TITLE: Demise of Same-Sex Weddings Disheartens Businesses
LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/us/07marriage.html?em
The article begins with a soft descriptive lede, which gives a verbal picture of one of the businesses suffering as a result of Proposal 8 passing in California. So the lede doesn't answer any of the W's. The second graf kind of does, in a sort of off-handed way.. It basically sets up the image of this sad business owner who has to pack away the man-man wedding cake ornaments and the extra unrented tuxedos.
The article takes awhile to pick up speed, starting off with a collection of small, meaningless quotes from an assortment of business owners in California. Eventually, this gets the ball rolling to move onto bigger topics, like how Arnold Schwarzenegger had hoped the ban wouldn't happen, considering things from an economic standpoint. The article also makes use of more primary sources, like a San Francisco-based marketing executive who specializes in gay tourism. This article seems to utilize it's sources well, given the topic. The article also opens up to whether the economy will be impacted now that California is now not as gay-friendly and tourism from the LGBT community will most likely decline. Again, the article tends to rely on it's numerous sources to deliver the best information to its readers.
The article concludes with a quote from one of the small business owners mentioned in the lede of the article. The format is nice, because it starts out with a smaller topic with quotes from simple business owners, then starts talking about the bigger idea of things with use of more "official" sources, and ends small, which brings readers back home, I think. This article was well-done, considering it was a soft news article.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Analysis: Dry Pet Food and Salmonella in Humans
TITLE: Dry Pet Food an Salmonella in Humans
LINK: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/dry-pet-food-and-human-salmonella/?ref=health
The lede answers the what: "Eight new cases of human salmonella infections linked with dry pet food," the when: "have been reported this year," and the who: "according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
The nut graf makes things more specific, hooking readers with dangerous numbers that alert the audience of the 79 cases of Salmonelle that traced back to dry dog food, specifically back to an Everson, Penn. pet food plant operated by Mars Petcare US, Inc. Luckily, the plant was closed in July.
The second graf says that despite the recall, 8 more cases have been identified this year. The article expands on the illnesses, including from what state they were reported and how old the patients were, (4 - 39) and also describe symptoms.
Further down, the article talks about the C.D.C's advice on how to handle dog food and what steps should be taken to minimize harm. The conclusion gives readers resources for further information, including what brands were recalled, and provides a web page link and a number.
The article is very straight to the point, covering all the information that the public would need to know in any situation that involves dangerous or contagious illnesses, without any use of narrative or quotes. The writing style is effective in delivering the need-to-know info.
LINK: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/dry-pet-food-and-human-salmonella/?ref=health
The lede answers the what: "Eight new cases of human salmonella infections linked with dry pet food," the when: "have been reported this year," and the who: "according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
The nut graf makes things more specific, hooking readers with dangerous numbers that alert the audience of the 79 cases of Salmonelle that traced back to dry dog food, specifically back to an Everson, Penn. pet food plant operated by Mars Petcare US, Inc. Luckily, the plant was closed in July.
The second graf says that despite the recall, 8 more cases have been identified this year. The article expands on the illnesses, including from what state they were reported and how old the patients were, (4 - 39) and also describe symptoms.
Further down, the article talks about the C.D.C's advice on how to handle dog food and what steps should be taken to minimize harm. The conclusion gives readers resources for further information, including what brands were recalled, and provides a web page link and a number.
The article is very straight to the point, covering all the information that the public would need to know in any situation that involves dangerous or contagious illnesses, without any use of narrative or quotes. The writing style is effective in delivering the need-to-know info.
Analysis: Rahm Emanuel Accepts Post...
TITLE: Rahm Emanuel Accepts Post as White House Chief of Staff
LINK:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/07elect.html?hp
A quote from our president-elect is tactfully used halfway through the lede, after the important who, what, where, when, and why have been established. Overall, solid, intriguing lede.
Directly following the lede, the author, instead of summarizing that Barack chose Emanuel for White House Chief of Staff, uses Barack's very own words to tell the audience. Another killer use of killer quotes.
The article lets readers breathe for a brief moment, quickly stating who Emanuel is, (a veteran of the Clinton administration and a member of Congress from Illinois), and that he is stepping down from the fourth-ranking Democrat in the H of R to help guide the Obama administration.
Another killer quote from Emanuel this time, is nicely placed, having just been introduced into the article formally. "Now is a time for unity," Emanuel said, "I will do everything in my power to help you stitch together the frayed fabric of our politics, and help summon Americans of both parties to unite in common purpose."
I think it's a pretty good quote. It's the kind of patriotic optimism that the audience has been hearing, and wants to continue hearing during election time.
A few paragraphs down, the article shifts gears and begins to focus on Obama's transition into The White House. The transition is described in much detail, going so far as to say what Barack's Thursday schedule looked like, (morning workout at 9:30 AM, returning to his home about 90 minutes later.") I'd say this bit of information is distracting and unecessary, especially since the piece was initially about Rahm Emanuel accepting his new post.
The rest of the article is mainly fact-based, summarizing which seats were taken by which party in which state. Which eventually swings back around to talking about Emanuel's now empty seat, the special election that will take place to fill this seat, and finally, back to Rahm Emanuel himself...
Nearing the end of the piece, Senator Lyndsey Graham speaks about Rahm's qualifications and characteristics that the Obama administration will benefit from.
The conclusion sums up what's next, including the president and the president-elect's plan to help the economic crisis. It talks about a proposed $100 billion stimulus package. Then ends.
LINK:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/07elect.html?hp
A quote from our president-elect is tactfully used halfway through the lede, after the important who, what, where, when, and why have been established. Overall, solid, intriguing lede.
Directly following the lede, the author, instead of summarizing that Barack chose Emanuel for White House Chief of Staff, uses Barack's very own words to tell the audience. Another killer use of killer quotes.
The article lets readers breathe for a brief moment, quickly stating who Emanuel is, (a veteran of the Clinton administration and a member of Congress from Illinois), and that he is stepping down from the fourth-ranking Democrat in the H of R to help guide the Obama administration.
Another killer quote from Emanuel this time, is nicely placed, having just been introduced into the article formally. "Now is a time for unity," Emanuel said, "I will do everything in my power to help you stitch together the frayed fabric of our politics, and help summon Americans of both parties to unite in common purpose."
I think it's a pretty good quote. It's the kind of patriotic optimism that the audience has been hearing, and wants to continue hearing during election time.
A few paragraphs down, the article shifts gears and begins to focus on Obama's transition into The White House. The transition is described in much detail, going so far as to say what Barack's Thursday schedule looked like, (morning workout at 9:30 AM, returning to his home about 90 minutes later.") I'd say this bit of information is distracting and unecessary, especially since the piece was initially about Rahm Emanuel accepting his new post.
The rest of the article is mainly fact-based, summarizing which seats were taken by which party in which state. Which eventually swings back around to talking about Emanuel's now empty seat, the special election that will take place to fill this seat, and finally, back to Rahm Emanuel himself...
Nearing the end of the piece, Senator Lyndsey Graham speaks about Rahm's qualifications and characteristics that the Obama administration will benefit from.
The conclusion sums up what's next, including the president and the president-elect's plan to help the economic crisis. It talks about a proposed $100 billion stimulus package. Then ends.
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