Remember the BP Oil Spill?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11620902%22%3Ehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11620902

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/25/AR2010102500869.html


BP CEO Bob Dudley addressed a lobbyist group in London today. His speech centered on rebuilding the company's image in the United States.



Above are two links to coverage of the story. The first is from the BBC; the second from AP. I found it interesting that one story is straight business coverage targeted toward a UK audience, while the other is meant for U.S. readers and takes in a lot more cultural controversy.

Great Story with Direct Lede

$18 Million to Man Wrongly Imprisoned

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/nyregion/20award.html

A Bronx man who was imprisoned for more than two decades on a rape conviction before being cleared by DNA evidence was awarded $18.5 million by a jury on Tuesday.

This story almost speaks for itself, so a direct lede was definitely the way to go. I have come to realize that the choice between a direct or delayed lede often times depends on what the story is. This kind of news seems like it would be an automatic hook and therefore, it may not be too beneficial to come up with some other content to place in the first sentence.

Anita Hill V. Clarence Thomas...19 years later.

This story about Virginia Thomas demanding an apology from Anita Hill nearly two decades after the sexual harassment scandal is ubiquitous. I have found three very different stories about it, all utilizing similar facts and even exact quotes.

The CNN one focuses on the 1991 case and reignites the feud between Hill and Thomas.

The Yahoo! AP story focuses on the phone call itself, the strange timing of it and Hill's aversion to the press.

Finally, the Christian Science Monitor gives an inordinate amount of attention to Virginia Thomas and her political pursuits, which seem to nearly overshadow the harassment issue or even the phone call to Hill.

What is the news media forgot to report the facts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/us/politics/19taxes.html?ref=todayspaper

"What if a president cut Americans’ income taxes by $116 billion and nobody noticed? It is not a rhetorical question. " This is the strong lede in a story about the tax cut hidden in the stimulus package. We are told that the Obama administration intended this piece of the legislation fly under the radar, so that the additional cash would be spent and not saved in order to help to stimulate the economy. But no where in the article is a key piece of information. What was the news media's culpability in this? Why were so few Americans unaware of the reduction in their withholding?

SLAMMER

I was shocked when I saw a publication called Slammer at a gas station next to my office. The link is below:

http://www.slammernews.com/palm_beach_co_fl.htm

The link is to the Palm Beach edition. The edition I saw was the Broward County edition. The cover stated “first issue. COLLECTIBLE!” I bought a copy for a $1.00 just because it struck me. The publication has arrest pictures plastered all over its first page and all throughout the publication.

The rationale is that this ok to do because the pictures are public record. I don’t think it’s fair to someone arrested for possessing less than 20 ounces of cannabis or a DUI or any misdemeanor. Some of the people on the cover where arrested for driving with a suspended license. Let me tell you, in Florida you can get your license suspended for anything.

I guess the point is that just because something is public record doesn’t mean that it should be used for publication purposes. Journalist should be responsible and try to avoid embarrassing someone if possible. I see no justification for publishing a picture of 17-year-old who was arrested for driving with a suspended license. We don’t know if this individual is guilty and publishing their picture in a weekly publication amounts to a sort of punishment. In fact, a punishment which could be harsher than any imposed by a court.

An example, a person could be arrested for possession of cannabis and then found to be not guilty. Meanwhile, the person’s boss sees the picture and fires him/her.
It could be argued that newspapers publish suspect’s names before there is a determination as to their guilt. However, most of the crimes reported in regular media tend to be about more substantial crimes like murder, manslaughter, drug trafficking, etc.

Media-mania

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/world/americas/18chile.html?hpw

This is a great example of media desperate to weave feature stories out of a news story: rescue of Chilean miners.

The quote: “I’ve had nightmares these days,” Mr. Reygadas said from the cramped tent, as reporters jostled for space. “But the worst nightmare is all of you,” I feel is very powerful. When we as journalists are asked to go out here and ask questions to victims in a bid to get the best quotes and exclusive stories; victim's mental & physical state cannot be ignored.

It also reveals to me how people try to milk any opportunity. While most of the miners cared for pesos to give interviews, families of some were content with sidra or "dignity and kindness"!

a fearless story!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/world/asia/17headley.html?_r=1&hp

This story struck me for its courage to expose the authorities. And the quote in near middle of the article: "Indirectly, they told me to get lost," is a great one I feel. In merely seven words in a snappy phrase, it covers the gist of a woman reporting to American authorities that her husband may be a terrorist and the authorities not paying heed to it.

Details about Mr. Headley like: "But at night he loved watching “Seinfeld” and Jay Leno;" and giving the sense of place as we were talking about in last class in: "Sipping tea in a cafe overlooking a plaza in Morocco, Ms. Outalha said that in hindsight, she is convinced that he is both men." add a lot of life to the otherwise morose story.