shellacking like I did last night. You know, I'm sure there are easier ways to learn these lessons." [President Obama discussing Tuesday's election results.] Like a snapshot, these two sentences resonate with sentiment and tell a story. No paraphrasing here, just the facts. You know immediately which way the election went.

But to the Times credit, the daily quotation box is not reserved solely for power brokers or notable names. Take today's quote: "The government says we are bad for the animals, but I was born here and the animals were born here, and we have lived together very well." Gana Taoxaga, a Bushman in Botswana. [A1, 'For Some Bushmen, A Homeland Worth the Fight']. Who knew there was contention with the indigenous peoples of central Botswana? But thanks to the Times, this silent sadness now has front page coverage on a worldwide stage. If it weren't for the pullout quote, I would have missed the story.

Thank you New York Times for bringing us back into the wider world. Yes, there is life beyond the rabid realm of U.S. politics.

In honor of yesterday's elections

Sound bytes are vitally important in today's political spectrum. I thought it would be interesting to examine headlines relating to the election results, and how they might provide evidence of the paper's leanings.

I chose this angle because I noticed some interesting headlines on the New York Times political section. For example:

"In Republican Victories, Tide Turns Starkly"

Stark is a harsh-sounding, very memorable word. It has associations in English with madness and sudden, potentially unwanted change. It's rarely used in a positive light, even if its use here doesn't technically break objectivity.

"Tea Party Comes to Power on an Unclear Mandate"

Again, there's nothing here that can't be defended. However, it's a stark contrast (hah!) from the Tea Party's oft-repeated claims of what they stand for (small government, reduced spending, etc.).

"G.O.P. Leaders Vow to Repeal Health Care Law"

This one is interesting because it's next to a picture of a very glum President Obama. Rather than pin blame on him (like, say, the WSJ headline, "Obama Takes Blame for Losses") the onus on on the GOP. Now, if you opposed Obamacare, that headline might make you ecstatic. But I assume a large part of the New York Times readership (myself included) was not particularly happy with last night's election results.

Quote Abuse

My brother, always one to broaden my political horizons, brought this Michael Gerson column in the Washington Post to my notice because he thinks Gerson correctly identifies Obama's problem: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/18/AR2010101803778.html?nav=hcmodule

Gerson quotes Obama, and then unpacks the quote. Here is the quotation and context:

"Part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now," he recently told a group of Democratic donors in Massachusetts, "and facts and science and argument [do] not seem to be winning the day all the time is because we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared. And the country is scared."

I took issue with Gerson (and my brother) because Gerson goes on to create an argument entirely based on "us" and "them": Obama is a "neocortical" snob out of touch with everyone else and dismissing the general population as "reptilian." Gerson takes two sentences from Obama's mouth and imbues them with horrendous meaning that Obama could not possibly have intended. This is a classic case of quote abuse.

Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear Article by Wash Po.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/30/AR2010103001573.html

Since I myself attended this rally, I was curious how it would be covered in the media. A lot of papers and outlet stayed away from covering it but the Washington Post covered it in a very neutral way. The discussed it from a very logistical, factual stand point and did include quotes that helped give a sense of the mood in the crowd. A lot of what was discussed was the transportation situation and crowds. One of the most visible aspect of the rally was the clever signs and I thought the Post did a good job of covering what was said and written. I think its hard to say if it was biased or not because it was written from the rally-goers perspective. It was an article that definitely captured the tone of the rally and the people that attended it.

Some good quotes:

"I find it incredibly ironic," says Jim Neimeier, who drove to Washington from Wisconsin for the event, "that I had to come to a rally sponsored by a comedian to get at the truth."

"This is the most American thing I've ever done!" a young man screamed into a plastic megaphone, handed out by Comedy Central.

"There's so many people out there who are easily distracted," said the 39-year-old doctor. "And there are people who are yelling and screaming and protesting and they don't even know what they're talking about."

"I do vote," says Teddi Fishman, 46, the director of the Center for Academic Integrity in Clemson, S.C. "But more than entertainment or politics, I just think this is a release for everyone. We've had so much tension."

Timely Halloween and UNICEF Halloween Fundraiser-Good Use of Quotes

Schoolteacher created Halloween UNICEF Fundraiser http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/30/AR2010103003751.html?waporef=obinsite

I thought this article was timely because Halloween was last weekend and because the founder, Mary Emma Allison, of the very successful UNICEF Halloween Fundraiser also just died at the age of 93. I think the article uses quotes from her family members effectively and shows the strength of a woman and the culture of kindness and paying it forward she created with her family, community and the country. I like the quotes that show that the widespread success of the program was a huge surprise to Allison. It's clear she was doing this from the heart and encouraging children to use Halloween as a positive day to help others in need.

"We didn't know the idea was catching on until money started coming in to UNICEF," the Allisons' daughter, Mickey, said Saturday. "I was so proud of the money in my container," Mickey Allison said. "We loved the whole idea of trick-or-treating. We dressed like kids from other countries because they were the ones we were collecting money for."

I just felt the article really captured the essence of a woman who really dedicated her life to children and charity and the quotes show how her legacy was created and carried on by her children.

Language and details

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/world/middleeast/03iraq.html?hpw

I was amazed at how a news piece like this about terrorist attacks in Baghdad was presented with powerful verbs and details.

The lede itself incorporates actions like "unleash" and "thwart'." Lede: "Insurgents unleashed attacks across Baghdad on Tuesday night, setting off more than a dozen coordinated bombs in a bloody declaration of their ability to thwart the government’s efforts to secure Iraq’s largest and most important city."

Facts follow in the nutgraf succeeded by a succinct quote from a victim, "It was just storm and fire," with details like he was stirring his tea when he was "hurled" into the air.

In addition to putting forth various sides of the story through victim, civilians, government; the article includes descriptions for a grim news story I seldom find. For instance, ""security was teetering," "jockeying" and "sheen of normalcy." To mention that it was a clear and mild evening and that to word it as the explosions "sent people flying" sort of distracted me from the serious development.

So who is 'The Media'?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/business/media/01carr.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss



http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10306/1099880-153.stm

With Election Day here, it's sort of the calm before the storm, and so it's time to flog or defend "The Media" to fill up some news space until some real news comes along.(Links above.)

My question in all this is, who exactly is this "Media" that everyone seems to expound on so expertly?

Is it the women on The View? Two comedians, an actress, a reporter and person with a line of clothes on QVC?

Is it Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, both of whom are comedians?

Is it Oprah? (Often forgotten that she actually did start out in TV news.)

When I use the term "media," I'm referring to professional reporters, photographers and editors -- but I'm not sure that's the current popular definition.