Blog week 11

Week 11

After reading three different story, I would not think these are obvious feature stories. Discussed are the different techniques they use for writing the feature story. 

The first article The Right Stuff  is a kind of emotional story about a women who finds out her husband died. I say kind of because journalist Tome Wolfe writes about it in an interesting way. Although the story is about a sad thing, he writes about it in a sort of funny way. The introduction is quite long and is a good example of a teaser lead. You don’t really know what’s happening and therefore it creates curiosity. You get a lot of background information about a married couple. At that moment I had no idea what the theme of the story was. I wanted to keep on reading because I wanted to know what happened and why these women were calling. The structure of the article was great. Background information is given on relevant points and it keeps you interested to read until the end. The quotes he used were very strong. And his timing is perfect. Especially at the end when she is calling to the squadron office asking if she can speak to her husband. I thought the closure was well written. Everything comes together and she finds out that her premonition is true: her husband is dead. 

The second feature story Life in Mama’s House is long. You follow the workday of a prison guard. I had trouble reading this article. A lot of information is giving. For the largest part of the information I didn’t understand how it was adding to the ‘point’ of the story. Besides, it took a lot of time before the article was getting to the ‘news’ hook. Normally I would have stopped reading the story after five pages when the point of the story isn’t clear to me. In this feature story you have to read until page 11 to get to the ‘point’.

However, the point the article wants to make is very interesting and powerful, namely that there can better be money invested in youth education instead of prisons. If they are planning to build a prison in the future they are giving up on that child right now. This is pointed out by by a prisoner. I thought the technique that was used to write the story is very similar to a fiction book. I wouldn’t expect this to be a feature story written by a journalist. It is written from the perspective of the guard. I think this is well chosen. It is very descriptive and the reader is placed at the scene. The story proceeds chronologically. Especially the closure is very strong. Seeing a young prisoner trying to get his attention the guard realizes how important it is to invest in these kids. This article made me think about how the journalist came up with this story. Did the guard actually exist? Probably he made the guard up and the story is based on facts and anecdotes of others. 

The story lost in transmission feels like a chapter of a larger story. I didn’t really understand the ‘news’ point of the story. It is chronologically written and by the perspective of the journalists (first person). The story is about a journalist who hears he get’s  the job he really wanted, namely to become the ABC’s New Delhi-basedSouth Asia correspondent. But at the end it’s clear that with a girlfriend at home and the difficulties he experienced with the Indian culture he is not very pleased with the job. There are some good quotes and anecdotes used to help the reader understand the challenge of working in a totally different culture. The closure I really didn’t understand. And I have no idea how I can connect it with the rest. Maybe this is the next part of the larger story. I don’t think it was a good example of a feature story. Especially because of the missing of the ´news´ point.

Feature story assignment week 11

Introduction

A battle is approaching in the Tasmania’s Tamar Valley. Most residents are getting themselves ready for the fight. The confrontation takes place on the banks of the Tamar River 37 km north of Launceston. During this battle people will not get psychically hurt. It will proceed with respect. Hundreds of locals will participate in a ‘peaceful protest’  against the Long Reach site that are planning to build a $2 billion pulp mill.

Closer

The opponents of the pulp mill have taken their protest very seriously. They respect the police, site workers and property. Since there are many opponents with no experience of protest, they will follow trainings offered in protest techniques.

Introduction

Going on a cruise means for most passengers vacation, keeping your mind of home, relax and see new and beautiful places. But this doesn’t applied for the passengers of the cruise liner Melody. They sailed into a warzone at the Jordanianportof Aqaba where Somali pirates were waiting to attack.

Closure

Going on a cruise shouldn’t feel like being in a war. Pirates attacks have now turned into a real problem. Their attacks have significantly increased over the years. According to the International Maritime Bureau the number of pirates attacks was in the first three month of 2008 only six and increased to 61 in the same period of this year.

Blog week 10

Three different feature stories: Pearls before breakfast by Gene Weingarten, We have still not lived long enough by Tom Griffiths and NYPD Inaction over a missing black women found dead sparks a historic racial-bias lawsuit by Sean Gardiner. Each of the feature stories differ in style and approach. But each has it own strength. 

After reading the articles I found out that important ingredients for a good feature story includes research, information about the past, quotes, anecdotes and timing. 

Reading the first article – Pearls before breakfast – is an excellent example of how to build a feature story. The story about one of the finest violist JoshuaBell performing at the L’Enfant Plaza metro station. The story combines the narrative with anecdotes and background information. It is clear that Weingarten has done a lot of research before he wrote about this experiment. Weingarten writes in such detail about the event it seems like you are there. Besides, I think he has a lot of nerve to write such a long feature story for a paper (the Washington Post). Most people don’t have time or keep their interest in reading such a long story. Still, Weingarten does an amazing job in holding you attention. You want to know what happens at the end of the experiment and how it could be that almost nobody paid attention to this famous violist. Between the description of the event he gives a lot of background information. This helps to build the story.The people who walked by the violist at the metro station continued their daily activities. At the end of the day they were called with the question if they had experience anything unusual. It’s great how he uses the anecdotes and quotes of these people and how he describes what they did when they passed by.It’s a story that makes you think. Would you have notice a great musician although you have to hurry to work? Do you pay attention to the world around you?  Or are you most of the time stuck in you own bubble? 

For the second article – We have still not lived long enough -  I had more difficulty to keep my interest. Maybe this has to do with the fact that I come from theNetherlands. I never was aware of the dangerous bush fires inAustralia. This feature story looks critical at the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Using a scientific approach Griffiths wants to inform the reader that we have to learn from the past. Also in this feature story it becomes clear that the writer has done his research. He uses the holocaust wildfire on “Black Friday” in 1939 to make it clear. Instead of using quotes, a lot of scientific facts are used to make the comparison between the two fires and the dangers. 

The final feature story was not only the most ‘newsy’ but also the one that touched me the most. It was heart-breaking to read about the murder of  this young girl. I couldn’t put the story out of my head for the next few days. It was difficult to read about how this family went through a horrible time. Not only was their family member killed in the most horrible way they also didn’t receive much support from the police. Reading this article raises many emotions. It made me very angry reading that detective Carey was promoted after the lack of involvement in finding Romana. It is definitely not a feel good feature story. It gives a lot of information about what happened to 21 year-old Romana. With the help great quotes and anecdotes the story is told. This is a story you will never forget. And I believe Gardiner did an excellent job in creating awareness of the fact that black people are threaten differently than white.

feature story assignment – week 10

The highlight of Wilcannia isn’t some interesting building like the Eiffel tower or colosseum. The beautiful nature is also not the reason why people should visit this town. There is something a lot different that is the highlight of Wilcannia. Actually it isn’t something but someone! This town has the oldest living dog ofAmericaas resident.

Terrier Jerry will turn 27 years this Sunday and this will make him the oldest living dog inAmerica, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

The proud owners of this red heeler-bull terrier are Woody and Aileen Smith. They bought Jerry when he was a puppy and was a guard dog for his owners and three children.

The record is hold by 27-year-old Butch who died in July. If Jerry makes it to his birthday this means he will break the record

According to veterinarian Dr Nelson, who examined Jerry, it is a healthy dog that going by his body condition could push on to 28. “He is a remarkably solid dog for his age and has not got that wasted look that some animals and old people get,” said Nelson.

The owner, a respected Aboriginal tribal elder,  beliefs the dog lived so long because of his high protein diet and a good bush lifestyle. Woody Smith said, “Jerry has grown up on kangaroo, rabbit and emu as well as scraps off the table.”

Wilcannia is a small town situated in outback westernNew South Walesand has a high percentage of indigenous inhabitants. Animals are treated as companions and very important for the community and working the land.

Week 8 – Feature story

The different articles Richard Baker wrote for The Age about the Kossmann scandal were very interesting. I believe these are good feature stories. The stories definitely were not written in a few days. Baker had to interview certain people and collect statistics and facts. To publish stories like this you have to be sure that what you write is the truth. Your trustworthiness is on the line. Your career as a journalist can be destroyed by publishing incorrect facts and stories. Writing feature stories costs a lot of  time. As a journalist you have to (double) check the facts and speak with many people as possible to get a correct understanding of the situation. You do not want to write such accusing articles about a person that is based un lies. The reputation and career of this person is in your hands. When a journalist write such negative articles about a person it can ruin his or her career and influence his private life and relationships with family and friends. In order to be ethical, I think, journalists have to be 100 per cent sure the story they write is true. When a situation like this occurs, were a doctor put the lives of his patients at risk, it is ethical to publish the story. People should be informed about this news. 

The feature story written by Paige Williams I did not found that impressing. This has maybe to do with the fact the story is about Dolly Freed. A person I know nothing about and her story did not appeal to me. More interesting about the article is how she published it. It is called “radio journalism.” She published the story on the internet and everybody who wants could read it. The reason why she did it is because papers would not print the article without the real name of Dolly Freed. People could donate a contribution of their own choice. Here again I want to highlight that writing a feature story is time-consuming. Williams recovered the cost she made writing the piece. But she could not pay the people who helped her writing it. I think she discussed an important point at the end of the article regarding the definition of success. Writing a feature story requires a lot of time and it will cost money. But what is more important for a journalist? The amount of people reading the feature story or the amount of money the readers contribute? Thus when a paper does not want to publish you feature story this is an excellent way to bring the story under the attention of the public. Still, you need to earn (enough) money to be able to write these time and money-consuming stories like this.

Exercise week 6: hard/soft news stories

Hard news story

Police saved a couple’s life after an attempted car stunt went wrong on Richardson road in Frankston last night.

Jim Allan, 23, lost control of the car when he tried to do a burn out, exiting the McDonalds driveway at over 100 kilometres an hour.

He ended up crashing into an embankment wall and setting the car on fire.

The man suffered burns to his legs and torso but is stable. His 23 year-old girlfriend Rachel Williams, 23, who escaped without injuries said: “ it was just a silly stunt that went too far and it could have ended really bad.” 

Two police men on patrol dragged the occupants of the car. “ They have risked their lives to come to the aid of civilians. Victoria Police, on behalf of the wider community, commend their fast-thinking actions and their bravery” said The Victorian police Commissioner.

Drag racing has been a problem for the last five years in Frankston. This is the fifth car accident involving stunt or drag racing in the past year.

Soft news story

A 23 year-old couple luckily escaped when a stunt went wrong and caused their car to burst into flames on Richardson road in Frankston last night.

Two police detectives at the scene risked their lives by dragging the couple from the burning car.

Jim Allen who was in the driver seat attempted to do a burn out while exiting the McDonalds driveway that ended up crashing into an embankment wall.

The driver suffered burns to his legs and torso and is in a stable condition at the Alfred hospital. His girlfriend, Rachel Williams escaped without injuries.

Class exercise hard/soft news story

Hard news story:

Police saved a couple’s life after an attempted car stunt went wrong on Richardson road in Frankston last night.

Jim Allan, 23, lost control of the car when he tried to do a burn out, exiting the McDonalds driveway at over 100 kilometres an hour.

He ended up crashing into an embankment wall and setting the car on fire.

The man suffered burns to his legs and torso but is stable. His 23 year-old girlfriend Rachel Williams who escaped without injuries said: “ it was just a silly stunt that went too far and it could have ended really bad.” 

Two police men on patrol dragged the occupants of the car. “ They have risked their lives to come to the aid of civilians. Victoria Police, on behalf of the wider community, commend their fast-thinking actions and their bravery” said The Victorian police Commissioner.

Drag racing has been a problem for the last five years in Frankston. This is the fifth car accident involving stunt or drag racing in the past year.

Soft news story:

A 23 year-old couple luckily escaped when a stunt went wrong and caused their car to burst into flames on Richardson road in Frankston last night.

Two police detectives at the scene risked their lives by dragging the couple from the burning car.

Jim Allen who was in the driver seat attempted to do a burn out while exiting the McDonalds driveway that ended up crashing into an embankment wall.

The driver suffered burns to his legs and torso and is in a stable condition at the Alfred hospital. His girlfriend, Rachel Williams escaped without injuries.